Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

_— enn eee 218 AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASULD. I eee ee —— has seen, this latter attempt failed ; and the perti-; ‘“ No, signora,” was the response. “Signor Do ‘ wacity with which Timperley clung to his illegal| Vere dines at the British Embassy. But in re- gains made the blow which thereupon struck him | spect to apartments, signora, if you will permit seem all the more awfully retributive. me to recommend you to the hotel farther down the street, you will be excellently accommodated.” a as Emily accepted the arrangement: and she eaid, “Be so kind as to tell Signor De Vere that Mr. CUAPTER XXXVIL | and Mrs, Barrington have arrived, and that we hope to see him to-morrow morning.” “ I will not fail, signora,” rejoined the landlord. “TI know that Signor De Vere bas been expecting . you for the last ten days or more; for he bas been THE scene of our story must be azvain shifted to | constantly asking if a gentleman and lady by the the Italian soil ; and it is to Florence that we re- name of Barrington have arrived. Ii believe that conduct the attention of our readers. he himself intended to leave Florence for Naples Upwards of ten days had elapsed since the me- | to-morrow or next day; but I hope your arrival morable incidents which led to the death of Lu- | will induce him to stay a little longer.” erezia di Mirano and to the arrest of her unprinci-| The equipage now continued its way along the pled paramour the Count di Ramorino: Charles De | street; and it turned into the court-yard of the Vere was still waiting in Florence to see whether | hotel to which the recommendation had just been the beautiful quadroon would keep her promise | given. Gustavus now woke up: he had slept and bring her husband to that city: but still they some hours—he was completely sober; and Emily came not. Day after day did he expect them; hastily whispered to him “ You are in Florence, and he said to himself, “ After the immense ser- | dear Gus!” vice which Mrs, Barrington rendered me, by en-! He smoothed down his hair; and without an- abling me to perform in safety the journey from sweriog the observation just made by his beauti- her Apennine dwelling into Florence, I am bound | ful quadroon wife, he descended from the chaise, to remain here as long as possible to see if I can be | the faithful John having already opened the door, of any service to her.” and the wailers coming forth from the establish- Although his leave of absence from Naples had | ment to receive the new arrivals. Gustavus did extended to but a fortnight, and this period had not tarry tooffer his arm to assist Emily toalight : expired, yet the British Ambassador in Florence | but he at once followed a waiter into an apartment promised to hold him harmless if he exceeded that | to which he led the way. furlough by a few days. Thus Charles was still| ‘ The best supper you can put upon the table,” tarrying in the Tuscan capital in the hope of be- | said Gustavus, “and plenty of your choicest wine! holding the arrival of the quadroon and her bus-' Bring me a bottle of champagne at once. Iam band : but he was now getting wearied of waiting | dying with thirst.” any longer, and he thought that there was no ne- The quadroon now entered the apartment; and cessity for him to do so. | when the waiter withdrew, she accosted ber hus- Hector Hardress, with his wife and sister, still band, saying in a low tremulous voice, “ Was if continued at the hotel in Florence. 1t was not kind, Gustavus, ta leave me to descend alone from the same where Charles had taken up his own| the chaise? was it handsome to put such an indig- quarters ; neither did he see much of the Hard-| nity upon your own wife in the presence of the ress family : for be it remembered that he had | assembled servitors of the hotel ? was it even act- fought a duel with Hector on account of the latter | ing the part of a gentleman towards a lady ?” having insulted Agnes—-and though they had} “My God, Emily!” ejaculated the young man, shaken hands and hat subsequently met on stamping his foot with sudden rage; “why do you friendly terms, yet our hero could not maintain begiu to sermonise me the very moment that i a real intimacy with one whose character be did set foot within the walls of this hotel ?” not respect, | “Forgive me, dear Gustavus,” said the qua- it was alate hour in the evening when a post. | droon, now adopting the most cajoling and coaxing chaise drove up to the gate of the hotel at which “manner; “ forgive me, dear Gus! I will not thus Charles De Vere was staying. The oceupants of | vex you again. But, Oh! you know how I love the vehicle were the quadroon and her husband.| you, and that therefore I am so jealous of the The latter was lying back fast asleep: the former little attentions which a husband ought to show asked from the window whether an English| towards a wife!” gentleman of the name of De Vere had apartments| ‘Pray don’t teaso me, Emily,” said the young in that hostelry ? The reply was in the aflirma-; man, “ with another long story about your love, tive. I am sick of it! Come, come—we will not “Then,” said Emily, “ we will stay here also. | quarrel!” ho ejaculated, as he perceived that the Have you suitable lodgings P” FLORENCE AGAIN, 'quadroon’s luminous black eyes flashed sudden The landlord was extremely sorry, but the hotel tires: “you know how I hate ascene! Kiss me.’ was quite full: there had been an unusualinflux| Ina moment the splendid dusky-complexioned of guests that day—or olse nothing would afford’ countenance became animated with joy, and the him greater pleasure than to sccommodate any quadroon literally glued her lips to those of her friend of Mr. De Vere, who was a most worthy husband. He suffered the embrace rather than and excellent English gentleman. Such was the returned it; and as Emily’s arms were unwound sense in which the landlord spoke. from about his neck, he threw himself languidly “Then what is to be done?” asked Emily. onthe sofa. ‘The waiter now entered with a bottle “Is Mr, De Vere in the hotel at this moment ?” | of champagne; and Gustavus drank off two oF ———— : te I — oe ee TT ———————————— pA com (Q) VOOKS 6 oe ee ee i 8