Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

‘ 312 troubled her ; and this was, that the Marchioness ; might be offended on learning of this successful though unpremeditated rivalry on Ciprina’s part. Yet as Ciprina felt almost convinced that Lucrezia had intended to throw her into the arms of the page Giulio, she looked upon the present occur- rence as a commensurate little piece of revenge for that still inexplicable trick. Nevertheless, it must be observed that Ciprina would have been very loath to provoke an actual quarrel with the Mar- chioness, or seem to be ungrateful for the kindness she had received at her hands. We must now return to Lucrezia’s town-man- sion in Florence. The reader has seen how abruptly she quitted the villa between eleven and twelve o'clock at night; and she was speedily borne to her palatial residence in the city. There she passed the remainder of that night: for the story of the illness of the lady-friend was but a pretext, as we have previously hinted. On the following morning Lucrezia di Mirano was seated at the breakfast-table at about ten o’clock, when the door opened and the young page Giulio entered the room, bearing a crystal dish of hothouse fruits, which he placed upon the board with an air as if nothing unusual had taken place—although per- haps a close observer and one who knew him well might have fathomed the uneasiness and restless- mess which agitated as an under-current beneath the calm unruffled surface. The Marchioness gave an involuntary start as she beheld him: but in- stantaneously recovering her own composure and self-possession, she said, “I thought you were at the villa, Giulio ?” “ Your ladyship left me at the villa last night,” answered the youth, coldly and sadly: “but I left itat an early hour this morning. I thought that wherever the Marchioness di Mirano might be, there was the place of my duties !” “And I thought, Giulio,’ said Lucrezia severely, “that it was the duty of a servant to obey orders. I took you to the villa—and there you sbould have remained until I bade you return hither or go elsewhere.” “TI see, lady, that the moment for explanations has come,” said Giulio, speaking firmly and even with dignity, but entirely without insolence or in- timidation; so that there was nothing of the im- pertinent menial nor of the cowardly bully in his demeanour. “ Yes—you left me at the villa; and your ladyship not merely gave me to under- etand that the Signora Ciprina was about to leave an the carriage for Flurence, but likewise you bade me avail myself at a given hour of the secret staircase and the privatedoor; and I was happy— yes, happy once again, for methought that the poor page Giulio might not after all have been tbe mere toy x “‘ Enough of this insipid sentimentalism !” ejacu- lated the Marchioness, almost fiercely. “If you bad properly finished your tale, you would have stated that on ascending into the boudoir you found yourself clasped in the arms of one whose beauty had fired your soul, and who on her own aide longed for an opportunity ‘a “Good heavens, my lady! what mean you P” ejaculated the young page, with the most un- feigned astonishment. “I found myself not e'asped in the lady’s arms—she was indignant and extprised—I was filled with wondermext——” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “And then,” interrupted Lucrezia, wh bit- terest irony, “ all these strong feelings—surprise, indignation, and wonderment—were melted and eae in the passion so voluptuous and ten- er ———”” “ Lady, it was not so!” ejaculated the page, his handsome countenance flushing a vivid scarlet. “The Signora Ciprina treated me only as a me- nial e ‘False youth!” ejaculated Lucrezia angrily : “why do you thus persist in a ridiculous attempt to deceive me? Nay, interrupt me not! I com- ‘mand you to be silent,and hear me! -I have been kind to you: but as for loving you, how often and © often have I told you when you have bees puling and whining at my feet, that the power of love existed not within me? You knew therefore that to me you were nothing more than the object of a passing fantasy, to be sooner or later discard as @ man discards his mistress. Well then, I w rejoiced when I saw that having triumphed over the insane and hopeless passion which you had been cherishing for me, you had beeome sensible to the superb beauties of Ciprina; and I was re- solved to afford you both the opportunity which I knew you desired. But this aim I sought to ac- complish with a delicacy that should be under- stood, and which Would afford no scope for subse- quent discourse or comment. I gave Ciprina my own suite of apartments; and I left the villa in order that she might remain the mistress there. I did not choose, when I told you that it was Ciprina who was going tovreturn last night to Florence, and when I bade you ascend unto the chamber at a given hour—I did not choese, I say, to look you in the face and let you know that I, your mistress, was thus in reality pandering to your pleasures. And now you have the indelicacy and the audacity to speak on these subjects -——” “My lady, you are mistaken!” exclaimed the youth, his whole form writhing with agony at the thought of being so much misunderstood. “I swear to you that the Signora Ciprina’s beauty has never upon me produced the slightest effect! Equally confident am I that towards the Signora Ciprina herself I am an object of corresponding indif- ference xg “Tis false, Giulio!” exclaimed the Marchioness, now starting up from her seat and stamping her foot with rage and impatience. “I saw you in the picture-gallery together! It was the day be- fore yesterday ! You were in the window recess —you were speaking in low and earnest tones—or rather Ciprina was, and you were listening, doubt- les? with rapture, to the words of love and pas- sion ” * Good heavens!” ejaculated Giulio, dismayed at the stupendous error into which the Mar- chioness had falien concerning him. * Ah! you plead guilty ?” continued Lucrezia di Mirano; “ you find yourself beaten out of the trenches of falsehood—and you confess yourself vanquished? Believe me, Giulio, | was not espy- ing your actions—for until that instant I had no suspicion : but I was about to enter the picture- gallery, and as I opened the door, there I beheld you both! I at once comprehended everything and I withdrew. It answered not my purpose to break in upon your luving téte-a-téte; and you never would have known that I had seen you Gomichbooks..c - 7. | = —— — ~~ “ee = iets