Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

LL Ct a Cc a tt carats — = . ee eee . TT TM Sn Ale nse a ee em we ee to the affairs of Rome it is vitally important that the leaders of Italian patriotism should be in pos- session of certain important facts which have come to my knowledge in Paris. For this reason I am now here; and when my mission is accomplished in Naples, I shall proceed stealthily to Rome itself. Now, Benedetta, are you reassured P” “Perfectly so, diy lord,” answered Corso’s wife, her countenance brightening up. “ Thanks to your arrangements and attentions, my good friends,” continued the nobleman, “ my presence in Naples is evidently unsuspected by the police-authorities. And you are convinced— are you not ? that the porter of this house is com- pletely trustworthy ?” “TY would stake my existence on it, my lord,” replied Nino Corso. “He belonged to the same section of the secret society es 1 myself did last year ” * Pis encugh!” said the nobleman: “ he is evi- denily trustworthy. Aud that young Englishman who surprised me bere the other day y “He has honesty written upon his counte- nance,” exclaimed Benedetta. “I told your lord- ship who he was ——” “And I am convineed he is a good and generous-hearted young man,” chimed in Nino Corso. ‘* Besides, he suspects nothing: for I assured him that your lordship was a merchant who had experienced misfortunes—and he ex- pressed the utmost sympathy.” * And think you, my friends, that in a suitable disguise,” continued the nobleman,—*“ say for in- stance in that of a priest—I might venture to travel through the Neapolitan kingdom into the Roman States ?” ** Assuredly, my lord,’ answered Corso, “ pro. vided you adopt the various precautions of which we were speaking a day or two ago. You your- self can scarcely know even when you look in the mirror, how different your countenance appears with the whiskers, beard, and moustache shaven off; and if you eut your hair close—wear the green spectacles—and assume the garb of a priest, you might pass through a crowd of even your most in- timate friends without standing the least chance of being recognised.” “Tis well,” again said the nobleman: “ for though in the cause of patriotism I would dare any risk, yet there are considerations “i * Yes, my lord,” said Benedetta, “there are indeed considerations wherefore you should study your safety :”’—then after a little hesitation, she inquired, “ Does not your lordship purpose to suffer her ladyship to know that you are in Naples?” “No—assuredly not!” rejoined the nobleman. “There are a thousand reasons against such a course. In the first place, my wife loves me sin- cerely—and she would not rest until she flew hither to embrace me Who can tell how her movements may be watched by the spies of the police ? And if I were to suffer her to know that I am here, but were to forbid her to come to throw herself into my arms, she would be distressed and excitea—she might inadvertently betray her feel- ings—in short, it would be most dangerous to per- mit her to come hither, and a needless cruelty to acquaint her with my »resence in Naples and at the same time prohibit her from coming,” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. rr —— = — e -— “True, my lord,” said Benedetta. “And yet — it does seem singular that one should be in the | same city as one’s own wife——” wee The nobleman’s lip quivered with emotion for an instant; and then he said, “ Wife, home, and everything must be sacrificed to one’s love of country!” “ Where is your lordship’s son at present ?” in- quired Benedetta hastily: for she was afraid that _ this last speech on the part of the nobleman might produce its effect upon her husband Nino, who until within the last.cleven or twelve months was wont to be deep in all Neapolitan conspira- Cles, “On the memorable night of the Sth of January, when everything was betrayed to the Government by some treacherous spy,” answered the nobleman, _— “and when a hasty warning was conveyed to me that danger was imminent, I and my son fled in different disguises as well asin different directions. To be brief, I went to Paris, and be into Austria. As you may suppose, our correspondence has not since then been very frequent; for the unsettled — state of the Continent has absorbed the time of active men and left them little leisure to write mere letters of friendship or of love. But. when last I heard from my son, he was in Vienna, dwell- ing in quietude and obscurity.” “ Hark !” said Nino Corso: “methinks [heard — a footstep upon the stair!” The nobleman instantaneously rose from his — seat; and catching up his.cloak, he strode across - the room towards a high piece of furniture—a sort of bureau or wardrobe, which opened with folding-doors, and which was large enough to en- — able him to stand upright within. But there was ; no necessity for bis lordship to avail himself of it | 1 —_———< 5 es er owe = —_— -_s _——s ae — * . on the present occasion; for it was a false alarm » on Nino’s part. “Tam nevertheless glad,” observed Benedetta, as the nobleman resumed his seat, “that Nine bought that piece of furniture two or three days — ago for the special purpose for which it is de- signed: because after the way in which the young Englishman entered the room so abruptly a week | back, it was really dangerous 7 “ Hush!” said Corso; “now indeed there is a footstep !” | Almost in the twinkling of an eye the nobleman passed into the wardrobe, and closed the door | behind him. All was then silent in the room for © a few moments, until it was broken by a gentle | tap at the door of the apartment itself. Nino — rose to open it; and a female figure, enveloped in | an ample cloak, and closely veilec, appeared out- | side upon the landing. ' | “Is this the abode,” she inquired, in a low and scarcely audible voice, “ of Nino Corso, the driver of a public vehicle ?” “It is, Signora,” was the man’s response; “and I am Nino Corso,” The veiled female at once entered; and on be- Kolding the child in Benedetta’s lap, every other feeling and consideration became absorbed in the fondness of a mother; so that snatching up the infant she pressed it to her bosom, all cloaked and veiled as she still remained. Nino Corse had closed the door; and he and his wife looked on with melting hearts, for they comprehended that this must be the mother of the child—though —— — ee et) eee -— COMME DOO Sein