Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 135 lency,” continued the priest, “at the Castle of Bagno in the Apennines,” The Marchioness di Mirano, who after the marriage-ceremony had thrown herself upon a seat in acorner of the room, indifferent to what was passing betwixt her husband and the priest, now gave a sudden start ; for she knew that it was to the Apennire fortress just named that Ciprina and her companion (whoever he were) had been conveyed. Ramorino himself now seemed inspired with a sudden interest in the discourse; and he said, “Ah! you are the chaplain at Bagno? What tidings have you for me?” “The boon that I would crave at the hands of your Excellency,” proceeded Falconara, “ is your pardon on behalf of the Governor Captain Bel- luno, on account of the escape of two prisoners.” The Marchioness shivered from head to foot; for she was at once sritten with a presentiment which made her think within herself, “ Every- thing will yet go wrong! Heaven is warring against me!” “The escape of two prisoners?” cried Ramo- rino. “ But who?” “Numbers Twenty-nine and Thirty,” answered the young priest. “But their names? their names?” cried Lucrezia, springing forward; for she was unable to restrain her feverish impatience a moment longer. “Hush, dearest!” said the Minister, thus hastily speaking aside to his wife: “no names are known at the Castle of Bagno! Holy father,” he continued, turning again towards the priest, “ per- haps you have brought some written report from his Excellency Captain Belluno ?” “No, my lord,” returned Falconara : “ Captain Belluno considered the matter to be so grave that he begged me to become the bearer of verbal ex- planations. I therefore set out at once from Bagno: it was at four o’clock in the afternoon— and immediately on my arrival in Florence, I waited on your Excellency.” * But these prisoners,” exclaimed Ramorino,— “who are they? Not those who were so recently consigned to Bagno P” “Yes, my lord—those who arrived at Bagno at @ very early hour yesterday morning.” “A young lady—very beautiful—tall—with dark hair and eyes?” ejaculated Lucrezia, almost wild with the fears that were racking her: “ about nine- teen years of age—elegantly formed of “The young lady,” replied Father Falconara, meekly and diffidently, “ certainly possesses a large share of what the world calls beauty; and her de- scription corresponds with that which your lady- ship has just given.” “Then my enemy has escaped!” almost shrieked forth the wretched Lucrezia, forgetting in her mental agony that she might betray something in the presence of the priest, or that at all events he would think this excitement on her part very strange, y “For heaven’s sake.compose yourself!” said Ramorino, again turning aside towards Lucrezia. “What must this young man thiik?” he de- manded, with petulant, and almost with savage accents, “True! true!’ murmured Lucrezia: and then in a voice which was scarcely audible, she said, “After a moment’s lull the storm gathers mcre fearfully around me than ever.” *Qb, my lord! and you also my lady!” ox- claimed Father Falconara, terrified at the turn which the proceedings appeared to be taking, though everything was so unaccountable to him; “T beseech you to believe me—on the sacred word of an ecclesiastic—the Governor of the tortress of Bagno is faultless in respect to the escape of these persons !” “Good heavens! what will be the result P” mur- mured Lucrezia, heedless of what the priest was now saying. “Have courage!” hastily responded Ramorino, drawing his wife still further aside: “ you wiil only make matters worse by giving way to this wild excitement! There!—sit down—be quiet, I be. seech you! Be silent!—and: let me question this priest.” Lucrezia sank upon the seat to which her hus- band conducted her: and the Count again turned towards Father Falconara. “The young lady has escaped, you say? When did this happen P” he demanded. * At about two o’clock in the afternoon of this day,” replied the priest; “and by some means so mysterious that they utterly defy all conjecture.” “Then she has already had time to arrive in Florence, if such be her purpose!” thought Lu- crezia to herself:—and the same reflection simul- taneously occurred to her husband. ‘“And the other prisoner?” asked Ramorino quickly. “The one who arrived with the young lady,” returned the priest. “It was last evening—at about this same hour,” he continued, glancing at a time-piece which stood upon the mantel, “ that the young gentleman escaped. The means which he adopted are neither mysterious nor unknown: but in this case, as in the other, Captain Belluno was utterly devoid of all blame.” * Well, well,” ejaculated Ramorino hastily, “we will hold the Governor acquitted of any fault in connexion with these misadventures.” “A thousand thanks, my lord!” exclaimed Fal- conara: “this is the most liberal and bounteous fee your Excellency could possibly bestow upon me for the ceremony which I have had the honour of solemnizing!” “* But that young gentleman? for you said that he is a young one, I believe?” “Yes—his age cannot exceed twenty,” replied the priest. “A mere stripling!” ejaculated the Minister. “ But bis personal description ?” “ Rather tall of stature—of slender figure—very genteel in his bearing and manners—I should also say that the worid would consider him re- markably handsome.” “Proceed,” said Ramorino: “ there are yet more particular details which you may give His hair?” ** Dark hair, clustering in natural curls,” con- tinued the priest. “ His eyes also dark—large, and clear; and I am bound in truthfulness to add, that manly frankness, a lofty spirit, a generous disposition, as well as a certain firmness of character, are all indicated in the expression of his countenance.” * Of course you are ignorant of his name f” said Ramorino, inguiringly. 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