Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

_bim by the Count of Camerino. The mind of the | | | | | AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 279 the vestiary to set out on the mission confided to young priest was in a state of the most painful execitement,—not merely because he had to re- proach himself for a sacrilegious deed in suffering the Count to take his place in the confessional, but likewise because he sympathized deeply with the woes and sorrows of his benefactor, He was as yet unacquainted with the full extent of Gi- nevra’s guilt: he had learnt that she had proved faithless to her marriage vows—but it was evi- dent that there was still a darker secret which had yet to be developed to his knowledge. The Camerino mansion was at no great distance from the church; and it was soon reached by Father Pulconara, who proceeded at a rapid pace. On arriving at the mansion, he inquired for the Countess, and was informed by the domestic to whom he addressed himself, that her ladysbip had retired to her own chamber with the strict com- mand that she was not to be disturbed. “But perhaps the Countess will see your reve- renee,” added the domestic, knowing that in such cases, where ladies denied themselves to all visi- tors, exceptions were usually made on behalf of the father confessor. By this time the priest had composed his looks end had gathered a!! his self-possession to his aid : he accordingly said with his wonted serenity, “ Yes —I have no doubt that her ladyship will see me. Let a message be sent to the effect that I call in reference to the business on which she just now consulted me.” : A few minutes afterwards Fatber Falconara was conducted to tbe apartment where the wretched Ginevra had secluded herself. A terrible altera- tion had taken place in her during the last half- hour: her face was as haggard, her eyes as hol- low, her looks as woe-begone as if she had just risen from her couch after a long illness. There was an expression of settled despair upon her fea- tures, blended with an aspect that denoted some sternly fixed resolve. Her desk was open upon the table: she had been writing—and she held a sealed packet in her hand as Father Falconara was introduced, “Has your reverence anything to communi- ente ?” she asked in a cold, level, monotonous tone, as if the announcement of any fresh calimity could ecarcely add to the desperation of her feelings. “Il come from your ladyship’s husband,” an- ewered the young priest: “he has charged me with certain messages to deliver-——~” “Proceed : I listen,” said the Countess. “ Per- Leaps he has discovered the fulness of my guilt ! Perbeps he has cursed his own son likewise P— for he extorted that name from my lips! You, Pather Palconara, can best settle it with your own conscience how you permitted him to usurp your place in the confessional But Ab! what ails vou P” The young priest had staggered, and he now sank heavily upon aseat. The tremendous secret which en his arrival there he had yet to learn, was now Jearnt: the fulness of Ginevra’s guilt was made known to him. Pure-minded and well-principled —leading an immaculate life—the young ecclesi- astic had scarcely dreamt that such a horror was possible; and it smote him therefore with the most tremendous effect. the secret in all its hideous reality had only just been made known to him. “Lady,” he said, in a voice that was full of emotion, “I have indeed committed a great sin in suffering another to usurp my place at the confes- sional, and in giving utterance to a falsehood as a pretext for that substitution. Alas! bitter shall be my repentance! I am under no penance which incapacitates me from listening to the words that flow from the lips of a penitent, or which prevents me from giving ebsolution. Knueel, siaful daughter —and let us pray together.” “Tt is useless,” answered Ginevra coldly: “ the time for confession and prayer is past. Heaven refuses me its forgiveness! Step by step it wars against me, dealing blow upon blow as a punish- ment for my tremendous iniquity !” “This is the language of despair,” said the young priest, ‘and it must not issue fron: your lips. Heaven's mercy is illimitable —-” “But Iam beyond the reach of its influence,” rejoined Ginevra, utterly unmoved by the young ecclesiastic’s words,—“‘ and deservedly so! Yes-- I am deservedly beyond the pale of heaven’s mer. cies! for my crime has been very, very great. Leave me to myself—leave me to that destiny against which it were vain and useless for me to wrestle. But Ah! I remember you said that you came hither as the bearer of messages from my husband. What are his mandates? or what is the substance of the curse which he has levelled against me P’’—and there was a terrible coldness in Gi- nevra’s tone and look. ‘“Your husband has levelled no curse against you,” auswered the young priest; “ and if he had, rest assured that I should not become the bearer of it. No, lady! not for worlds! my mission is that of peace and religious consolation é “And in the fulfilment of it,” interjected Gi- nevra, with a cold bitterness, “you place a hus- band in the confessional that from the lips of his guilty wife he may extort the hideous avowal whick at least might have been spared to him !” “Ah! your reproach is indeed but too just!” said Father Falconara; “and I deserve it Oh, I deserve it!” he added, wiping the tears from his eyes. “But if you knew how I was over-per- suaded—the strong appeal that was made to me » “Holy father, I forgive you!” said Ginevra, “T see that in the course which you adopted you were but an instrument in the hands of heaven, which, as I before said, is dealing me blow upon blow, Take this packet—it is addressed to yourself—it contains the instructions which I just now promised to leave for you. You see, therefore, that L had not completely lost all confidence in your honour, even though I knew that you likewise had turned against me! But what said my husband?” “Tie Count of Camerino says, lady,” replied the priest, “that the honour of the family must be outwardly maintained — that the gaze of the world must not be permitted to penetrate these walls and bebold the skeleton within this house !” “Ah! my husband speaks in these terma?” said Ginevra: “and he will not therefore wreak a deadly vengeance upon his guilty son? This as- surance is at least consoling—for heaven knows there has already been a suflicienoy of crime! Aud Ginevra now perceived that | what more says my husband?” COMmiclooolkks ee ee ee ee ee ee oe =r oe Om