Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | | gn i i ee 164 sacred character gives me to induce her to confess her iniquities.”’ “ Gothen, if you think that you will succeed,” exclaimed Marcellin. “Go! But I fear that the errand will be a vain one.”’ * Stop!” said Charles: ‘may not this be giving a warning to Lucrezia, showing her that the storm- cloud is about to burst P” ‘“* By this time,” interrupted Marcellin, “ Ramo- rino must kuow that we have safe-conducts in our possession, and that his emissaries have therefore failed to arrest us, Whatsoever is to be suspected, he now suspeets, Father Falconara cannot pos- sibly do any barm by seeing Lucrezia di Mirano ; and if by any accident he should succeed in obtain- ing from her the acknowledgment that she is foully perjured, my mind will be go far set at rest. We all know,” added the young Frenchman aside to De Vere, “ that the priests possess an immense in- fluence in this country—particularly over women ; aud who can tell but that the wretched Lucrezia may confess everything in the hope of being leni- ently dealt with ?” “ But what if, on the other hané, she were to take alarm and escape ?” inquired De Vere. “Let us adopt measures to prevent such an pecurrence,” rejoined Marcellin. ‘I will tell you how. While Father Falconara proceeds to execute his own proposal, we will basten to the Minister of the Interior —we will convey the intelligence that Lucrezia is married to Ramorino—and it will fol- low that the warrant for her arrest may be at once executed, as there can be no possible need for the observance of any further delicacy towards the Minister of Potice colleague the Minister of the Interior.” ‘*‘ Be it as you propose,” said De Vere; “ and under all circumstances I myself now incline to the opinion that the sooner the blow is struck the better.” Father Falconara and the two young men issued forth from the British Hmbassy together ; but the priest soon separated from Charles and Kdgar, and bent his way towards the private residence of the Count of Ramorino. To this functionary we must now return, We said at the close of the previous chapter that the clocks of Florence were proclaiming the hour of midnight as the Count of Ramorino turned his steps homeward. He found Lucrezia in a state of the utmost anxiety and suspense ; but it was no- thing calculated to reassure her that Ramorino had to impart. On the contrary, fresh blows were now to strike the miserab’e woman. ** What have you done ?” she asked, flying to- wards her husband the moment he entered the room where she had been so anxiously awaiting him. ‘Oh! how sombre are your looks!” “Sombre P” echoed the Minister fiercely. “ Is it not enough to make my looks sombre—nay, more, to madden me—to drive me wild with rage ry “ Rage |” cried Lucrezia. demanded in affright. “ Rage!” thundered forth Ramorino,— rage at my own accursed folly for having married you !” “Qb! are pou about to reproach me ?” exclaimed Lucregia, in a voice of rending appeal, “Jt was not I who forced myself upon you!” *“ For what?” sho I mean on the part of his. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Never mind how it happened cried the Minister: “itis all the same! You are linked to me—yow, the murderess !” A shriek pealed from Lucrezia’s lips. ** You, the dabbler in pvisons!” vociferated Raworino. Another and louder scream rent the very walls of the apartment. * Tfush!—or by heaven, I will do you a mis- chief!” exclaimed her husband. “ Would you alarm the household? And yet, God knows you have enough fo scream, and shriek, and weep for, wretched woman !—for you ere beggared !” * Beggared?” echoed Lucrezia, “What can you mean P” “T mean that yon are beggared!” responded her husband, as if with all the fierceness of a retort, “Your property is confiscated! And what is more, Luorezia! what is more—there is a warrant issued for your apprehension on account of your dealings with La Dolfine !” “Save me! save me!” cried the wretched woman, falling upon her knees in the presence of her husband. “ But O God! is this indeed true?” “Tt is true that a warrant of confiscation has been issued,” answered Ramorino; “and as a matter of course a warrant for your arrest must have been signed at the same moment. Rise, rise!—tears are ussless! Useless also is it to appeal tome! I am a ruined man! —to-morrow all my honours and dignities will be taken from me! We shall both be plunged down into the very vortex of destruction unless indeed 9 © Unless what P’’ demanded Lucrezia, with ner- vous quickness as she sprang up to ber feet. “ Is there a hope? What were you going to say ? We shall be destroyed, unless 4 “Unless a miracle be wrought by heaven in our favour,” replied the Minister of Police; “and that will not be done!” Lucresia sank down upon a chair, weeping and sobbing bitterly. “Ob! I must fiy! I must fly!” she suddenly 1»? ejaculated, as she started up to her feet. “I must depart !” _ “Hush! some one comes!” interrupted the Count. < Lucrezia ceased from her passionate ejacula- tions; and she turned aside to conceal her emo- tions as a domestic entered the apartment. “ My lord,” said the lacquey, “an officer of sbirri, to whom you entrusted some special busi- ness . “T will come to him,” interrupted Ramorino: and he accordingly issued from the apartment, Proceeding to @ waiting-room, to! which the officer had been shown, Ramoriuo at once anxiously inquired, “ What tidings do you bring P” “The arrests could not be effected, my lord,” answered the functionary. “Not effected? To whom do you allude?” de- manded the Count. “To De Vere and Marcellin,” was the re- sponse. “Why! what has happened?” ejaculated the Minister. ‘ Your face is stained with blood—you speak strangely ff “I have been cruelly maltreated, my lord,” answered the ebérro, “by those two young men.” (EO) lNOOLK S|