Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 260: what you’re looking at

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262 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. passed a night of mental anguish and of distract- ing emotions which gave him the appearance of one who had just risen from a bed of sickness. As Ginevra gazed upon his countenance, her own fea- tures expressed a look of sympathy, which was even deepening into tenderness, when suddenly exercising a powerful effort over herself, she said coldly, “ And now, Silvio, why do you seek me ?— what matter of importance have you to communi- cate P” _ Prepare yourself, Ginevra, for an announcement that may give youacruel shock—arm yourself with all your fortitude—nerve yourself, I implore . “For mercy’s sake speak!” said the unhappy lady, becoming as pale as death and trembling all over. “My father—your husband—the Count “ Merciful heaven! what of him?”—and Gi- nevra clasped her hands in an agony of suspense and entreaty. “Prepare yourself, I say,” continued Silvio: “your husband is in Napies—and—and—his sus- picions are aroused ne A shriek was about to peal from Ginevra’s lips : Silvio saw that it was so, and he caught her for- cibly by the wrist, saying in a deep earnest voice, “For God’s sake be silent!” Ginevra looked up at him with the vacancy of despair ; and she leant against a pillar for support. “Yes,” continued Silvio, “it is as I tell you! We stand upon the brink of a precipice—but yet we may be saved! There is a mine under our feet-—and yet I can prevent it from exploding! ‘Tell me, Ginevra—do you wish that our secret should be kept? or will you be exposed to the world?” “T would perish sooner!’ she emphatically an- swered. ‘‘ But what can you do, Silvio ?—how can you avert this threatening storm? Oh, heaven have mercy upon me!” *T have seen my father—I have ascertained how his suspicions have been excited—I know how they may be set at rest! Do not question me upon these points—we have no time to lose in use- less discourse—we must act immediately and ener- getically! Will you confide everything to my management ?” “J will, I will, Silvio!” responded the agonized, almost depairing Ginevra. ‘Tell me what I can do !—ask me anything except to plunge myself still deeper into iniquity !” “Tt is absolutely needful I should see that young Englishman, Charles De Vere $f “ Ah! then you know 4 ‘* No matter what I know,” continued the Vis- count, with hurried utterance: “do not stop to question me! I tell youl must see this yourg Inglishman—he alone can save us—and he will doit! I cannot seek him at the English Em- basy—it is for you to write to him—do this at once—implore him to meet you this evening at sunset, in some convenient spot ys « And what am I to say to him when we meet P” asked Ginevra, cruelly bewildered. “Oh!” ejaculated the Viscount impatiently, “you do not understand me! It is not you that will keep the appointment: itis I! Yes, I will see him—for I know what to say—I know how to act! You have promised to leave everything to my discretion———” > P ] t * And I will do so, Silvio!—for on whom can I rely in the whole world ?”’—and the unfortunate lady’s countenance wore an expression of inde- scribable anguish, while she literally shivered with the violence of her excruciating emotions. “ Only swear one thing—for I see that you know all,— swear, Silvio, I solemnly adjure you, that our babe shall be safe!” “IT swear, Ginevra,” answered Silvio. “ You wronged me the other day But no matter! I am now acting for both our interests! Hasten and write this billet to Charles De Vere Ab! but the place of appointment—where shall it be ? T recollect a convenient spot!—the ruins of St. Nicholas! Yes, that will do!—and remember, Ginevra, the appointment must be for sunset this evening! Then to-morrow I will meet you here again, And now hasten home and despatch tho billet to De Vere.” Ginevra and Silvio separated—the former re- turning to her own mansion in a state of mind bordering on distraction—the latter bending his way towards the house of Signor Visso. This person, as the reader is already aware, was a sur- geon; and though outwardly maintaining a cha- racter for respectability, he was in reality unprin: cipled, mercenary, and selfish. In him therefore the young Viscount found a ready assistant in all his designs; and Visso on the present occasion promised to succour Silvio’s views in the way which he pointed out. The last beams of the setting sun were playing upon the Bay of Naples, tipping with gold the pinnacles of the city itself, and casting their flick- ering light upon the slopes of Vesuvius, when Charles De Vere approached the ruins of St. Nicholas. He had received a billet from Ginevra, earnestly imploring that he would meet her at this hour and at that place, as she had something of the utmost importance to communicate. The youth knew her handwriting from the circum- stance of having received the billet which she had slipped into his hand on the night of the grand entertainment at the British Embassy ; and there- fore he had no suspicion of any sinister design. He did not however much like the idea of again meeting the guilty Countess of Camerino, towards whom he experienced a feeling of loathing and disgust : but as he had hitherto become so deeply involved in the circumstances which regarded her, he felt himself almost bound as it were to attend this appointment. Besides, for aught that he knew, the promised communication might in some way regard his own interests; or it might have reference to the innocent child and the persons who had charge of it. Thus, all things censidered, our hero had sneedily made up his mind to keep the appointment ; and be was now bending his way towards the ruins of St. Nicholas. He could not help thinking that it was a some- what strange coincidence which had led the Countess of Camerino to appoint for the place of meeting the very spot where only a week previ- ously he had found himself one of the principals ih a duel: but then he thought, “ After all, there is nothing ominous in the circumstance ; for the place is convenient in its seclusion, and may therefore serve for an appointment of one kind as well as of another.” Thus musing, Charles De Vere entered amongst Gomichbooks.com + Pe i .