Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 156: what you’re looking at

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148 cautiously and circumspectly in the matter. Be- cause, after all, 1am a prisoner escaped from Bagno —he has only my bare word for the injustice of my arrest—and though he of course believes me and knows that what I have stated is true, yet this is only as between gentleman and gentleman; whereas in his oficial capacity he ought at once to communicate with the Tuscan Government, de- mand explanations with reference to myarrest, and notify his readiness to give me up provided the grounds of that arrest shall be proved to be valid and sufficient.” “Well then,” remarked Ciprina, “dt is clear that the two Ambassadors have every possible reason for proceeding cautiously and with due cir- cumspection,” “They are now consulting together,”’ said Mar- cellin : “ we also shall proceed with our discussion— we may presently compare notes with them, and we shall be enabled to determine upon a specific course of action. Besides, it would be imprudent to take any step until we have Signor Paoli with us. The French Ambassador conceives it highly important in the making out of a case against Lucrezia di Mirano, that the father of the mur- dered youth should give his testimony.” “And such is precisely the view entertained by the British Ambassador,” said de Vere. “There can be no doubt that the Marchioness is strongly protected by the Count of Ramorino; and she has therefore a tower of strength on her side. We have the two Ambassadors: but then it must be remembered that the Ambassadors can only wield ou our behalf such weapons as diplomatic privilege legitimately places in their hands,—whereas, on the other hand, there is an unscrupulous Minister of Police, all-powerful in his own department, and able to set in motion a variety of tremendous engines of defence and protection for the guilty Lucrezia.” “T am glad,” said Ciprina, “ that we are look- ing the whole matter thus rationally in the face, and considering it logically, At what time is Signor Paoli expected in Florence ?” “‘ Antonia is not quite sure,” replied Marcellin. “ She first of all told me at eighto’clock: but she subsequently reflected that she must have made a mistake, and that Petroro told her between nine and ten. I have not taken any step to ascertain the point correctly from Petroro; for I thought that the less communication there might be with his house the better, as Ramorino’s spies are doubt- less everywhere. Therefore, at about nine o'clock we will go to Petroro’s and meet Paoli—unless any other plan of proceeding in respect to this par- ticular point shall be resolyed upon.” “And you have the substantial materials of evidence P” said Ciprina to Marcellin. ““Yes—the pistol and suit of male apparel, which I brought away with me from the Mirano mansion. And then, too, I have the groom Ber- nado at the French Hmbassy—and his evidence will be more or less important. And there is Autonia likewise; and presently we shall have Paoli.” “Gut now,” said fe Vere, “to touch upon an- other point. Thereis the poisoning affair sf “ja Dolfina’s confession and the phial contain- ing the poison,” responded Marcellin, “are in the hands of the French Envoy. Now that Ciprina AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, is with us, it can be proved that the Marchioness di Mirano did make use of that poison in the hope of ridding herself alike of Ciprina and of me; and the French Ambassador knows those particulars of the entire history as well as all the rest; so that this point will not be omitted from the discussion which he is now holding with the British represen- tative.” “And lastly,” said Da Vere, “you have that letter which you found in Lucrezia’s writing- desk.” “That also is inthe hands of the French Envoy,” responded Edgar. “It proves how unscrupulous Ramorino is in using his power on behalf of his mistress.” “ T think you just now said,” observed Ciprina, “ that it is a letter written by Count Ramorino to the Marchioness at the villa in the Vale of Arno to the effect that I and the person who was found with me at the time had been arrested during the past night.” “And this letter,” rejoined Edgar Marcellin, “ will hereafter serve as the ground of complaint to be made by the two Ambassadors to the Tuscan Government against Ramorino, inasmuch as it is thereby proved that to satisfy the de- mands of his mistress he thinks nothing of plunging French or English subjects into captivity. In reference to the Marchioness, I would add,” continued Edgar, “that there are a couple of spies watching all her movements.” “ Ah! this was well thought of,” ejaculated De Vere. ‘“ And those spies ?” “Two domestics of the French Ambassador,” answered Marcellin: “‘ they are dressed in mean apparel—and depend upon it, they Know how to perform their part.” The two young men and Ciprina sontinued in deliberation for some time upon the various fea- tures of the case in which they were engaged. At length, when it was verging towards eight o'clock, the British Envoy returned to the room where the trio had been holding their discussion. The great diplomatic functionary’s countenance wore that expression of mingled firmness and gravity which showed that some important step had been resolved upon, if not already taken. “Madam,” he said, at once addressing himself to Ciprina, and handing her a paper, “ I believe that the statement embodied in this document com- prises the evidence which you are enabled to give in reference to an attempt made by Lucrezia di Mirano to poison yourself and M. Marcellin: You were in your ehamber—you affected to he asleep—you watched the proceedings of the Mar- chioness “A “Yes,” said Ciprina, having glanced her eyes over the paper: “ every statement in this doou- ment is perfectly correct.” “Tt is according to the report which I myself gave to the French Ambassador,” interjected Mar-~ cellin, who likewise glanced at the document as if lay before Cipriaa on the table. “Then have the goodness to sign it, madam,” said the British Envoy: and when the young lady had affixed her signature, he added his own as that of the attesting witness, His Excellency placed the document in an en- vélope ; and going to the door of the apartment, he gave the packet to a servant who was waiting, Sal Comichboo “3