Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 300: what you’re looking at

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a 292 heart to leave you exposed to the slightest risk. You must escape!” ‘Escape! And why so, lady ?” ‘Because you may be disappointed in the result of this mission which has been entrusted to Stefano. In a word fa “In a word, your ladyship,” interjected Charles, “ believes that I am guilty of being a spy?” “T consider that it is possible you may have harboured a certain intent,’’ pursued the Countess: “ you may have been driven to it by desperation— goaded by feelings of madness—inspired by a fierce anger against those who compelled you to remain enlisted under their banner x “And you think, lady,” said Charles, “ that I was capable of devising means to betray yourself and your sister to the scaffold? No, by heaven! I would not do so! I would die first !” The beautiful eyes of the Countess surveyed our hero with mingled admiration and gratitude; and for a few moments their expression acquired a softness which was even of a tender character. Then her regards were modestly bent down, as she faltered forth, ‘“ You see, Signor De Vere, you have not altogether outdone me in the generosity of your conduct. I came to save you I will gave you now if; you think that you incur the slightest peril! Yes—though I become a perjured woman yet sooner that than to see you perish! Understand me well, signor! I am speaking as a friend speaks to a friend, or as a sister to a brother !—for if you on your side have been gene- rous and magnanimous, I on my own also must make some sacrifice. Ina word, signor, will you follow me, and I will show you the avenue of escape.” “A thousand, thousand thanks, signora!” ex- claimed Charles, with looks and accents of the most grateful fervour: “but I need not compro- mise you. Iam certain that my innocence must presently be made apparent.” ‘You are convinced P” said the Countess, now fixing her eyes earnestly upon him, “you are sure there can be no error—no mistake? Remember that when you again stand before the Marquis of Ortona, it will be too late for me to urge a syllable on your behalf !” ‘*T must run the risk,” said Charles,—“a risk, which, alas! innocence is too often compelled to incur on the part of all earthly tribunals. But I swear to your ladyship that I am innocent, and that Fossano is the spy !” “Then God will not desert you,” Sapliett the Countess solemnly. “And now, signor, I must entreat that you return into the guard-room.” Charles at once obeyed,—the Countess following him as far as the threshold, on reaching which she said timidly and bashfully, and again with down. cast eyes, “I trust, signor, that you will not think the worse of me for the step which I have taken, and that never to mortal ear will you breathe the fact that the Countess di Milazzo visited you stealthily in a dungeon. But no!” she imme- diately added: “to proffer such requests were as much as to imply that I mistrust your honourable character, whereas I have every faith in it !” She gave him her hand, but timidly and diffi- dently; and it was only for a single instant that she suffered it to linger in his own—though at the same time her eyes had a melting expression and Sp S85 tthe he ie AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ee the colour was coming and going in quick tran- sitions upon her beautiful countenance. She closed the door: it swung noiselessly upon its hinges— and Charles was again alone. The reader may wonder why he did not avail himself of the offer made by either of the sisters to escape from the Spartivento palace; and yet a minute’s reflection upon the character of our hero would sufficiently explain his forbearing conduct in this respect. He had taken an oath which he would not violate. But even if he were less punctilious on the point, and considered that he was not bound by vows extorted from him under Circumstances of cvercion, he would nevertheless have been incapable of permitting those ladies to violate the oaths which they themselves had taken to the Secret Society. And then too, he would not for the world have it be believed by the Mar. quis and his confederates that he was after all a base spy. No! there was something so spirited, lofty, and chivalrous in uur hero’s disposition, that he would sooner encounter any difficulties and dangers, or subject himself to any inconvenience, than risk his character for straightforward inte- grity and high-minded generosity. These were the motives which prevented him from accepting the offer of escape from either of the sisters. While reflecting upon the separate visits which had been paid him, he comprehended that the Princess and the Countess had acted unknown to one another; and he fancied that though they were both impelled by the same generous and grateful sentiment, yet they had not dared to re- veal it to each other. While Charles was thus giving way to his meditations, he perceived that the fire was getting very low; and as the night was cold, especially in that vaulted subterranean, he rose from his seat for the purpose of raking the embers together and putting on fresh logs—for there was an ample supply of wood in a recess, While he was mending the fire, his attention was caught by a piece of paper which was crumpled up, and which had escaped burning, though it was singed into yellowness. A thought struck him! he took up the paper—he opened it—and he found to his joy that it was the letter which he had dic- tated in that guard-room to Fossano, and which the villain had thrown into the fire! “ Now,” thought Charles with exultant feelings, “there will be but little difficulty for me to prove mine innocence and bring home the guilt to that villain. Aye! and this I will most assuredly do, whatsoever may be the consequences to him !” He secured the singed letter about his person ; and in a short time the door opened and three or four of the brethren appeared to conduct him back to the augience hall, where the investigation wag to be continued. CHAPTER Ut. VOITUBA. THE Princess of Spartivento and the Countess of Milazzo met in one of the splendid apartments of the palace, after the visit which they had respeo- tively paid to our hero. chook (E@) 3