Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

— = —-— — oe AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. man stepped forward to welcome the young lord, and Charlies thrust a piece of gold into his hand. On issuing from the church, our hero perceived a man posting a large bill against a wall where there were already several placards. Certain words which instantaneously met De Vere’s eye, led him to cross over and peruse the entire bill with attention. It was to the effect that whereas a most audacious and piratical attack had been made upon the town of Leghorn—but whereas euch attack had signally failed, and the traitorous desperadoes had been beaten off with immense loss—yeb whereas it was rumoured that some of the conspirators had escaped amongst the popu- lace, and were supposed to have succeeded in getting into the interior of the country, it was made known by that proclamation that any one who would give up such conspirators to the autho- rities, should receive a specified reward. A notice was further given to the effect that any one of the conspirators who had s) escaped, who would give proofs of contrition by delivering up his recent ac- eomplices, should receive a full pardon. “By heaven!” thought Charles to himself, “this may possibly be serious, if any of those pos- tilions who drove us should be incited by the hope of reward to turn round and betray us! And yet I have heard strange tales of the wonderful stanchness which prevails amongst the working classes and poorer orders when mixed up in poli- tical affairs. And then too, it certainly is not by fleeing the country that I can fulfil the formalities which are to confirm me in the possession of my estate and tend to put me in a position to prove my allegiance to the Grand Duke.” Charles was about to turn slowly away with these reflections, when his eyes were attracted to- wards one of the older placards which were upon the same wall. He beheld the name of La Dol- fina; and he remembered that an infamous woman bearing that denomination had been mixed with the affair of the Marchioness di Mirano. He therefore paused to read this particular placard to which we are alluding. It set out by stating that whereas & woman bearing such a name aad of such @ description (which description wes mosf( minutely given) had for some years past practised the most diabolical iniquities in the City of Flo- rence, whence she had recently fled, it was deter- mined by his Excellency the new Minister of Police to adopt all possible measures to bring the woman to punishment. A reward was therefore offered for her apprehension ; and in order that she might not be harboured or concealed even by her most intimate friends, severe penalties were de- creed against any persons so offending. More- over, to increase the probabilities of ensuring her capture, there was the following somewhat curious provision made :—“ If any person having by ony means offended against theylaw, save and except for the crime of murder, shall become instrumental in handing the said woman La Dolfina over to the grasp of justice, such person, whether male or female, shall receive a prompt and full pardon for whaisoever offence he or she may have committed, the crime of murder always excepted.” “ And thus,” thought Charles to himself, “ tlie authorities seem determined to have La Dolfina: but perhaps she is far enough away by this time!” —for he no more suspected that the wretch of in- 325 famous repute was in the subterraneans of his own mansion, than he was enabled to conjecture that the secret of those subterraneans was known ta the Princess. He retraced his way homeward, and told Signor Palmas how he had read the placard offering a re- ward for the discovery of the conspirators. ** You might have been tolerably well assured, my lord,” auswered the worthy notary, “that something of this sort would be done by the autho- rities: but it by no means follows that the pro- clamation should experience any success.” ‘* But the postilions and the courier P” “‘Stanch as Nino Corso himself! —and I am sure that you would not for a moment permit any one to question the integrity or fidelity of that individual.” In the meanwhile the Princess di Spartivento —who was dissembling in her manner towards her sister—had proposed to Lucia that they should walk into the town together, to make some few little purchases to complete their mourning. Lucia at once agreed; and unsuspicious of any sinister or ulterior intent, accompanied Bianca. ‘The fact was, the Princess thought it would seem suspicious, or at least strange, if she were to go out alone under existing circumstances; and so she was ina manner compelled to request the society of Lucia. They entered the town; and their attention waa speedily attracted towards the piacard which bad been newly put up; and then the eyes of the Princess were riveted upon that proclamation which related to La Dolfina—whereas in respect to this latter one the Countess di Milazzo was as a matter of course perfectly indifferent. “You see, Bianca,” she said, indicating the first-mentioned placard, “ that it is suspected some of the conspirators escaped from amidst the con- flict at Leghorn. Oh! would it not be terrible if any harm were to befall our chivalrous young host at the very instant when the sun of so much pros- perity would otherwise be shedding its light upon his head ?” Lucia made these remarks with the most inge- nuous candour of look as well as with the utmoat sincerity of heart; for her mind had acquired a wondrous equanimity since she had determined to love our bero only as a sister might love a brother. “Yes,” anawered the Princess, while the blood mantled on her cheeks, and then in another moment quitted them altogether; “it would be a horrible catastrophe if any evil occurred. We must be cautious, Lucia! Let us not remain too long in the town. The less notice we attract, the better. Do you go to one shop, while I go to another.” This arrangement was followed; and the Princess was thereby enabled to separate herself temporarily from her sister while she purchased the drug which she had undertaken to procure for La Dolfina. The sisters presently returned together to the mansion: but they had no opportunity of speaking to the young Count until the party were assem- bled at the dioner-table. Then, on the Princess observing that she and Lucia had been into the town to make some few purchases, Charles alluded to the placard in reference to the conspirators, for he felt assured that the ladies had seen it; and he expressed his determination to remain nt the house — Coin oO Ghboo toe <SHIGO inn