Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

248 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, ing to pick up the bottle, she added, ‘‘ No, no! he is deceiving you! He lives—and I die!” Thus speaking, the quadroon made one bound towards the spot where she had flung down the pistol: but Lord Ormsby was beforehand with her —and he snatched it up. “Tt is useless to give yourself any trouble, my lord,” said Gustavus, “concerning that weapon. It is a revolver, as I perceive—but the remaining barrels are as harmlessly charged as the one which has been fired off. As for you, Emily, it is an in- nocent drug which you have swallowed: but your twofold crime is not the less because heaven has frustrated you in its execution !” The quadroon stared upon her husband with her large burning eyes; and it was evident that she was utterly bewildered what to think or how to act. “Your proceedings have been watched, Emily,” continued Gustavus; “and fortunate it is that such precautions were taken, or else murder and suicide would ere now have been the horrible ter- mination of the scene! Yes—you were watched and followed the other night when you visited tho gunsmith’s, and subsequently the che.nist’s! At the former place you purchased a revolver- pistol, which you made the man load in your own presence: yes—you saw that he duly charged each barrel with a bullet! At the other place you purchased poison. But Catrina Petroro was on your track; and subsequeutly she purchased a similar pistol at the same gunsmith’s, and a similar phial of fluid at the chemist’s, The pistol she ordered to be charged with powder only ; and into the phial she ordered some simple mixture to be poured. This weapon and this phial were substituted for the articles which you yourself had purchased, and which you had placed in a bureau. Thus, thanks to these precautions, my life has been rescued from your murderous aims, and you still live to repent of your misdeeds!” It was with an inscrutable expression of coun- tenance that the quadroon listened to this speech ; and when it was finished, she still stood motionless in the midst of the apartment, her burning eyes fixed upon her husband. “T think, Mrs. Barrington,” said Lord Ormsby, “ that after the scene which has just occurred, you cannot fail to recognise the prudence and propriety of separating from your husband for a time " “Yes —be it so!” she abruptly ejaculated. “T now wish it! I now desire it! Go you to England, Gustavus. I shall at once set off for France, and at Havre I shall embark for the West Indies. When we meet again you will appreciate all the fond love that has been borne for you by your Emily!” With these words, she abruptly quitted the room, closing the door behind her. Gustavus sprang a couple of paces forward as if to follow her —and then stopping short, he said with an air of bewildered uncertainty, “I know not whether to let her depart thus and abandon her to her own wild will—or whether to try for the last time the effects of friendly remonstrance and per- suasion P” He glanced towards Lord Ormsby, as if appeal- ing to him for advice, and suffering the nobleman to comprehend that one word from his lips would decidehim how to act. But Ormsby saw that it was a subject too delicate for him to interfere with : it was a point to be cleared up only by him whom it most vitally concerned. “No,” said Gustavus, suddenly making up his mind: “I will not seek her presence again! “Tis better that everything should be at an end between us he ** And now,” exclaimed Mrs. De Vere, “ what about Charles? Who will go to seek him?” “One minute, my dear madam, and I will re- turn!” said Lord Ormsby: and he hastened from the room. Mrs, De Vere resumed her seat upon the sofa, where she abandoned herself to her painful reflec- tions in reference to the abrupt departure of her son ; while Gustavus, throwing himself apon an ottoman in the window-recess, gave way to his meditations in respect to Emily. In a few minutes Lord Ormsby returned; and he said, “ There can be no doubt, my dear madam, that Charles has quitted Florence. But I have penned a hasty note and sent a courier in pursuit of him. In that billet I have told him that every- thing is satisfactorily cleared up—and I have begged him to. come back. Doubtless he will be overtaken! At all events, if it should be other- wise, we shall know where to find him. He will proceed to England “Yes!” exclaimed Mrs. De Vere: “ but, Oh’ conceive the agony of soul he will endure !—the painful affliction and cruel suspense until every- thing shall be eleared up! And if in such a frame of mind he should seek Agnes, most cruelly will he afflict her likewise !” “ True! true!” said Ormsby : “ but let us hope that the courier will succeed in overtaking him.” “By what means did he depart ?” inquired Mrs. De Vere. * It would seem,” replied Lord Ormsby, “ that rushing down into the court-yard, he demanded how soon he could have an equipage got in readi- ness to take him on a long journey. At that very moment a courier was abuut to start with a post- horse—Charles saw the anima] waiting in the court-yard—he at once hired it—the courier sur- rendered it to him—and he galloped away.” “ Ah, then, my poor son is half-frantic ! !” cried Mrs. De Vere in an agony of grief; “ and there is not even a certainty in respect to the particular route that he may take !” “ Tranquillise yourself, my dear madam,” said Lord Ormsby. “I have done all that can be ac- complished under existing circumstances—and we must await the result in patience.” CHAPTER XLII TURIN. The scene now changes to the city of Turin, the capital of the Kingdom of Piedmont. It was evening—and the principal theatre was thronged with the elite of the fashionable world of that beautiful metropolis, to witness the debut of some new actress. From the moment that the doors were opened the crowds began to pour in ; so that the seats speedily filled. But there was one box which remained completely unoccupied even till S yt (e() a ee eS. hComicbooks nn} G 3