Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

10 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PYITASURE. | Neapolitan refugee, who gave the Marvhioness| you have come to my mansion. Ah! let mo ob- credit for the most genuine sympathy. “ There- | serve that you did well from the very first not to fore, lady, for the last time do I stand in your | give the name of Paoli when presenting yourself presence,—beseeching you to give me the minute details of all that is within your knowledge rela- tive to the foul murder of my beloved Giulio. That the villain Edgar Marcellin was the assassin of the unfortunate boy, there can indeed be no doubt !—for even apart from the statement made to me by your ladyship, there are circum: stances # “ Yes—circumstances r’”’ said the Marchioness. “ To what do you allude P” “So soon as I had received from your ladyship’s lips the announcement that Edgar Marcellin was the assassin, [ made inquiries I found that Marcellin had indeed disappeared abruptly from Florence the very day after the crime was perpe- trated ——” “And thus, Signor Paoli,” interjected the Mar- chioness, “ you have obtained the fullest corrobo- ration of the statement I made to you. What more can you require? what more can I do for youP Ihave really no additional information to impart—there are but few details connected with the case. At all events they may be summed up in half-a-dozen words. I knew that Marcellin had been to call at my villa in the Vale of Arno on the particular evening when your unfortunate con lost his life: I likewise knew that Marcellin had a bitter spite against him, and that he had threatened to wreak it. Thus, when I heard that Giulio was no more, I put all circumstances to- gether—I abruptly taxed Marcellin with the crime—he was taken off his guard—and he con- fessed it. That is all. And now again, I ask, what wiil you doP Marcellin is not in this country—a rumour did reach me some months ago that immediately upon his return to France atter fleeing from Florence, he became involved in some political trouble and was forced to fly from Paris ie “T will seek him all over the world!” exclaimed Paoli: “I will never rest until I have found him! By some means or another the death of my un- fortunate son shall be avenged !” “Tt is not in Italy that you will find your son’s murderer,” said the Marchioness ; “ and therefore it were indeed useless for you to tarry any longer | in Florence, even though the Minister of Police had not sent you the mandate to depart. And now tell me, signor—speak frankly—are your means limited P—for if it be so, my purse is at your service.” ‘* Words are inadequate to express the sense of gratitude which I experience for all the proofs of kindness which your Jadyship is bestowing upon me. Indebted to friends in England for the means of coming to Florence % “You shall now be indebted to a friend in Flo. rence,” interjected the Marchioness, “for the meaus of visiting every capital in Europe in search of the murderer Edgar Marcellin. Here—take this purse, Nay, be not afraid 4 “ But ’tis heavy, lady,” said Paoli; “ it con- tains naught but gold—far more than I shall need for my purposes!” “Take it, take it !”” exclaimed the Marchioness; “and if hereafter you may need a friend hesitate not to apply tome. Retire now as discreetly as —— - ew mee at the portals ; for ’tis better that the domestics should not know you.” The refugee bowed—again expressed his grati- tude—and took his departure. The Marchioness returned to the brilliantly. lighted saloons, from which she had nut been alto- |. gether half-an-hour absent ; and no one could tell by her countenance that she had just passed through a scene at all calculated to excite or per- turb her. She again mingled amongst her guests —and the wif again sparkled upon her lips like wine on the brim of a coral cup. Her eyes shed bright beams all around; and every one thought that never had the Marchioness di Mirano ap. peared more brilliant and ravishing in her beauty! —never had she so well performed the part of the courteous hostess ! It might have been some half-hour, or perhaps three-quarters, after Lucrezia di Mirano had thus returned into the midst of the brilliant company whom she had gathered at her mansion, when all of a sudden the whole assemblage was startled by the cracking of one of the window-panes; anda missile of some sort came flying into the room, It hit violently against an immense chandelier, shivering some of the glass pendants, and shaking the whole so that for a few moments the rattling din resounded through the saloon;—and the missile fell near a sofa on the opposite side. Hjaculations of astonishment and indignation burst from many lips—there were some half-stifled shrieks on tho part ,of the ladies—while the Minister of Police exclaimed, “ By heaven! this is an outrage which must be signally punished !” But what was the missile? It had happened to fall at Ciprina’s feet: she picked it up it was a purse! Yes—a purse! And now fresh ejaculations of surprise pealed forth from the lips of many. * And the purse is filled with gold!” exclaimed a lady who sat next to Ciprina. * But whose purse can it be?” asked another. * Methinks I ought to recognise it,’ said Ciprina. ‘“ Yes—there is no doubt!—’tis my friend Lucrezia’s purse!” “What! her ladyship’s?’ ejaculated several voices, ) “The Marchicness di Mirano’s purse P” cried others: and in the twinkling of an eye Ciprina was surrounded by a large number of the com- pauy present, “ Yes, indeed—it is wy purse,’ said the Mar- chioness, advancing towards Ciprina—and the group of guests at once made respectful way for her ladyship. ‘It is my purse, as my friend has declared unto you. Just now I descended into one of the conservatories I will be candid enough to confess that it was to point out which particular fruit I chose should figute upon the table this evening ;and I was so pleased with the head gardener’s evident attention to the contents of the hothouse, that I took out my purse to re- ward him. I must then have left it lying in the conservatory ;—but who could possibly have per- petrated such an outrage as this? It is impossible to conjecture unless indeed it be some under- ling i x. COMMICLOoOkX< 3