Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

266 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. much my prayers, representations, and remon- strances may fail to divert your footsteps from the path of error, yet surely you will not prove equally indifferent to the entreaties and the counsels which will no doubt be addressed to you by him who is perhaps seeking you in Italy és “What on earth do you mean, Charles ?” eja- culated Floribel: “‘to whom can you possibly allude P”’ ‘The long lost is found—the dead has come to life! Your uncle—the father of Agnes a “Oh! is this possible?” murmured Floribel, as a faintness came over her. ‘Good heavens! are you telling me the truth? or is it merely a strata- gem on your part—well meant, yet based on mis- representation, for the purpose of wielding an in- fluence over my mind—inducing me perhaps to return to England of “‘Floribel, I am incapable of deceiving you on #0 serious a subject! I take heaven to witness that I am telling you the truth. Morton Evelyn is alive!—he has proclaimed himself to me——it matters not how nor why he is rich and he 18 noble—he is the veritable heir of the Ormsby face after all !” “Good heavens! is this true? or is ita dream P” murmured Floribel. “The dead alive! the lost found! Ob, what marvels! what wonders! Leave me now, Charles—I beseech you, leave me to reflect on all that you have been saying !” * Yes—I will leave you, Floribel,” responded our hero,— on condition that you faithfully and sacredly promise me that you will not flee from Turin as suddenly as you fled from Florence—but that you will see me again.” “T promise you faithfully, Charles, I will not depart from Turin as abruptly as I departed from Florence.” “T will return in the evening,” said our hero; “and then, Floribel—thew, you will suffer me to have the most serious conversation with you?” With these words Charles De Vere took his leave of Floribel, and retraced his steps towards the Hotel de Europe,—there to await any message which Hector Hardress might think fit to send him. The 6il/eé which Floribel had entrusted to An- tonia, was quickly consigned to the hands of a porter, and by this functionary conveyed to the apartments of Captain St. Didier in the royal palace, The handsome young aide-de-camp was at home at’ the moment: he perused the letter with a feeling of delight, and immediately set off to pay a visit to Signor Giovanni Petruccio, Deputy-Inspector of the Central Bureau of Police, With this gentleman the business was quickly ar- ranged; and three police-agents in plain clothes, were at once despatched to the Hotel de France. On arriving there, two of the agents remained in the street, while the third entered the establish- ment and inquired for the Hon. Hector Hardress. The waiter at once conducted the official to Hector’s apartment, Parely an hour had elapsed since the occurrence ‘n Floribel’s room; but Hector was still pacing to end fro in the vain endeavour to compose his feel- ings somewhat, that he might deliberate how he was to proceed in order to make the requisite ar- rangements for a duel with De Vere. ‘Lhe waiter entered, saying, “If you please, signor, a gentle- man wishes to speak to you.” —e wee ee i i nen nn LT EE a “Ah!” ejaculated Hardress—for it immediately struck him that Charles himself must have taken the initiative in the conduct of the proceedings. ** Admit the gentleman, by all means!” The police-agent in plain clothes was ushered into the apartment; and he at once announced himself as an officer of the law,—adding, “It is exceedingly disagreeable, signor—but I must ro- quest you to follow me.” “ Follow you?” ejaculated Hector, “ And where the devil am I to follow you to P” “Why, signor, if the truth must be told, I am charged to conduct you to prison.” “Prison?” echoed the young Englishman: and he laughed scornfully. “Do you know who I am? Iam the son of an English nobleman! Besides, there must be some mistake !—for I have done no- thing that could warrant you in atresting me.” *T beg your Wxcellency’s pardon,” rejoined the police agent; “you are charged with meditating a duel 4 Ts it possible,” ejaculated Hardress, “ that Do Vere could have turned coward and poltroon— traitor and sneak—and that he has given infor- mation : * So far from this being the case, signor,”’ inter- rupted the official, “I have received orders to adopt particular measures against him also, These I shall execute so soon as I have conveyed you to a place of security.” . “But what are those measures?” demanded Hector. “ To see that Signor De Vere quits Turin within six hours,’ was the response ‘And if he do,’ ejaculated Hector, “ then may I presume that my own term of imprison- ment iS “Tt will not be necessary to retain you, signor, another hour in custody,’ was the reply, delivered with an exceeding courtesy. “Then be it as you say,” said Hardress; “for it is but a question of a few hours’ delay—and if we are not permitted to fight the duel in Sardinia, I may follow De Vere into France, where they are less particular.” “In that respect, signor, you can do as you think fit,” rejoined the officer, with a polite bow. “Ah! I should observe that inasmuch as this arrest of your’s has been accomplished so quietly, no one need know anything about it in the hotel. You can put a few little necessaries in your pocket—’tis but the matter of a few hours—and perhaps you will not even be condemned to pass the night in gaol.” ** Heaven forbid !” ejaculated Hardress. His preparations were soon made; and in a few minutes he accompanied the police-oflicer from the hotel. About half-an-hour later, as Charles De Vero was seated in his apartment at his own hotel, the waiter entered and announced a gentleman who wished to have some little discourse. Our hero naturally thought that it was a messenger on be- half of Hector Hardress; and he was therefor startled and amazed when the personage, on entering, at once said, “Signor, I am an agent of the police.” Charles, being somewhat more keen-witted than Hector, quickly began to suspect that the object of the oflicial visit was to prevent the duel: but Comichboo nn S — ys