Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 339: what you’re looking at

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

rm mr a i 6 rr er ee ee a ee ee EO AGNES 3 OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. : 331 “Ah!” ejaculated Voitura. “Has he also sought your hospitality ?” “No:’—and for a moment Charles looked keenly upon Voitura. ‘“ No matter!”—and now he went on to say hurriedly, “You may stand in need of refreshment? Come to the breakfast- room, where you will find those ladies to whom you ere now alluded. Signor Palmas is, I think, also there.” Stefano Voitura accompaned the young Count of Camerino to the breakfast-room, where his pre- sence caused some surprise. Palmas was grieved on learning bow severely wounded was his noble client the Marquis of Ortona: the Princess and Countess asked many anxious questions in refer- ence to the results of the disastrous enterprise. An hour or two passed in a discourse which was thus fraught with a painful degree of interest ; and then Charles went forth to ramble in the gar- den, and to be alone with his own thoughts, Signor Palmas proceeded into the town to see Signor Ben- venuto on business; and the Countess di Milazzo presently retired to her own boudoir to think over her love for Charles and to strengthen her mind with the assurance that it had resolved itself into a true Platonic friendship. Signor Voitura re- mained alone with the Princess of Spartivento. “ How progress matters,” asked Stefano, “ with the new possessor of the proud title and vast estates of Camerino ?” The Princess looked hard at Voitura, and said, “T had my suspicion from the first that you came hither with some ulterior intent. I am now con- vineed of it. Speak frankly, Signor Voitura.” “Yes—frankly to your Highness; but in the presence of your sister the Countess I was afraid,” “And why so?” asked the Princess quickly. “So not hesitate!—tell me candidly what vou think and mean.” ‘Yes,’ said Voitura, “there must indeed be eandour and frankness on. the part of those who still adhere to the good cause, desperate though its present prospects may seem to be! Your Highness will not therefore be offended on your sister’s behalf if L state that I did entertain some little suspicion that the handsome young English- man had made some impression on her heart, when she pleaded for him eloquently, and looked ai him anxiously at the time he was confronted with Fossano y * Well, but you know that Lam stanch?” said the Princess. ‘Ob, of that there can be no doubt!” ejaculated Voitura with enthusiasm, “If will tell you frankly what has been done. I was here last night with Spezzi and Raguso ” “ Here 2?” said the Princess. “In the subterraneans of the mansion. not your Highness know of their existence ?” “Ah! you were here last night ?— for what purpose P” “To obtain possession of a most important cor- respondence — that correspondence which impli- cated Charles Albert asa dabbler in Secret So- cieties and Carbonarism, and which would compel his son Victor Emmanuel to interfere on behalf of any of our friends who might fall into the hands of the Tuscan authorities. For King Victor Emmanuel of Piedmont would do anything to save what he would call his father’s honour /” Does em wr “{ comprehend,” said the Princess, ‘“ And that | correspondence P” “TI knew where it was,” replied Voitura: “ my kinsman, the Marquis of Ortona had told me, Therefore I came last night with Raguso and Spezzi to take possession; and we obtained the conviction that this young Englishman—this new Count—had learnt of the existence of the docu- ments a ‘** What reason havo you for the opinion P” ** Becauso the stone beneath which the tin box was concealed, was very recently disturbed ; and De Vere himself was in the subterranean.” “What !” ejaculated the Princess: “ De Vere in the subterranean P”—and she was almost fright- ened at the thought, “Ah! your Highness may well look startled,” said Voitura, who was very far from comprehend. ing the cause of Bianca’s emotion. ‘It was the maddest thing that ever the late Count could have done to ieave his property and the secrets of his mansion in the keeping of this young Englishman. Tt was with a traitorous intent to ruin us, and with no genuine fervour, that he shouted for the republic at Leghorn. And now he will as a matter of course prevent the brethren of the Secret Sa« ciety from any longer making this place tho head- quarters of the district. But thank heaven ! wo have got the precious correspondence out of his grasp; or else he would no doubt have given it up sooner or later to the King of Sardinia or to the Tuscan Grand Duke.” “And you say that he was last night in the subterranean ?” “We met him there. He camo with a lamp just after we ourselves had entered the hall of conclave: but Raguso flew at him like a tiger and must have stunned him, while Spezzi struck at him with his dagger: and to tell your Highness the truth, we thought we had left him for dead, Then it was determined that I should come here early this morning, under some pretence, to confer with your Highness, and secretly to explain what had become of De Vere, whom we took it for granted we had left a corpse in the subterranean. But on reaching the mansion and affecting to in- quire for the young Count of Camerino, I was astounded on being quietly informed that his lord- ship had just finished breakfast, and would see me. He does not appear to have been much in- jured ; and Spezzi’s dagger must have missed its blow.” “The young Count said nothing upon the sub- ject—at least not in my hearing,” observed the Princess in a thoughtful manner. “ What could be his motive for this concealment P” “It is intelligible,’ answered Voitura. “He most likely obtained his knowledge of the subter- raneans from some paper found amongst the documents of the deceased Count; and presuming your Highness and your sister to be ignorant.on the point, he held it to be a secret which was not to be disclosed. This fact more than anythisg proves his intention to abolish the rightful uses of the subterraneans altogether. in short, he is ne friend to Italy—and nothing favourable is to be expected of him.” “Then what would you suggest?” asked the Princess, “J can suggest nothing,” responded Voitura 3 COMmiclbook C© 5}