Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

B02 “because I am convinced that your sister loves this young Englishman if “ Ah!” interjected the Princess, her countenance becoming white. “ You have indeed hit upon the truth ” and then she abruptly checked her- self. *T understand your Highness!” said Voitura. “You yourself being stanch to the Italian cause, are disgusted and indignant that your sister could possib:y be weak and degenerate enough to bestow herself on one who is a traitor to the cause! And therefore you have no longer any love for that self-abasing sister of your’s ——” “True! true!” cried the Princess, on, signor: tell me what you mean.” ‘““Your Highness would not hesitate to behold your sister involved in the same ruin which should overtake the young men who perhaps is her lover —perhaps already her paramour sa “ And what ruin is this unto which you allude ?” asked the Princess, with much anxiety of manner. “If the young Englishman were at once de- livered up to justice—instantaneously handed over to the Tuscan authorities,” resumed Voitura, “he would be summarily disposed of by the hand of the executioner. Your sister, being inculpated with him, woulc be confined in a fortress for a lengthened period—perhaps for life!—while your Highness would purchase complete forgiveness and pardon at the hands of the Tuscan Govern- ment.” “ But of what avail,—of what avail, Signor Voi- tura,’”” demanded the Princess, with a fever of in- creasing anxiety, “ for me to render my own name infamous by surrendering up my sister and that young man, although she be degraded in her love for him, and although he be her paramour ?” ‘“‘There are several reasons wherefore I urge such a course,’ .answered Signor Voitura. ‘In the first place your Highness would only be per- forming a duty towards the Secret Society by bringing down condign punishment upon the heads of those guilty persons, no matter from what source that chastisement may be evoked. For is it nota rule with us to strike by the hand of friend or foe when a blow is to be struck and we have the power to dealit? MThenext reason I would advance is the fact that your Highness will be assuring your own safety; and in case suspicion should have already fastened itself upon you, or be winding its reptile way towards you, you will all in a moment place yourself high above the necessity of apprehending it. And there is another motive which must be equally well weighed; and that is in connexion with this mansion. In all this part of Italy the subter- raneans of this edifice furnish the only convenient place where the faithful patriots may meet; and if the doors thereof be closed against us, farewell to all our organization—all our discipline — all our modes of secret communication, throughout a terri- tory where it is so highly important for us to gain ground instead of losing it! Therefore the man- 8100 must be got into the possession of some friend. What if this young Englishman were either put to death or condemned to perpetual imprisonment? —his newly-acquired estates would be confiscated by the Government—they would speedily be put up to auction—and the Marquis of Ortona would pur- chase them. Or if my kinsman could not command sufficient funds for the purpose——”’ *But go SL 5 eee Eee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. pT I TE Te mT ee eee “Ob, that could be easily managed !” interjected the Princess: “my means could furnish all that would be needful to supply the deficiency on Or- tona’s part. I must confess, Signor Voitura,” continued Bianca, after some tittle deliberation, “that you have combined a mass of arguments to prove to me the propriety, if not the absolute ne- cessity, of taking a particular step, I will think over it.” “ Remember, signora,” said Voitura, impres- sively,—‘‘ remember that if you hesitate on your sister’s account, you have sworn that the cause of Italian freedom shall be dearer to you than all other loves!” *T know it—I know it! You need not remind me of this !”—and again the Princess reflected pro- foundly. ‘But if I assented to your propositions,” she resumed, after a long pause, “ how would you counsel me to act? by what means should I sur- render my sister and her paramour into the hands of justice P” “A single line penned in a billet, with your sig- nature, and addressed to the Mayor of the adjacent town, would suffice. Decide at once, Princess! I will become the bearer of the note; and then I will hasten away and carry the intelligence of all that has happened to my kinsman the Marquis of Ortona, who will applaud the action on your art.” : “No, signor—not now! not now!” replied the Princess hurriedly. “It is something to be re- flected upon. But, Ah! you yourself-——” “Oh, signora! how you wrong me!” ejaculated Stefano, at once comprehending what the Princess was about to say. ‘ Do you think that I would do aught which should compromise you? — you who are so staunch, so firm in the good cause. Heaven forbid! I would sooner face the gibbet or dare the dungeon, than think of assuring my own safety by a deed so foul!” “Forgive me, signor — forgive me,” said the Princess, extending her hand, which the young man took and pressed with mingled respectfulness and admiration to his lips. ‘ Ina few hours I will give you my decision. Meanwhile you will remain here; and despite the violence you may do to your feelings, you must nevertheless dissemble towards the young Englishman.” The Princess now withdrew from the apartment where this colloquy had taken place; and she re- paired to her boudoir. There, throwing herself upon a sofa, she gave way to her refle¢tions. She had been led on by Voitura’s discourse to listen to his proposal and the arguments by which he had backed it, just in the same way as all per- sons wish to attain an insight into any circum- stances that may by any possibility be associated with theirown concerns. And there was alsoa certain presentient feeling in her soul that if her own projects should not be carried to a successful issue, other channels were being suggestively opened unto which she might be glad to have re- course. For if she might not have love, she would at least have vengeance !—and therefore everything that she had heard from Voitura’s lips became of importance amidst the topics of this bad woman’s thoughts. “And so Charles visited the subterranean last night ?” sbe presently said to herself. ‘* But assu- redly he did not discover La Dolfina? If so, thera chook (C©) |