Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

a AGNES; —_——- and who immediately set off to bear it to its desti- nation. “7 will now inform you,” said the British En- voy, “of the steps that have been taken—or rather which are immediately about to be taken, in this difficult and peculiar case. You may rest assured that the French Envoy and I have given it our very best consideration ; and I think you will ap- prove of the conclusion to which we have arrived as the most efficient means of bringing the entire matter to an issue. For let it be borne in mind that the main object, after all, is to clear your character, M. Marcellin, from any aspersion which Lucrezia di Mirano may in her desperation or malignity throw upon it. Well then, if we can at the very outset prove the Marchioness di Mirano to be capable of one heinous crime, we fur- nish a good ground for the supposition that she was guilty of another. In plain terms, we mean to accuse her at once of the crime of dealing with the poisoner La Doifina, and attempting to ad- minister poison purchased from that woman ; and we shall demand that justice may promptly take its course on that charge.” “This is no doubt well planned,” said De Vere; “for if once the Marchioness be arrested as a poisoner, it will give weight to the other accusa- tion which will be made against her, And who indeed would believe her if, under such circum- stances, she turned round and proclaimed yow, M. Marcellin, to be the assassin of the unfortunate page Giulio P” “ Besides,” continued the British Ettvoy, “in having two cases to deal with, we naturally select the stronger. Now in one instance the evidence is positive: in the other it is only circumstantial. We take the case where the evidence is positive : we charge Lucregia di Mirano with being a great criminal—we paralyze her—we beat down all her strongholds and defences—we render it impossible for Ramorino, if he have any regard for his own character, to continue bis protection in respect to so vile a woman,” “Yes,” said Marcellin, “ the arrangements are well taken. And now, what is the process to be adopted with regard to her P” “The French Envoy has taken the matter in hand,” replied the British Ambassador. ‘“ Imme- diately upon the receipt of the document which I just now sent to his Excellency, he will proceed to the Minister of the Interior, to whom he will represent the facts. It is not necessary in this ease to go to Ramorino for a warrant. Besides, it can be proved by the letter which you, M. Mar- cellin, found in Lucreszia di Mirano’s writing-desk, that the Minister of Police would rather shield her from arrest, or else aid ane her escape, het suffer justice to take its course.’ “To be sure!” ye Marcellin; * sid it ig therefore fortunate that the intervention of Ra- morino need not be sought in carrying out the pre- sent purpose. And what follows the application to the Minister of the Interior ?” inquired the | young Frenchman. “Two distinct warrants will be granted,” replied the British Envoy,—* one authorizing the arrest of Lucrezia di Mirano as a person accused of the felony of dealing with poisons; and the other emanating from the Treasury, levying immediate selgure and confiscation upon all the property of - 5 aie ae ee TEE TATOO ORSRCO OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. a 149 the Marchioness, to await the issue of the trial which she must undergo.” * And these warrants,” said Marcellin—‘ when will they be issued ?” “Presently,” rejoined the British Envoy. “Ab! I forgot to observe that the Marchioness is at Count Ramorino’s private dwelling. One of the spies of the French Ambassador tracked her thither at about seven o’clock.” “Will the warrant for her arrest be executed there ?” inquired De Vere. *“* No,” responded the Envoy. “The Minister of the Interior will of course-command that the privacy of his collesgue’s abode shall be respected ; —the warrant will not therefore be executed until the Marchioness returns to her own house. In respect to yourselves, there is little doubt that in consequence of the representations which the French Ambassador purposes to address to the Minister of the Interior, your persons will be pro- tected against all molestation pending the proceed- ings that are about to take place.” Everything that was thus reported to the two young gentlemen and Ciprina, experienced their warmest approval; and the British Envoy was cordially thanked for the trouble he was taking in the matter. It was about a quarter to nine o’clock when the Ambassador was summoned from the apartment : but he almost immediately returned, introducing the French Envoy. “ I have succeeded,” said this last-named funce tionary, “in everything that I undertook with the Minister of the Interior. In the first place, he has granted his warrant for the arrest of the Mar- chioness di Mirano, and which warrant will be executed either to-night or to-morrow morning, according to circumstances. In the second place, the Minister of the Interior has sent a formal des mand to the Treasury, desiring his colleague the Minister of Finance to issue a warrant of confisca- tion against the property of Lucrezia di Mirano. In the third place, here is a safe-conduct, or special passport, for each of you three,—exempt- ing you from the possibility of arrest on any ordi- nary warrant. Indeed, not even all the power of Count Ramorino himself can now interfere with your freedom!” Thus speaking, the French Envoy delivered the three passports, or safe-conducts, to Ciprina, De Vere, and Marcellin respectively. “You will perceive, M. Marcellin,” said the French representative, “that the names of Ber- nardo and Antonio are included in your safe-con- duct; and thus they likewise are free from the danger of arrest. By the bye, I ought to have added that the Minister of the Interior will be careful to avoid the chance of suffering bis col- league Ramorino to know what is transpiring in this case, for fear lest the Minister of Police should give timely warning to his mistress Lucrezia, and thus enable her to escape from the fatal conse- quences of her crimes.” The thanks which had been previously given to the British Envoy, were now renewed towards the French representative: and then De Vere said tc Marcellin—* Let us now go and meet Paoli ai Signor Petroro’s.” “Ah! if I had thought of it,” exclaimed the French Ambassador, “I would have procured a nn