Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

316 the Signora Ciprina just as secretly and faithfully as she had acted towards the Marchioness. But Lisetta was much attached to the handsome Giulio; and thus, when he had sought her ser- vices to introduce Edgar Marcellin into Ciprina’s presence in the manner already known to the reader, he had not sought in vain. Lisetta was a young woman of about twenty, with a dark com- plexion and a superb pair of eyes—but in other respects rather interesting than pretty. She had a roguish, espiégle look; and as the reader may suppose, her virtuous principles were not of the most rigid character—for it was scarcely possible to have been three or four years in the service of Lucrezia di Mirano without having caught the in- fection of that lady’s immorality. Having given his instructions to the groom, Giulio sought Lisetta; and when they were alone together, he inquired how matters had progressed in reference to Edgar Marcellin? “ M. Marcellin is still here,”’ responded Lisetta : “but he is going to take his departure presently— for his horse has been ordered.” “Ah! he is going to take his departure ?” said Giulio. ‘But has he been here all day—since the morning—in the boudoir with Ciprina? Tell me, is it so, Lisetta ?” “It isso,” answered the young woman. “And now would you be kind enough to tell me some- thing in your turn, you wicked mischievous boy !” continued Lisetta, with arch good humour. “ How was it that you knew M. Marcellin would come and ask to see my mistress, thereby meaning the Marchioness?—and why x “Don’t ask me any questions now, Lisetta,” in- terrupted Giulio. ‘“ Another time I will give you all explanations! You see that I have not a mi- mute to spare on the present occasion ; for when my mission is accomplished I must ride back in all haste to Florence. Hasten and give this note to the Signora Ciprina; and tell her that I wait to bear back to the Marchioness whatsoever answer there may be.” Lisetta took the note and proceeded to the bou- doir. In a few minutes she returned, with an in- timation that there was no answer beyond the presentation of the kindest regards of the Signora Ciprina to the Marchioness of Mirano. Giulio accordingly prepared to take his departure: he bade farewell to Lisetta—he proceeded to the stables, where he found a horse in readiness for himself, and another groom holding the steed of Edgar Marcellin; for this gentleman was likewise about to return to Florence. Giulio did not care to fallin with him: he therefore quickly mounted the steed that was prepared for his own use: and he rode away from the premises. But the youth’s course was not pursued so ra- pidiy in the homeward direction as it had been when riding from Florence to the villa; for a deep mist was now settling over the Vale of Arno. This description of mist frequently makes its ap- pearance with extraordinary suddenness in that district : and on occasions it attains almost the density of a London fog. It was thus increasing in thickness as the page rode away from the villa; but as the route was perfectly familiar to him, he experienced no apprehension: he merely felt him- self necessitated to proceed with the utmost cau- tion. The obscurity was completely hemming AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. EE ee ee ae a et a ene him in : trees, villas, boundary-walls, and all objects that usually greeted the eyes, were lost in that depth of gloom through which no light of moon nor star could penetrate. It was almost the same as a London fog, with this difference—that instead of being yellow it was white, and the eye could see for a distance of about a couple of yards around. Giulio had left the villa about a quarter of an hour, when he heard the sounds of a horse’s hoofs coming from behind; and he felt convinced that thie traveller must be M. Marcellin. Nor was he mistaken; for the handsome young Frenchman speedily overtook the youth. “Tt is you, Giulio,” he said in a blithe voice,— “is it not? Yes, to be sure!—but through this infernal mist it would be scarcely possible to recog- nise one’s own father at a distance of three or four feet! However, I thought it must be you when first your form began to emerge from the gloom, because I was informed at the villa that. you had just been and just left.” “And you, Signor,” said Giulio, “ seem to ride with tolerable fearlessness through this mist; for you were advancing ata smart trot when you over- took me—whereas I was walking my horse,” “ Pshaw ! do you think I am afraid P” exclaimed Edgar, with a laugh of reckless gaiety. ‘“ Though I have travelled the route but once, yet can I well rely on the sagacity of this steed of mine. And then too, I have such a lightness of heart that I am in a mood rather to enjoy the excitement of a little danger than to shrink from it! When one has been basking for hours in the rays of beauty’s eyes—reclining in her arms ———” “Yes, Signor,” said Giulio, “ you have every reason to be happy; for the Signora Ciprina loves you dearly !”” “You, my lad, must lead a singular life,” said Edgar Marcellin, “performing the part of a mes- senger of love for those two beautiful women! If I were in your place, I should be bewildered and intoxicated ——” “It does not become me, Signor, who am only: a menial,” said Giulio seriously, “to discuss such questions or enter on such discourse as this.” “ By heaven, this is excellent, most sedate and virtuous of pages!” cried the gay Frenchman, laughing so merrily that his voice literally rang in waves of harmonious sound through the deepen- ing mist. ‘Such delicacy on your part is almost as misplaced as prudery would be on the part of’ either of the ladies you serve !” “ Excuse me, Signor, for remarking,” said Giulio, “that it is neither generous nor honourable on your part to speak with such levity of those twa ladies. The Marchioness di Mirano has received you as a guest at her mansion 3 “And her friend the beautiful Ciprina has re- ceived me in her arms at the villa,’ exclaimed Edgar Marcellin. ‘ But for the life of me there is something in all this which I can barely under- stand, and which I shall be too glad to have ex- plained. I am therefore well pleased to have over- taken you, most discreet and fastidious of all pages !”” | Signor,” exclaimed Giulio, all his warm Italian blood glowing in his veins, “if it be your purpose _to insult me ? “Hah! hah! hab!”—and Edgar Marcellin now cComicbooks -?- —— ee 7