Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

a AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “Yess my lord! quick, for heaven’s sake!” ex- claimed Silvio impatiently; “and let me get be- yond the atmosphere of Naples. It seems to me fearfully oppressive! But, Ah! whatis this ?” The ejaculation was caused by the sudden dashing-up of the vehicle to the front of the arch- way, where it stopped short. *“Tt means,” exclaimed the Prefect, in a tone that was terribly malignant, “that as you would have broken your compact if you had the power, I now break it, for I possess that power! Here is the King’s pardon!”’—and tearing the document into fragments, he scattered the pieces at the feet of the wretched Viscount. A wild ery of anguish burst from Silvio’s lips: he felt frantic—as if he were going mad! * Ah, yillain !” continued the Chief of Police, “you would take away my mistress—would you? You leagued with her against me! I have thrown her upon the streets as an emblem of the wretched fate to which she will sooner or later come down; and you, my lord, shall be borne back to captivity in that very same vehicle which you doubtless hoped would convey you into security afar from Naples !” ** Miscreant ! exclaimed Silvio, endeavouring with a desperate effort to release himself from the abirri that he might spring upon the Minister and hurl him on the ground—trample on him—or tear him to pieces. But firm was the grasp which those officials had upon him: the Minister gave vent to a mocking laugh of triumph—the door of the chaise was opened—and the Viscount was flung into the ve- hicle. * Silvio!” exclaimed the Count of Camerino, with a cry which showed that he recoiled from a contact with his son as if from that of a venomous reptile. ‘ Unnatural boy!” ** Pardon, pardon, father!” cried Silvio, in ac- cents of indescribable anguish; “ forgive me, I beseech you!” But at that moment the voice of the Prefect was heard at the window of the vebicle, saying, “My Lord Count of Camerino, it was your own son who betrayed you into my power!” A moan of ineffable agony came from the lips of the wretched father—a shriek of despair from those of the son; and the ejaculation, “ Just heaven !” was uttered by some one who came up to the spot at the instant. This last was Charles De Vere, who thus reached the scene in time to learn the horrifying tale of Silvio’s crowning iniquity. The equipage drove away, guarded by the sbirri; and the Chief of the Puiice, bendinga stern look upon our hero, demanded, ‘* Who are you, Signor?” “May it please your lordship,” said the only police-agent who now remained upon the spot, “this young gentleman was with the Count of Camerino, inside the mansion, at the time of his arrest. But as your Excellency’s orders were positive, to molest no one except the Count him- self. . “Good! you have performed your duty,” inter- rupted the Minister: then turning to Charles, he said, “ Again I ask, who are you, Signor?” “* My name is De Vere,’ was the reply; “and I am an attaché to the English Embassy.” “Ah! that is different!” said the Prefect, in- 291 stantaneously becoming affable and polite. “TI presume that it was some motive of private friendship 5 ** I was present, my lord,” answered Charles, who knew the Prefect by sight, “ when the body of the unfortunate Countess was dragged forth from the water ” Enough, Signor!” said the Minister, “I seek not to penetrate any further into the circum. stances attending your presence at the Camerino Mansion. Good night, Signor Dea Vere.” They separated,—the Minister returning to the Prefecture in blithe and triumpbant spirits, for he had done a glorious night’s work. He had cap- tured the arch-conspirator the Count of Camerino —he had revenged himself upon Silvio for fleeing with his mistress—and he had punished that mis- tress by affecting to cast her off as if he cared no longer for her, and by sending her adrift in the streets as a symbol of what she might expect her eventual fate to be. As for Charles De Vere,—it was with mingled sorrow and horror in his heart at all that had just happened, that he bent his way towards the residence of the Marquis of Ortona, + CHAPTER XLIX, LUCREZIA DI MIRANO. WE must return to the beautiful Ciprina. This young lady was at first terribly affrighted when the chaise was stopped and she found herself (as she thought) once more thrown back into the power of the agents of the police: but it was with a sudden revulsion of joy that she hailed the announcement of her liberty. She had been an- noyed at being separated from Silvio, whose hand- some person and elegant manners had made a cer: tain impression on her, notwithstanding that their acquaintance was so short; and she was likewise vexed at being separated from the faithful Fidelia. But these sources of aflliction were speedily merged in her delight at finding herself emancipated from the power of the odious Chief of Police. She had money and jewels about her: and she had more- over at a banker’s in Florence a considerable sum which she had paid into the hands of a banker at Naples (with orders to transfer it to the Tuscan capital) prior to her introduction to captivity in the Prefecture. Thus, though she understood full well the vindictive significancy with which the Minister had thrown her upon the streets at that time of night, she could afford to laugh at the in- cident and to repel any fureboding fears in refe- rence to the future. She sped quickly along until two or three streets were threaded ; for she deemed it just possible that the Prefect might repent of having suffered her to escape from his hands, and thet he might send his agents in pursuit. She however soon relaxed her pace ; and remembering the warning which the Prefect in his coward vindictiveness had given her —bidding her beware bow she should be found in Naples at the rising of the morrow’s sun—she re- solved to depart with the least possible delay. Ciprina was proceeding in the direction of a square where she knew there was a stand of vehicles waiting for the termination of the per- Te RT RE Leen NE HHITY § COMMicooolkxs Om