Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

a ee ee a er ee OU AGNES; OK, BEAUTY AND YLEASURE. «* What are you doing here, sir ?” she demanded, at once concealing her bust from his view. “ Ob, Floribel! lovely Floribel!” he exclaimed, rushing towards the couch: “pardon my bold- ness !—be not angry with me !—attribute it all to the passion with which you have inspired me !” “ Depart, sir! leave the room!’’ she ejaculated with vehemence and passion. “Ob, Floribel! I beseech you to hear me!” cried Hector. “I have travelled all this distance on purpose——” “ Mr. Hardress, I beseech you to leave me !” she said, her tone and manner suddenly becoming more entreating than angry. ‘ You will compro- mise me most seriously with the proprietor of this hotel—for he and his wife are most respectable persons! Come to me, if you will, presently Z “T will come presently!” said Hector. what hour may I present myself?” “Come to me at three o'clock,” rejoined F'lo- ribel. ‘‘ I will take care to be alone.” “A thousand, thousand thanks!” ejaculated Hardress: and he stole forth from the chamber. “ The conceited coxcomb !”’ mentally exclaimed Floribel, the instant he had left her: “ to think that he only had to make an overture in order to win me! Ah, I must teach him a lesson!” Ina few minutes Antonia made her appearance ; and Floribel’s morning toilet commenced. She dressed herself in an elegant negligée, which set off her beautiful person to the utmost advantage ; for she had a presentiment that the forenoon would not pass away without witnessing some results of her captivating appearance at the theatre on the preceding evening. She received Sir Alexander Holcroft and Carlotta fer about half-an-hour ; and then she remained alone, But not longdid she thus continue alono ere the waiter brought up a card bearing the name of Captain St. Didier, aide de- camp to his Majesty the King of Piedmont. S“loribel’s heart leapt within her: but without the slizbtest exterior betrayal of emotion, she said, “Show Captain St. Didier up.” In a few moments the handsome and elegant aide-de-camp was in her presence. He inclined his head courteously and respectfully, and began by saying, “ Task a thonsand pardons, madame, for the boldness of which I have been guilty: but s ** Be seated, sir,” interrupted Floribel, with mingled amiability and formality; and she indi- cated a chair. “ You wero going to observe, Captain St. Didier 55 “That it was impossible to bebold your appear- ance at the theatre last evening without being ravished by your presence :’—and the Captain displayed a very handsome set of teeth beneath the sable and glossy line which bowed his upper lip. “And is it simplygto tell me this,” inquired Floribel, smiling half archly and half ironically, “that you bave taken the trouble to come hither ?”’ “Be pleased to remember, madame,” said the young officer, “‘ that a moth flutters about the most brilliant light until, dazzled and blinded, it be- comes scorched by the very flames which consti- tuted the glory of its admiration; and you would not blame, but you would pity the poor creature i pray you to have a similar mercy upon me.” “ec At ment which only a foreigner could turn so exqui- sitely as to disassociate it utterly from mere groas fulsomeness; and this time that smile was com- pletely amiable, and by no means scornful. “7 know not who you are, madame,” continued Captain St. Didier, “nor whether you purpose to make a long sojourn in Turin: but on this latter point I may venture to express the hope that it will be a long one, And now I must again im- plore your forgiveness for thus intruding upon you, Will you deal frankly with me?” ' “This is a strange question to put,” answered Floribel, “to a lady unto whom you are almost completely a stranger, and after our acquaintance has lasted ”—she glanced. at her watch— precisely eight minutes.” “There are sentiments which come suddenly upon men,” responded the officer, “ and make them bold. This constitutes their apology, and it is most humbly offered in my case.” “But why should you beg me to deal with you in frankness and candour?” asked Floribel, “ Surely you cannot suppose that I am accustomed to deal otherwise towards persous with whom I come in contact P” “Oh! permit me to explain myself at once!” exclaimed St. Didier. “Do you believe in love at first sight? If not, believe in it now /—for I swear to you that it exists—it is no mere dream of the poet—rt is a substantial fact—and I am a livicg evidence !” Floribel trembled with a joyous sensation ; for, as we have already informed the reader, she was attracted towards this young man; and though the image of Edgar Marcellin was far—very far, from being banished from her mind, yet she felt the necessity of loving and being beloved, though it might be a love after her own fashion. St. Didier saw thet quiver of pleasure which thus for a moment agitated her; and emboldened by the circumstance, he exclaimed, “Ob, if you could but accept this humble but sincere offering of my love, how happy would you render me! Ah, vou do not say Vo; and if you meant me to under- stand that there is no hope, you would not trifle with me—you would tell me so in a moment. May I, then, hope ?” “ You think,” said Floribel, “that because I am here alone—with no fatber, nor husband, nor brother—I am one to whom such language as this may be addressed ; for I am not foolish enough to suppose that it is an offer of marriage that you are making me. A man takes a wife only when he has known her for weeks—perhaps for years— and has thoroughly studied her disposition and temper: but when he seeks a mistress, it is sufli- cient for him to sea that a woman is beautiful— and he speaks out!” “Frankly will I reply,” said the handsome aide-de-camp, “that I offer you a love which is to be unshackled and untrammelled by any other bonds than those which are merely conventional.” “And now, with equal frankness, Captain St. Didier,’ answered Floribel, “I will confess to you that L seek to be loved on such terms. It is my purpose to lead a life of pleasure. Pleasure is my motto: I am its personification :—it is almost my name! Neither will I conceal from you that I have been smitten by your engaging appear- Floribel could not help smiling at this compli- | ance.—” a ee ee 8 ee ee (eC) book