Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

mm rc a TT 2 * , , “5 ace AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUEE. ¢ ~ —_—— would be in sight of Genos. And so it was: for in less than a quarter of an hour the tall buildings of that superb and ancient city began to develop themselves to the view; and not long afterwards the postchaise was rolling through the streets of the principal seaport of the Piedmontese kingdom. At length the equipage drove into the court-yard of a spacious and handsome mansion ; and several domestics came forward to receive the travel- lers, Charles now found that his portmanteau had been brought with the chaise; for this was the vehicle which, according to the instructions he had given to the Turin police-agent, had been sent to take him up at the gate of the Spartivento palace. Now he wasin Genoa !—and he alighted from the equipage in the court-yard of this mansion where the domestics were so assiduous in their attentions. ‘fo whom did the habitation belong? Charles was not kept many moments in suspense, for Signor Raguso, advancing from the marble steps of a doorway, exclaimed, “ Welcome to Genoa!” —then in a hasty whisper to our hero, be added, “You are my guest, and you shall receive every hospitality. There can be no hostile feeling be- tween us?” “ None,” replied Charles: and he grasped the hand that was proffered him. He now perceived that Signor Columella was standing close behind Raguso; and the colour mounted to our hero’s cheek as he recollected how he had been insulted and accused by that indivi- dual. “If you can forgive and forget, Signor De Vere,” said Columella, now stepping forward, “ I can do the same.” He extended his hand, which Charles imme- Giately took ; for he remembered the conciliatory policy which he had determined to adopt—and he moreover recollected that he had amply chastised Columella at the time in the subterranean hall of the Spartivento palace. Raguso and Columella now conducted the guests upstairs; and they first left the Marquis of Ortona and Charles together in an elegantly- appointed dressing-room : they then escorted Voitura and the other individual, whose name was Spezzi, to a neighbouring chamber. A thought now flashed to the mind of our hero : he suddenly remembered something which in the whirl of other thoughts he had forgotten. Raguso and Colu- melia were pairs !—Voitura and Spezai were pairs! —Ortona and he himself were therefore pairs ! At that very moment the Marquis said to him with a smile, “ You see, my dear young friend, you and I are each other’s shadows. You in the first instance had paired off with the spy Fossano; and after his death I took you as my own pair, seeing and considering that I was previously un- mated ; for it is not absolutely necessary that I, as the Jeader of the expedition, should be bound by the rule.” “How was it,” inquired Charles, “ that Signor Voitura was permitted to go alone, without his double, to call upon Captain St. Didier ?” “It is obviously necessary,” replied the Mar- quis, “ that I, as the leader, should be enabled to despatch at any moment whomsoever I may think fit upon any secret or important expedition.” “And the sisters?” inguired Charles, remem- bering their separate visits to the guar-l-rcom ; “ are they considered as a pair ?” é “ Now that they are together embarking in the expedition—prepared to fight under our banner— yes, fight,” repeated the Marquis impressiyely,— “they are subject to the same laws as all the rest.” By the time the Marquis and Charlés had per- formed their ablutions, and thus thoroughly re. freshed themselves after their night’s travel, Ra- guso and Columella returned to conduct them to an apartment, where they found Voitura and Spezzi and six others of the conspirators. A luxurious repast was served up; and ample jus- tice was rendered thereto. The conversation flowed entirely upon general topics; and it wag carried on in a free, easy, off-hand style, as if the gentlemen had nothing serious upon their minds; for it was absolutely necessary to maintain the ut- most caution in the presence of the domestics who waited at table. When the breakfast was over, the pairs quitted the apartment at different intervals, so that at length the Marquis of Ortona and De Vere wero left alone together. “ Might I venture to ask,” said Charles, “ when we are to embark upon the expedition ?” “Hush!” said the Marquis; “nothing must be uttered within these walls that may stand the chance of being overheard! But since you have put the question, I will reply to it by informing you that we expect to embark this evening.” The door of the apartment now opened ; and a domestic entering, addressed himself to the Mar- quis, saying, “ May it please your lordship, a cer- tain Signor Palmas has this moment arrived.” “ Ah, Palmas!” ejaculated the Marquis with an air of satisfaction. “This is excellent! I bade him meet me here, if possible! Let him come up at once.” The domestic withdrew; and the Marquis of Ortona, after reflecting for a few instants, said to De Vere, “I bave already informed you that as the leader of the expedition I have certain powers and privileges. You will understand me, therefore, when I tell you that you need not act as my sha- dow while I am engaged with Palmas.” The door of an adjoining room stood partially open ; and Charles, taking the hint, strolled into that apartment, closing the door behind him. Let it be remembered that he had no intention of escape, even if the opportunity presented itself, inasmuch as he considered himself bound by his solemn oath to accompany the expedition to Leghorn. There- fore, now that he was alone, he did not give himself the trouble to see where the windows of the room looked, or study the position of the apartment: but throwing himself upon a seat, he took up a volume of Italian poems which lay upon the table. He had just begun to read afew lines, when he heard the door of the adjoining room open and some one enter that apartment, with the words, “I have the honour to salute your lordship.” “ My dear Palmas,” cried the Marquis, “you have indeed faithfully fulfilled my instructions! You have been expeditious !” “The frequent plying of the steam-vessels, my lord, between Leghorn and Naples, and also be- tween Leghorn and Genoa,” replied Palmas, “has book (Q) < tt | Fe ~ 3