Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

I LLL LLL LLL LLL ALL LO LOS, OL LL LLL OL LT CC A TC tt A te ee — 288 again palpitating under the influence of hope, with which however was blended the fluttering of sus- pense. “Listen, Viscount! You ere now assured me that you are prepared to make every sacrifice, eyen that of your own father. Did you not?” After a moment’s hesitation, Silvio answered, “¥ did.” “Tis well!—let us understand each other rightly as we go on:’—then suddenly fixing his keen eyes upon the young nobleman, the Minister said with startling abruptness, “ Your father is in Naples !” Completely taken by surprise and thrown off his guard, it is not to be wondered if Silvio betrayed by his looks that the Minister was right. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “Then what do you mean? and what am I to} the Tuscan dominions: your accession to the | -understand, my lord,” inquired Silvio, his heart an estates will be prompt and easy.” “Yet there is one more objection,” observed _ Silvio, with a deep sigh; “and I fear that it is fatal. My father has not been attainted with trea- son in Tuscany; and therefore any will which be may make even though he be an outlaw in Naples, will hold good in Tuseany.” ‘““Ab, my lord!” said the Minister, “ you seem to think that we ean only do things by halves: but I will teach you different. What if your father were utterly debarred from the use of writing materials?—or what if any will which he might succeed in making, were torn up and thrust into the fire? Am not I Chief of the Police ?—is there any prisoner in his Majesty’s dominions who can retain about his person the smallest scrap of paper if it suits me to have it in my own possession P— * T knew it!” this functionary instantaneously | Know you not that the momenta man enters a went on to say. “Bat 1 hesitate not to confess | prison, it is the same as entering a-sepulehre, if I that though my agents for a moment obtained | so willit? In short, my lord, all*these difficulties § y ag | y scent of him, they lost it—and they have since re- mained utterly at fault. The capture of the Count of Camerino is more important to the King’s Go- vernment than that of the Viscount Camerino. Now do you understand me? and are we to under- stand each other ?” Silvio had already plunged so deeply into crime, alike in deed and in intention, that he speedily recovered from the shock which the Minister’s words for a moment occasioned bim; and he in- vestigated the subject with a villain’s ealeulating calmness. “If the Count of Camerino,” he said, “were petrayed into your hands—and if be knew that I, his son, had betrayed bhim—he would disinherit me of all his possessions and estates. Of what use, therefore, were it for me to go forth into the world a beggar? Better to perish on the scaffold or exist @ captive in a dungeon!” “The Count of Camerino,” replied the Minister, “need never know that his son betrayed bim.” ‘€ But look you, my lord,’ continued Silvio, “I have done something—no matter what—which my father stands upon the brink of discovering, even if by this time he have not discovered it! This fact alone will induce him to disinherit me. Therefore, I shall still go forth into the world a beggar!” “Think you that your father has already made a will to the effect of disinberiting you?” inquired the Minister. “ No—assuredly not!” answered Silvio. “Then from the instant that bis arrest shall be effected,” responded the Chief of the Police, “he can have no power to make a will. You therefore will remain heir-at-law.” “Ah! is it so?” ejaculated Silvio, unable to conceal his joy at the idea of inheriting the pa- ternal estates in the face of any discovery that his father might make with reference to his past ini- quities. “It is so,” said the Minister; “and I swear to you that every facility which the law can afford sball be granted 4 “ But my father’s estates are in Tuscany,” in- terjected Silvio: “be has but comparatively a small property in Naples!” ““So much the better,” replied the Minister. “You have never been attainted with treason in > you have started are the veriest trifles; and I assure you that in return for the service required at your hands, there shall be the recompense which I see that you require. The King’s free pardon, under bis own sign-manual, shall be at once placed in your possession when the deed is accomplished.” There was.a moment’s strong internal struggle on the part of Silvio ; and then he said, “‘ Peocure the pardon, my lord—let me see it—let me know that I.shall at least be rewarded for the tremen- dous sacrifice required of me, and that sacrifice shall be made !” “Ah !” said the Chief of the Police, the colour for an instant flushing his dark-complexioned countenance ; “then you mistrust me—you think that I shall play you false—that I shall avail my- self of your services and negiect to give the re- compense - Silvio looked the Minister full in the face; and said, “ You and I, my lord, are about to play a game which neither of us could bear to regard with patience if the slightest spark of humanity lingered in our souls! You are enticing me to the betrayal of a father; and from my lips the fatal assent has already gone forth! I have not the courage to recall it. But what our opinion must be of each other you know as well as I. Do we not stand in the relationship of two vyil- lains * Viscount Silvio of Camerino,” interrupted the Chief of the Police, “this is language which I can only pardon by making allowances for the exciting circumstances in which you are placed. Let us however spare unnecessary verbiage, The bargain is already made, because I assent to your proposition. It is however now too late to pro- cure the document which you demand until the morning. The full and free pardon must emanate from the office of the Minister of the Interior, and must receive the King’s signature. You will therefore be compelled to pass the night beneath this roof. Yet every attention shall be shown you ; and you shall be treated as my guest, with this difference only—that every precaution will be taken to prevent your escape. You will therefore do well not to attempt it.” ““Answer me one question, my lord!” said Silvio. “ Will my imprisonment here be kepé Gomicbooksc