Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 224: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tt a ll EC I 216 beneath your portico,” he rejoined, “ my object was merely to consult my watch.” “You are not an Italian ?” interjected the woman hastily. “ No—I am an Englishman: I belong to the British Embassy—I have lost my way—and I was looking about for some one of whom to inquire it.” * Oh, is that all? Then follow me,” said the female quickly: and she added in a more cour- teous tone, “I shall have much pleasure in guiding you to the nearest spot where you may obtain a vehicle to take you to the Embassy.” But scarcely had she thus spoken, when from the surrounding gloom a figure rapidly emerged ; and by his cloak Charles at once recognised the individual who had refused him the requisite in- formation some few minutes back. But the collar of his cioak stood so high up, and his broad-brimmed hat so far shaded the upper part of his countenance, that the youth failed even more than on the former occasion to obtain a good view of that face. ** What means all this delay >—and who is the stranger?” inquired the cloaked individual, hastily drawing the elderly female aside. The woman whispered a few rapid words in his ear: but what they were our hero could not catch. The next instant the cloaked individual was hurry- ing away again ; and he was soon lost in the sur- rounding gloom. “ Now, sir, follow me,” said the elderly female: and Charles De Vere at once obeyed her—for he thought that to linger or to hesitate would be to display an impertinent curiosity in respect to the little incidents, which, however mysterious they seemed, might after all have no real importance. The woman led him along at a rapid rate, and without speaking another word, until two or three streets were threaded,—when she stopped short in the immediate neighbourhood of a stand of public vehicles. “There, sir,” she said: “‘you can find the means of conveyance to your destination. Good night.” Charles thanked her—and at once summoning a vehicle, took a seat in it, desiring the driver to bear him to the British Embassy. As the hackney- chaise drove off, Charles from the window caught a glimpse of the elderly female still standing at the corner of the street, as if to watch and assure her- self that he really took his departure. ““There is something strange in all this!” said our hero to himself, “something which the persons engaged therein do not wish a stranger to obtain an insight into! It struck me that the cloaked individual was quite young and good-looking : the same might be said of the younger female whom I beheld beneath the portico—and yet if I were to meet them both again to-morrow, I should not recognise them by their countenances.” Meanwhile the vehicle was driving onward through several obscure streets, when all of a sudden there was a crash, followed by a concussion which made our young hero bound upon the seat. He was then thrown so violently forward that his hat was crushed against the front part of the vehicle, The fore axletree had broken; and it was fortunate that Charles escaped with nothing more than the severe shaking anda slight abra- b AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. oe — . sion of the skin on the forehead (as he sub- sequently discovered), caused by the dashing in of his hat. He was compelled to alight; and having paid the unfortunate driver his fare, he inquired the nearest way to the Embassy. The man directed him: and Charles, thinking that he thoroughly understood how many turnings he was first of all to take to the right and then how many to the left, resolved to continue his way on foot. But he soon found himself at fault, for he was thinking of those little incidents which he had regarded as more or less mysterious, and which had to a cer- tain extent piqued his curiosity—so that by giving the rein to his reflections he thoroughly lost his way. On being compelled to make this admission to himself, he looked about him: he was still in a poor and obscure neighbourhood, where the shops were shut up, where the thoroughfares were but dimly lighted, and where the street- lamps were but few and far between. He was just on the point of accosting some one ata little distance to inquire his way, when a female came rushing towards him; and an ejaculation of surprise burst from her lips. She was en- veloped in an ample cloak, and she wore a black veil completely over her countenance. The im- mediate impression of Charles De Vere was that this must be the younger female whom he had seen beneath the portico; and the idea was strengthed into conviction when the plaintive wail of an infant, issuing from beneath her cloak, reached his ear. “ You are not what you seem !”’ she said,in a quick excited tone—but her voice was singularly musical: “or at least you were just now in the portico for some purpose which I cannot fathom ! For heaven’s sake tell me !” “ Most solemnly I declare that I was beneath that portico for the mere purpose of consulting my watch, and with no other design. But you seem to be in distress of mind? Perhaps you need the succour of a friend and if so, tell me how L can serve you ?” There was something in the tone and manner of Charles De Vere which evidently convinced the veiled stranger that he spoke with a chivalrous sincerity while proffering his services: but perhaps the emergency was so great that it was requisite to trust somewhat to chances. “ Do you really and truly belong to the British Embassy ?” inquired the young female, in a tone of intensest anxiety. “IT do—on my honour I have asserted the truth !” rejoined Charles, instantaneously compre- hending that his veiled querist must have received the intelligence from her elderly companion at the portico. “ And your name?” she demanded, with rapid utterance as before. ** Charles De Vere,” was the response. can I do for you?” “ As you have a soul to be saved,” exclaimed the young female, “ 1 conjure you to save the life of this poor babe! Place the innoeent somewhere —make no inquiries—attempt not to fathom this mystery until 1 communicate with you, which shall be in a few days. For the love of God refuse me not this favour. It is a matter of life and death *” Asshethus spoke ina voice of mingled entreaty “ What SI re tee cComilcbooks ———— ey EE — ~ — 4 s+. es i. ee 7 ” ‘