Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

—_—_LO inn Cm — Cr nw COS —— eee AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. obtained. But he lodked once more at Carlotta; and then came the one most generous instant which had ever as yet displayed itself in the career of Sir Alexander Holcroft. “No!” he exclaimed, “I will not flee! I will not depart! I will not prove less generous than you, Carlotta! Besides, I really love you!—and moreover you have this day shown so many ad- mirable qualities—so much virtue and so much self-denial—so much true principle and so much magnanimity—that I feel I should be proud of you as a wife!” One cry of joy, and the delighted being bounded towards him. ‘Then, as she was strained to his heart, where she sobbed and wept in wild de- light, Holeroft went on to say, “ Never should I have yielded to threats—no, not even to the dread of a Tuscan fortress. But the goodness of Carlotta has triumphed! Father Falconara, you may now unite our hands according to the ceremony of the Catholic Church, whereof she is a member: and then we will away to the British Embassy, whero the chaplain shall rivet the bonds according to the forms of the Protestant faith. Captain Belluno, your hand before youacknowledge mo as your son- in-law !” The hands were clasped accordingly; and the reader may conceive how great was Carlotta’s de- light when she found that not only was her in- tended husband established on a complete friendly footing with her sire, but also that Father Fal- conara was preparing to perform the bridal service. The nuptial blessing was soon pronounced ; and the Baronet saluted his young bride as Lady Holcroft. ‘And you will never repent,’’ she murmured, as she hid her blushing cheeks in the breast to which he strained her,—* you will never for a moment think that you were by any means coerced into this union?” ““No—never, dearest !” was the response given with enthusiastic fervour, ‘“ From this moment forth I feel myself to be an altered man !” Captain Belluno, Father Falconara, and Signor Petruccio now took their departure—but it was only to proceed to the nearest magistrate’s office, where they were in a short time rejoined by Sir Alexander and Lady Holcroft. A notary was sent for ; and the “ civil contract of marriage,” as it is valled in the Sardinian States, was duly signed. Some two hours were thus disposed of; and from the magisterial office the party proceeded to the British Embassy, where the services of the chap- lain were soon put into requisition ;—so that the nuptial ceremony was sanctioned according to the rites of the Protestant Church in order that the union might be perfectly legal and binding in the | eye of the British law. The whole proceedings | were thus conducted with that degree of secrecy which might raise no suspicion at the hotel that Sir Alexander and Carlotta were only just mar- ried; and as they had previously passed there as man and wife, nothing could now transpire to en- gender the idea in that quarter that the nuptial ceremony had only been solemnized that day. 261 the staircase of the mansion of the British Em. bassy, they met a young gentleman hastily ascending. “What! De Vere! is it youP” burst from the lips of the Baronet. ** Ah, Holcroft!” cried our hero; “who would have thought of meeting with you at TurinP I fancied that you were buried, for the benefit of your health, amidst the wilds of the Apen- nines P” “No, my dear friend,” responded the Baronet, smiling at his pretty companion. “I am here to change my condition. In a word, permit me to introduce you to Lady Holcroft.” Charles started for a moment in astonishment — for he never had fancied the Baronet to be a marrying man: but he made a most courteous salutation to the bride. “Lady Holcroft knows you by name,” con- tinued Sir Alexander; “and you may perhaps have heard of her as the Signoretta Belluno though I believe you did not meet when you wero at the Castle of Bagno.” Again was our hero seized with surprise; but being too well bred to betray it for more than an instant, he proffered his congratulations, which were acknowledged with a friendly cordiality on the part of Holcroft and with modest blushes on that of Carlotta. “And now, my dear fellow,’ continued Hol- croft, “‘what are you doing at Turin? and why are you rushing up these stairs in so desperate a hurry? Besides, you look jaded and caro- worn ” “‘T have travelled fast,” replied our hero. “ I come from Ilorence—I am on my way to England —Iam going to get my passport countersigned here, at the Embassy ve “‘T hope nothing unpleasant has occurred P” in- terjected the Baronet. “ Nothing — nothing particular,” rejoined our hero quickly. ‘“ But I am in haste——” “J will not detain you. But, Ah!” ejaculated Sir Alexander, “I have something to tell you— though I do not exactly know whether I ought to mention it or not 7 “ What do you mean P” cried Charles De Vere, “ Floribel Lister 2 * Bloribel ?” exclaimed our hero. ‘'Yes—Floribel Lister is here, in Turin. She is at the Hotel de France. Yet, for heaven’s sake, if lam committing any indiscretion in making this announcement us “IT must see her!” interjected Charles: “but I will not tell her that it is from you I learnt of her being at Turin.” “We also are staying at the Hotel de France,” remarked Holcroft. “‘T will come thither presently,” said our hero ; “and if I meet you there, my conduct shall seem as if we had not previously encountered each other in this capital.” He bowed and hurried up the staircase—while Sir Alexander and Lady Hoicroft descended to the The Baronet invited Captain Belluno, Father | vehicle which had brought them thither. Falconara, end Signor Giovanni Petruccio to dine at that hotel in the evening; and in the mean- while those three persons took leave of the newly- married couple. As Bir Alexander was escorting his bride down Ghboo re