Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

— LL EL Fe AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, near.the presidential chair, with his arms crossed, and his pale, pensive, handsome countenance being altogether inscrutable. Full of anxious suspense —aye, almost agonizing was the glance which Fossano flung upon Voitura: but thenee he could glean naught that was at all indicative of the way in which matters were about to go. “T need not explain the purpose for which we are assembled,” said the Marquis of Ortona, thus with these few words opening the renewed pro- ceedings. ‘Stefano, be kind enough to step for- ward. Have you acquitted yourself of the task entrusted to you P” **T have,”’ was the response, Charles perceived that Fossano gave a sudden start; and he comprehended how the wretched man must be inevitably shaken by the spasm of a strong torturing terror. “There was a person waiting outside the palace-entrance,’ continued Voitura, “ who an- swered to the watchword of St. Didier. This I succeeded in discovering. I then proceeded to Captain St. Didier; and I found that he was pre- pared to receive a message or a billet, accom- panied by another pass-word.” “ And that pass-word P” said the Marquis. Alleyes were turned upon Voitura, as he said in a deep solemn tone, “The password which I gave to Captain St. J)idier, and which he acknow- ledged, was Fossano !” There was a murmur of sensation on the part of the brethren, while the wretched Fossano him- self sank down upon his knees with a groan: and then joining his hands, he exclaimed, “ Mercy ! mercy !” At the same time Voitura handed to the Mar- quis the billet in cipher which St. Didier had con- fidéd to him. “There is no mercy in this case!” said the Marquis of Ortona, sternly, when he had perused the billet. “ We have now every possible evi- dence of your villany!—Signor De Vere, it is with unfeigned joy I congratulate you on this complete demonstration of your innocence ; and for my own sake as well as on behalf of all the others present, 1 tender my apologies for the mis- trust which we entertained goncerning you!” “And therefore, as you owe me somewhat,” said De Vere, “ 1 shall consider myself amply re- paid for the injurious suspicions I sustained and tbe peril I incurred, if you will grant this wretched man his life. Confine him in a dungeon yntil your expedition be accomplished—or take him with you by force, as you purposed to take me do what you will with him, so long as you spare him! It is something which I have a right to demand.” “You plead for him in vain, signor,” said the Marquis of Ortona: “ his doom is sealed. We should be violating the most terrible oaths if we allowed this wretch to escapo us. Therefore, in the name of the secret laws which we obey, I hereby decree sentence of death against Ludovico Fossano—and execution shall be forthwith done !” “Mercy! mercy!” shrieked the miserable wretch: but when be was assured that his appeal was made in vain and that no merey would be shown him, be either sank into a torpor or else into ea dogged sullenness, no one could exactly tell which. 295 ** Let the usual lots be prepared,” said the Marquis of Ortona. Charles suddenly comprehended with a shudder that those who were present were about to draw lots to determine who should become the execu- tioner of the doomed one. Stefano Voitura has- tened to tear up a quantity of slips of paper; and he sat down at the table near the presidential seat, to write out the names. “TI will dictate them,” said the Marquis: thén he proceeded to proclaim several names, com- mencing the list with his own :—‘ Ortona—Spar- tivento—Milazzo— Voitura — Raguso—Columella —De Vere " “No, by heaven! no!” ejaculated our hero, horrified and indignant. ‘And you, ladies,” he continued, turning towards the Princess and the Countess, “ is it possible that yow can permit your names to figure in this assassin-list P” “ Silence, signor!”’ interposed the Marquis of Ortona. “You have claims upon our forbeare ance and consideration, but not to this extent? You are amongst us—and you shall take your turn with the rest.” ‘I will die sooner than draw the accursed lot!” exclaimed De Vere, with unabating horror and in- dignation. ‘Fie upon you all! It makes me feel as if the dreadful scenes which I have read in books of voyages were being realized, and as if impelled by famine to the verge of cannibalism, we were about to draw lots to determine who should die to furnish food for the rest! I will have naught to do with the odious process.” “One word, signor!” said the Marquis of Ortona. “We are here linked together by ime mutable laws; and you cannot escape their duties or their penalties. Indeed, you ought to be ashamed of your own pusillanimity when you re- flect that you shrink from those responsibilities which two high-minded and delicately nurtured ladies accept unhesitatingly ——” “T will not believe,” cried Charles, “that the Princess of Spartivento ! “You are wrong, signor,” said this lady, with the air of a heroine who felt as if she were truly and actually embarked in the noblest and grandest cause. ‘I accept the liability.” “ But your sister,” said Charles,—“ the Coun- tess? Itis impossible that she 2 “Signor,” said this lady—but instead of step- ping forward, she shrank back; “ speak not of me, I entreat, as one who fears the contingencies and eventualities of the sacred cause !” Charles was shocked and horrified: but sud- denly recollecting how enthusiasm may amount to fanaticism, and how fanaticism may warp the well- principled mind, embolden the timid one, and harden the delicate, he’ held back the reproaches and remonstrances which he was about to peur forth from his lips. “And now, signor,” resumed the Marquis of Ortona, ina haughty and indignant manner, “I would ask who are you that you obtrude your ex- quisite fastidiousness where ladies far more highly bred than yourself, cheerfully and magnanimously uccept the responsibilities of the cause in which they are embarked P” ‘Spare your invectives, my lord,” said Charles: * but no earthly power shall induce me to draw in these cold-blooded assassin lots!” j lNOOLK me ee ee (©) 5}