Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

DS ; 126 acigar. The Hon. Mrs. Hardress, whom Ciprina had known as Cicely Neale, looked out of the earriage-window as Sir Alexander Holcroft has- tened forward to speak to her. There was an- other lady inside the carriage ; and Ciprina bad no doubt that this was Josephine Hardress, of whose beauty Carlotta Belluno had spoken in such high terms. At first Hardress merely looked round, nodded, and went on smoking bis cigar: butina few minutes he seemed to grow interested in the conversation, whatever its nature might be. At vength Sir Alexander Holcroft retreated from the travelling-carriage, re-entered the tavern, and as- cended to the parlour where he had left Ciprina. “My dear madam,” he said, with a half- goodnatured, half-familiar smile of triumph, “the Hon. Hector and Mrs. Hardress, together with the Hon. Miss Josephine, send you their compli- ments through me, and beg tbat you will takea place in their travelling-carriage.” “You do not mean this, Sir Alexander!” eja- culated Ciprina in amazement. “T mean it, my dear madam. you.” “But you must have made some misrepresen- tation! You must have forgotten that they know me !” cried the young lady. “ T have made no misrepresentation—and I have forgotten nothing. I simply told them,” continued Sir Alexander Holecrott, ‘‘ that Miss Lister I knew not what other name to give you——— was here, most anxious to get to Florence, having escaped by extraordinary means out of the fortress of Bagno.”’ *“ But in one word, Sir Alexander, understand me!” ejaculated Ciprina. ‘ Mrs. Hardress was a Miss Neale—and she knows me well. The Hon. Hector Hardress used at one time to visit at the house where I dwelt: he likewise knows me. They both know that I fled with Theodore Clif- ford; and of course they have by this time told the same to their sister Josephine, even if she were not previously acquainted with the circum- stance.” “ All this is very likely and very true,” an- swered Holcroft : “ but those two ladies and that gentleman will treat you with the utmost courtesy and distinction. Now, you are a woman of the world—I will tell you how the game stands—and then you can play your cards according to your own inclination.” “‘Ah! if you will be explicit,” said Ciprina, “I eball know how to act !” “When the carriage drove up to the door,” re- sumed the Baronet, “I went out and spoke to the occupants. I then began telling a long story to Mrs. Hardress—how a fellow-countrywoman of her’s found herself in certain perplexities and em- barrassments—ana how it was a matter of lifeand death for her to get on without delay to Florence. I then spoke of Bagno and the escape; and having thoroughly enlisted the attention and interest of the two ladies, I mentioned your name—Fioribel Lister. The countenance of Mrs. Hardress be- came clouded ; that of Josephive showed that she knew who sou were. I thought the point was lost,—when, to my surprise, Hardress turned round upon the box, declaring that you were more to be pitied than blamed—that you had been in- temously used by Clifford through the medium of It is as I teil AGNES; OR, BEAUTY. AND PLEASURE, iit io SS See a mock-marriage—and tbat it was not your fault if you had been thus betrayed. This gave a com- plete turn in your favour, for Mrs. Hardress im- mediately appeared to recollect certain pieces of intelligence which she had at different times re- ceived from your coysin Agnes.” “And those pieces of intelligence ?” inquired Floribel, quickly. “ That after separating from Clifford, you had retired into some seclusion, and were leading a perfectly pure, correct, and honourable life—and that after all there was really nothing bad known ~ against you. ThenI myself threw in a few words —the beautiful Josephine grew much interested in your behalf—indeed she also spoke in your faveur —and the climax was that a hearty invitation was sent for you to join the party.” ‘““ Under these circumstances, I can no longer hesitate,” rejoined Ciprina. “ It is indeed an im- mense advantage to travel under such protection ; and you have conferred an additional boon upon me.” Sir Alexander Holcroft sat down at the table, and speedily filled up one of the passport-forms which he carried about with him. He then, in a delicate manner, spoke of money-affairs,— whereupon Ciprina said, “ I have in the hands of a Florence banker a very considerable portion of the amount which I received from your bounty a twelvemonth back. I have therefore no need of further funds—though you rightly conjectured that Lam penniless at this moment; for every- thing of value which I had about me was taken by the officials of Bagno Castle.” “In that case,” replied Sir Alexander, “ you must permit me to be your banker for your imme- diate wants; because no one can tell what may happen on the road.” He hastily folded up in the passport a liberal sum in gold and bank-notes. He then exclaimed, with a sudden peal of hearty merriment, “ By heaven! you bear about you certain indications of the mode of your escape!—in vulgar parlance, patches of flour upon your clothes;—and these must be taken off.” By means of his kerchief he speedily accom. plished his object; and looking forth from the window, he said, “ The post-horses are changed— the carriage is in readiness.” “Before we separate, Sir Alexander Holcroft,” said Ciprina, in a voice that was full of emotion, “permit me to thank you most sincerely for the numerous kindnesses you have now rendered me within the brief space of two hours. But Ab! let me plead once more on behalf of that simple- minded creature Carlotta !—let me breathe one parting word to conjure you 4: “Madam,” interrupted the Baronet coidly, “this is my affair. I know not iu what position,” he went on to say in bis wonted tone of courteous familiarity, “ your little stratagem at the castle may have left the poor girl—or whether I shall be enabled to make any fresh arrangements. Bat, however this may be, I beg that you will leave me to my own businees in consideration of the geal which I have shown in furthering your iaterests, And now permit me to hand you down to the car- riage.” Ciprina dared not plead any further on Car- lotta’s behalf ; and she forthwith accompanied oO Comichboo nn) S (E(0) |