Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

. ee ine ae ee ee ——— lee a ean a ee A indeed, you remember I told vases, pictures you the other day that I had commissioned a connoisseur to attend a sale for me, with carte Slanche to make what purchases he thought fit ; and the results are now here.” The new purchases were accordingly inspected ; and Ciprina was much interested in the objects which she thus beheld. But she was completely astonished on being conducted to the suite of chambers specially appropriated to the use of the Marchioness herself. This suite consisted of an elegant boudoir, a bath-room, and a bedchamber. Ciprina had seen them before: she was then pleased with the luxury and taste of all the ap- pointments; but xow she was astonished as well as interested, for all those appointments had been changed—the boudoir and the bedchamber had been completely re-furnished, in a style of mingled elegance and sumptuousness which utterly defies description. “This is truly beautiful!” exclaimed Ciprina : “the draperies are the handsomest I ever bebeld! These ornaments—these embellishments—all these exquisite panel-paintings—that elaborate gilding —those mouldings “ Well, I am glad that you are pleased with the apartments,” said the Marchioness; “and it will be a source of delight to me if you will consider this suite of rooms to be your own?” “What! and deprive you of the apartments you have thus elegantly fitted up for your own use P” “The villa has other suites of apartments,” re- joined the Marchioness, with a smile; “and if these be to your taste, perhaps I shall find others equally well adapted to my own liking. At all events, my dear Ciprina, I expect that you will consider this suite as your own; and therefore let us say not another syllable on the subject. The weather is magnificent—we will go forth and breathe the fresh air of the pleasure-grounds.” The two'ladies walked in the garden; and they whiled away the time until the dinner-hour. They dined alone together: music and conversation made the evening pass rapidly; and as the Mar- hioness complained of fatigue, they retired at about ten o’clock. Ciprima proceeded to the exquisitely appointed suite of apartments which she had so much ad- mired, and which the Marchioness had abandoned to her use. Two lady’s-maids assisted at her night-toilet; and they retirea when Ciprina was in readiness to seek her couch. But when the maidens were gone, Ciprina did not at once enter that couch: she experienced not the slightest in clination for slumber—she had only sought her chamber thus unusually early because the Mar- chioness herself, complaining of fatigue, had shown aD inclination to retire betimes to her own room. Ciprina was delighted with the exquisite appoint- ments in the suite where she found herself: whichever way she turned there was something fresh to admire. The wax-lights which were burning in her chamber, revealed new objects of interest in every direction where her eyes fell. Thus, with merely a loose wrapper thrown around her form—with her raven hair floating over her shoulders and bosom—and with her naked feet thrust into slippers, Ciprina wandered about the chamber, inspecting all its features of adornment and embellishment. She might have beep thus AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. a 30) occupied about a quarter of an hour, when to her surprise she suddenly heard an equipage drive rapidly out of the premises; and on speeding to the window, she discerned by the aid of the clear moonlight the travelling-carriage of the Marchio- ness. Ciprina could not understand what this might mean: she turned away in bewilderment from the casement—but it was only to be startled by a fresh incident that occurred; for a door, the existence of which was hitherto unsuspected by her, opened in the panelled wall, and the young page Giulio made his appearance ! An ejaculation of mingled anger and surprise burst from the lips of Ciprina: but it was an ex- pression of the most unmixed amazement which fell from those of Giulio. CHAPTER LII. GIULIO AND EDGABE, CIPRINA’s anger was for a moment excited by the idea that the young page had of his own accord audaciously sought that chamber, knowing that she herself was there: but when she perceived how immense was his amazement, she felt con- vinced that his presence was the result of an error. Hastily drawing the wrapper more closely around her form, she said, with a half smile and with a slight blush upon her countenance, “It is not I whom you expected to meet here, Giulio ?” But instead of making any answer—instead of even showing the slightest inclination to quit the chamber—the young page stood as if riveted upon the threshold of the door which had given him admittance, and which communicated with a private staircase the existence of which had been utterly unknown to Ciprina. Yes—there stood the youth, transfixed with amazement, gazing upon Ciprina as if unable to believe the evidence of his own eyes:—and then an expression of dark sinister rage swept over his features. “By heaven,” he muttered, “ this is too much! It must have been done purposely! But tell me, Signora—how came you here ? why did you not depert in the carriage? Surely, surely all this has not been done with your consent P” “T do not understand you, Giulio,” interjected Ciprina, for a moment inclined to be angry at the thought that she should become an accomplice in any plot to bring about an intrigue between her- self and a menial : but her curiosity was too much excited to allow her to put an abrupt end to the scene without first obtaining some explanations, ** Signora,” he said, “ pray answer me !” “You have spoken to me in egnimas, Giulio,’”” she rejoined : “ you have addressed to me queries the purport of which I cannot understand. Come! —under existing circumstances there must be no fastidiousness! Shut that door, and explain to me why you are here.” Giulio now seemed absorbed in dark and agitating thoughts ; for this much his countenance denoted. He did not move from the threshold of that secret door: he even appeared to be uncon- scious of Ciprina’s presence,—until suddenly rais- ing his looks, he demanded sternly, “ Signora, ho» came you here ?” CoOMmiclooolks ES SN