Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

| 228 But I capnot possibly give it to you—I have been so ill—so desponding, and so wretched Charles flung a singularly piercing glance upon her for a moment: and then he said, “ But surely, Mrs. Barrington, you must feel that for many reasons this is a matter which cannot possibly ad- mit of delay. For*both your sakes—for your own and for your husband’s 4 “T know how important it is,” interjected the quadroon ; “but you really must have patience with me, Mr. De Vere: for my mind has been so perplexed and unsettled—my thoughts have been so distracted—that I could not fix them upon any. thing.” “ What, then, would you wish to be done P” in- quired our hero. “Do you seek for a further delay. If so, I beseech you to let it be a very short one, because it really is necessary that your husband should proceed to England v4 “Ob, Mr. De Vere !” exclaimed Emily, “ I be. seech you to procure me another twenty-four hours to reflect upon this most momentous sub- ject! Ob, do, Mr. De Vere! I beseech and im- plore you !” As Charles appeared to hesitate what answer he should give, the quadroon seized him by the hand, and looked up entreatingly into his face, thus artfully endeavouring to envelope him with all the spell-like power of her eyes. At that very instant the door opened, and Petroro’s niece ap- peared upon the threshold. Charles De Vere started back from the quadroon: indeed he was in the very act of thus retreating from her at the instant ; and it was therefore with a certain de- gree Of abruptness he tore his hand away from ner. She herself was covered with confusion ; because she had really intended no improper over- ture towards him: all her thoughts were too com- pletely centred in Gustavus to permit her to enter- tain any illicit inclination towards another. it was an artful cajolery which she had at the instant attempted to practise—and nothing more. Petroro’s niece seemed to feel that she was an intruder ; and she'stood hesitating upon the thresh- old. Charles, at once recovering his self-posses- sion, exclaimed, ‘“ Come in, signoretta. What message or business have you P” “ Merely to present this little bouquet which my father has sent up to place on the signora’s table,” “Thank your father on my behalf,” said the quadroon: and the girl, having acquitted herself of her errand, beat a rapid retreat. ““Mrs. Barrington,” said Charles, in a some- what severe tone, “ you suffer your feelings to hurry you away in a manner which might seriously compromise you “4 “Mr. De Vere,” she answered, with the crim son mantling richly through the duskiness of her complexion, “‘I know that I merit this reproach Pardon me, sir — and forget what happened ! Looking upon you as a friend, I assuredly dis- played too much feeling when entreating that there may be a delay of twenty-four hours ere I decide upon my husband’s propositions.” “There shall be this delay, Mrs. Barrington,” rejoined Charles. “I take it upon myself to enter into the arrangement with you. To-morrow, at the same hour, [ will call again—unless indeed it be necessary for any reason that I suould see you in the interval.” AGNES; OF, BEAUTY AMO PLEASURB, Having thus spoken, Charles took his leave of the quadroon, and at once issued from the house. Scarcely had the door of the apartment closed be- hind him—and even while his feet were yet de- scending the staircase—Emily sprang up from the sofa and rushed into the bed-chamber. Her long raven tresses were gathered up in a moment—the deshabillée was cast off—and the dress, which her maid held in readiness, was at once put on. Then the thick black veil was folded closely over Emily’s countenance; and she glided down the staircase —so that she issued forth from the house within two minutes after the front door had closed be- hind our hero. But matters will appear to the reader as if they were becoming more and more complicated; for no sooner had the quadroon thus rushed forth when Catrina Petroro, quickly muffling herself in her cloak, was upon her track. Emily soon caught sight of Charles as he was proceeding along the street: but she kept at such a distance as to avoid the chance of being noticed. Every now and then she saw our hero look cau- tiously round; and at those instants she was careful to keep behind the passengers in the street, or else to step under a gateway: but she, on her own part, little suspected that while she was thus skilfully endeavouring to evade the notice of De Vere, ali her own movements were being watched by Catrina Petroro! Some minutes had elapsed while this double game of tracking and watching was in progress, when Catrina hastily darted down a by-street; and by speeding along several narrow windings, she presently gained the extremity of the thorough- fare which Charles was still pursuing ; for the cir- cuitous route taken by Catrina brought her to that point. Thus at the very moment when Charles emerged from that thoroughfare into the square to which it led, a voice whispered rapidly in his ear, “Beware! She is following you!” Then the cloaked female who had given this warning, and whom Charles knew to be Catrina Petroro, darted away in another direction. Our hero—who was really on bis way to meet Gus- tavus Barrington at a place.in the immediate neighbourhood—now altered his plan of proceed- ings; and leisurely crossing the square, he entered a news-room. There he whiled away a couple of hours; and thence he repaired to the British Embassy, to pay his respects to the Ambassador. From the Embassy he went to his hotel; and there he found a note waiting for him which had just been delivered by Catrina Petroro, to the effect that the quadroon was still watching and following him. “She is indefatigable!” thought Charles to himself: ‘‘ yes—as persevering as she is cunning and artful! But she must be baffled! At all events her husband will not fail to conjecture the reason why I do not keep my appointment with him.” Our herd’s musings were interrupted by the entrance of a waiter, who handed him a note which had just arrived. The address was in 4 beautiful female hand, but totally unknown to De Vere. On opening it, he found it came from the Hon. Mrs. Hardress,—who, presenting her com- pliments in the due form of courtesy, requested that Mr. De Vere would favour her with a call at (C@) S| cOmMmicbook