Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

' the staircase with which it communicated, AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. —— ** No—that is scarcely probable,” interjected an elderly lady; “for the underling would most likely have self-appropriated the purse instead of adopting such singular means to restore it.” “Tt is a mystery which cannot at present be fathomed,” said the Marchioness; “and I beg that it may not disturb the harmony of the even- in ale was intended as an insult,’”’ exclaimed the Minister of Police; “that is only too clear! I will go and issue orders to the first patrol of sbirri that I meet 4 “My dear Count, do nothing of the sort,” said the Marchioness. ‘I will to-morrow investigate the matter; and if the culprit be discovered, rest assured that he shall be punished. Come, my friends—let no more be said upon the subject; but let the amusements of the evening continue.— Count,” added the Marchioness, with one of her most affable smiles, “are you not about to offer me your hand that we may open the next dance together P” “With the utmost delight,’ responded Ramo- rino. “But first of all your ladyship has for- gotten to take the purse which the Signora Ciprina has been for the last three minutes proffering ou.” “Ab, indeed!” said the Marchioness: “I did not observe my sweet friend’s kind attention.” She smilingly approached Ciprina; but as the young lady placed the purse in the hand of the Marchioness, she felt that this hand was as cold as that of death. Ciprina was for an instant startled—she flung a quick glance of anxious in- guiry upon Lucrezia’s countenance: but there was nothing there to corroborate the idea that any sinister circumstances were attached to this inci- dent of the purse. The Marchioness now accompanied the Count of Ramorino to the upper part of the saloon, so that they might take their place at the head of the dance. As they proceeded thither, Laicrezia leant upon the Count’s arm; so that his hand came not in contact with hers until the commence- ment of the dance; and in the meanwhile the Marchioness had drawn on her elegant white kid glove, so elastic and tight-fitting, which displayed the beautiful formation of that hand with its symmetry of long tapering fingers. ) CHAPTER IItl, THE PURSE. WE must now return to Signor Paoli, whom we left at the moment when he was about to take his departure from the picture-gallery of the Mirano mansion. His heart was full of gratitude towards the Marchioness; and he wiped the tears _from his eyes, as he thought of the kind tone in which she had addressed him and the compas- sionating looks which she bad bent upon him, even more than the proof of her substantial liberality which he retained in his possession. On issuing from the picture-gallery Paoli rapidly traversed the landing, and began the descent of This was not the grand staircase, which was used only ee eee 11 by those who had access to the brilliantly-lighted saloons; but both led down into the same placo— namely, the court-yard of the mansion, which was built in a quadrangular form. On reaching the bottom of the staircase, Paoli was about to place his fingers upon the handle of the door leading into the court-yard, when that door was abruptly opened: and a man muffled in a cloak made his appearangs. ‘This man, whose countefiance was almost completely concealed by that muffling mantle, was about to beat a hasty retreat as if he had not expected to meet any one there,—when the glimpse he caught of VPaoli’s features as abruptly made him alter his intention. He stopped short as if in surprise: indeed an ejacula- tion expressive of that feeling burst from his lips: —and then he advanced completely into the lobby whence the flight of stairs ascended. A strong light was burning in this vestibule, so that the cloaked individual had no difficulty in at once discerning Signor Paoli’s features; and it was evident that he recognised them, by the way in which he had altered his purpose and had re- mained instead of beating a retreat, and also by the ejaculation which had burst from his lips, But on the other hand, Paoli could only distin- guish a pair of bright eyes within the folds of the muffling roquelairé; yet it was evident that by the handsome style of this mantle, and whatever other portions of its wearer’s dress were visible, that he belonged to the genteel order of society. “Ab, you here!’ said the cloaked stranger, thus singularly apostrophising Paoli. “But I ought not to be astonished -———” “And who may you be, signor ?” srcupeed Paoli, surprised at the other’s conduct. ‘“ You appear to know me? Were it not therefore well —or at least consistent with a becoming courtesy —if you were to remove the cape of that mantle from your countenance, and afford me a chance of ascertaining whether or not the recognition may be mutual?” “Listen to me for a few moments, ere I reveal my countenance,” said the cloaked stranger. “ You may or may not know me I am not certain. But if you do recognise me, give vent to no word too loudly spoken—and make no gesture which may lead to a trampling of feet In short, signor, be circumspect and cautious, as if your very life depended upon it!—forI have matters of the utmost importance to reveal unto your knowledge,” The idea had for a moment flitted through Paoli’s brain that accident had brought him in contact with some unfortunate creature who was deprived of his reason; but this opinion quickly changed as he marked the serious, collected, and earnest manner in which the stranger was speak- ing. He therefore said, “If everything be fair on your part, rest assured that there shall be nothing indisereet on mine,” “Tis well,” said the stranger, “I know you to be a man of energy—or you would not have embarked in that cause which led to your exile from the Neapolitan territory. You see that I fully know you!” “IT see it,” observed Paoli. “ But it matters not: for even if you were an enomy, you could do me no harm. Weare in a neutral State!” — “Do you harm @” ejaculated the stranger,as if Ghook co 5}