Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

&36 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. how full of apprehension you were while my Lord Count was absent from the room—then how feverish was the suspense which you displayed on his return M ‘“ And natural enough, signor!”’ interrupted our hero: for Lucia had just averted her crimsoning cheeks; and he comprehended why—he knew how much she had felt on his account. The Princess and Signor Voitura exchanged sig- nificant glances,—the latter hastily whispering, “Your sister’s love for the Count is an infatuation —a madness !” Bianca felt a fierce rage glowing though her entire form; and it seemed to her for a moment as if her veins ran with lightning : then the next instant she became all cold, and a glacial sensa- tion struck her as she thought within herself, “ I have the means of vengeance!’ fer the phial of poison was about her person. “Jt is all very well, my lord,” proceeded Pal- mas, who was inclined to be garrulous, “to say that it is natural to give way to these paroxysms of strong excitement: but I tell you that they are to be guarded against just the same as a pru- dent person would avoid inebriation. Of course I need not tell an enlightened audience, such as I have now about me, that sudden emotions are most dangerous, morally and physically. They may destroy the reason—or they may cut short the existence. I hope, signora, you will bear all these facts in mind.” “ Surely, my dear signor,” said De Vere, “ you might choose a more cheerful topic P” “Tt at least has the merit of being an interest- ing one,” replied the Princess of Spartivento with a smile that seemed full of amiability ; for she rather liked the turn which the notary was giving to the conversation. “YT have a brother who is a physician,” pro- ceeded the notary, who was terribly apt to work a particular topic into complete exhaustion, and who was self-willed and obstinate in sticking to a favourite subject. ‘“ He has written a book upon the nerves, and he gives many singular incidents bad and illustrations of his special theories. They are well authenticated. Some happened of his own knowledge, and beneath his own eyes. I will tell you & case,” “Pray for heaven’s sake,” interposed Charles, “ think of some other topic !”’ “T shall not detain you many minutes, my lord,” said the notary. “Why don’t they announce dinner P” muttered Charles to himself. ‘“‘ My brother, the physician,” resumed Signor Palmas, “relates the tale Iam about to tell you. There was a young lady at Palermo, and she was engaged to be married to a very handsome young gentleman of independent property. Ue was well known for his,liberal opinions, and had more than once incurred the risk of being thrown into prison. At length his name was mentioned in @ somewhat serious manner, in connexion with one of the numerous conspiracies which are constantly hatching or exploding in Sicily: but rumour had exaggerated the real facts of the case as they re- garded the hero of my story; for he had ample evidence to prove that he was not at a particular place at the time when it was alleged he was there with the chief conspirators. His intended bride had heard the rumour in its worst form; and she was full of terror and suspense. Her lover flow to comfort, console, and reassure her; and you may conceive how great was her delight when she found that he was in no way seriously implicated. My brother the physician called at the time; and he read the lady a long lecture upon the folly and danger of abandoning herself to the impulse of every emotion and allowing any suddenly excited feeling to gain such a potent ascendancy over her. She promised to be more guarded and courageous for the future: but while she was still speaking, a troop of soldiers rode up to the house—just as that little party came to this mansion ere now. The poor young lady, forgetting all her wise reso- lutions, jumped at the most evil conclusion— namely, that the worst was going to happen, and that the soldiers had come to arrest her lover. They asked for him: he went down stairs to speak to them; and during his temporary absence the young lady was a prey to as terrible a sus- pense and inward agitation as your ladysbip was just now :”’—and here Signor Palmas addressed himself to the Countess di Milazzo. “Have you nearly done, signor?” inquired Charles impatiently ; and then he again muttered to himself, “ Why in heaven’s name is the butler so long in announcing dinner ?” “My story is almost ended,” said Palmas, who was as good-natured as he was garrulous. ‘“ Lot me seeP where was 1? Oh, I recollect! Well, the soldiers came not with the slightest intention of molesting the young gentleman. Two officers who were friends of his, were in command of the troop; and they called to let him know that he had better go and give certain explanations to the wilitary commandant—in which case all would be well; but that on the other hand, if he neg- lected to do so, an order for his arrest might be issued. Well, the soldiers rode away; and the young gentleman hastened up-stairs to reassure his intended bride——just as you, my lord, came hurrying in ere now. Not however that the cases are quite parallel @ “Surely dinner must be ready ?” ejaculated the young Count impatiently. ‘Ten words and I have finished P” said Pal- mas. “The young lady seemed to have quite re- covered from the shock she had experienced and the excitement that followed: her lover went to the commandant, made everything right with that functionary, and then returned to the house of his intended bride. Several guests were pre- sent, when they all sat down to dinner. Now comes the tragical catastrophe.” ‘ Indeed P” said the Princess, who had been lis- tening with a growing interest in the narrative. “Was the sequel a calamitous one P” “Dinner must be served up!” Charles. “Three words and I have done!” said Palmas. * An hour had elapsed—perhaps two hours indeed, from the departure of the soldiers—the intended bride was seated at table with her lover and her friends—they were at dessert—when all of a sudden, just after the young lady had raised a glass to her lips, she fell from her seat—acorpse! Excitement had killed her.” “How strange! how remarkable !” ejaculated the Princess: and indeed she inwardly relt the ejaculated chook (E@) 5}