Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. oA ag on = mMorino answered courteously, and passed on. His fim was accomplished: he had discovered that this individual was also a Frenchman—that he was no labourer, though disguised in the garb ofa working man—but that he had all the manners of a lacquey. “ There is not the slightest shadow of a doubt !” said the Count to himself: ‘‘ Lucrezia is watched! Ah! it is ‘somewhat too strong that the abode of the Minister of Police should be placed under espial! Marcellin must be at the bottom of it !— and some decisive blow ought at once to be struck! But what ? or how?” This was the bewildering question: for Ramo- rino knew very well that it was a difficult and a dangerous thing to have to deal with the Embas- sies of powerful Governments when protecting the subjects of their own nations. “What is to be done?” he again asked him- self. ‘Ah! I will confer with Lucrezia for afew minutes, and ascertain the precise details of the fearful position in which she stands! Everything 139 always existed a great coolness between thems thus there was now no shaking of hands—merely the salutations of a distant courtesy; and Ramo- rino, with an air of the most perfect self-posses- sion, asked, “To what am I to attribute the honour of the present visit P” “To a subject of importance,” replied the Minis- ter of Finance; “or else I should not intrude upon your Excellency at this unseasonable hour.” “And that subject, my lord,” said Ramorino,— “what may it be?’—though he had little diffi- culty in forming a conjecture upon the point. “Four days ago, my lord,” said the Minister of Finance, fixing his small grey eyes steadfastly and searchingly upon Ramorino, “you drew upon the Treasury a cheque for the monthly sum required for the service of your department.” “Yes, my lord,” replied Ramorino. “I am usually punctual in drawing on the last day of every month.” “ And the Treasury is as punctual in honouring your drafts, my lord,” interjected the Minister of is not as yet known to me—and in the absence of Finance. this knowledge I am unable to devise those schemes that may be for the best.” The Minister of Police accordingly entered his private abode; and he was about to ascend the staircase in order to return to the apartment where he had left Lucrezia, when a domestic, ac- costing him, said, “If you please, my lord, his Excellenoy the Minister of Finance called a few minutes ago.” “Ah! the Minister of Finance!” ejaculated Ramorino—and for an instant a cold shudder passed over him: but the next moment regaining his self-possession, he mentally said, ‘‘ No matter! Thank heaven, I shall be enabled to realize to- morrow the funds which will save me, and which wiil likewise place me in a position to defy my mortal enemy—my colleague, and yet my rival in the Cabinet !” “ His Excellency is waiting,” said the lacquey. “Waiting?” echoed Ramorino. “You mean that the Minister of Finance " “Ts waiting, my lord, His Excellency said that it was of importance he should see your lord- ship.” VYhe Count of Ramorino experienced another sudden access of alarm: but again he quickly re- covered his self-possession as he reflected that it was barely possible for the Finance Minister to drive him completely to extremities at that uurea- sonable hour in the evening. Ramorino proceeded to the apartmeat where | | | / ‘No doubt,” said Ramorino. ‘“ Whatever mis- understandings there may have been betwixt your lordship and myself on various subjects, I have never failed to comprehend, as well as to proclaim to all the world, that your lordship’s exactitude and punctuality in the affairs of your department render you a model for the contemplation of all financiers.” The Minister of Finance understood that this was flattery’s sop thrown out for a purpose; and he smiled scornfully and contemptuously—for he was about the last person in existence to be wheedled or cajoled in any such manner. The smile almost instantaneously passed away from his lips; and he said with his wonted glacial severity, “On the morning of the 31st of October your lordship’s draft was honoured at the Treasury; but this is the evening of the 3rd of November, and so portion of that sum has yet been devoted to its-proper purpose.” “I might as a colleague, standing on equal terms with yourself,” answered Ramorino, assume ing an air of dignity, “decline to suffer myself to be questioned on the point ? “Do so if you think fit,” interrupted the Minister of Finance, with a spiteful expression of countenance ; “and I will at once address myself to the Prime Minister, to whom your Excellency will mot be enabled to refuse an explanation.” “JT have not refused yow an explanation, my lord,” responded the Count. ‘On the contrary, the Minister of Finance was waiting to see him./I am treating you with a courtesy which if you do The financier was a little, thin, pale-faced, elderly | but say the word, shall expand into friendship. manu—with pointed features, sharp restless grey | For wherefore should there be enmity between eyes, and very thin lips, which he was in the con- | us? Are we not members of the same adminis- stant habit of compressing in a manner that indi- | tration? are we not pledged to the same policy? cated the firm resoluteness of his character. He | are not our objects identical—nawmeoly, to serve our was a strictly honest man—and he was likewise a | sovereign and the couutry ?” moral man: be had his suspicions of Kamorino’s “ Most assuredly, my lord,” answered tho integrity—while he was convinced of his profligacy. | Minister of Minance. ‘ Believe me, therefore, that For these reasons he hated Ramorino; and being ;it is because I wish this administration of which naturally malignant, spiteful, and vindictive, he hed for some time past been watching for an op- portunity to bring about the downfall of the linister of Police. Count Bamorino entered the apartment where his antagonist was awaiting his presence. There i —————_ } we are members to be alike respectable and re- spected—because also I consider it my duty to watch vigilantly over every detail of my own de- partwent, even when its finances flow into the sphere of another departiment,—it is for all these reasons that I come to ask your Uxcejiency why co lNOO@LK co 5}