Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 364: what you’re looking at

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300 he murmured, now writhing and convulsing on the earvet jike a stricken snake : “just God! is it pos- sible P” “¢ And we are dying together, Gustavus!”’ said a soft musical voice in his ear; and then soft warm arms were wound about nis neck, and his head was drawn towards a glowing bosom. ‘Ob, let us die thus!” “No! no!”—and with another forcible effort— one of the last evidences of his expiring energies —Gustavus tore himself from her embrace; and reaching an arm-chair, he tried to raise himself into it. ‘To lie down,” he murmured, “is suffocation —death! If I could but sit up!” The quadroon hastened to place herself in that chair; and again she drew her husband towards her, saying, “ You shall sit up, dearest! There! let your head be pillowed upon my bosom—and my last breath shall be expended upon a kiss on your lips !” Gustavus struggled again—but this time it was fruitless; and as he experienced a numbness and torpor coming over him, he abandoned himself to his doom. “‘ My aim is accomplished !” he heard the voice of the quadroon breathing in his ear; and it sounded like music stealing in upon a dream— vague, indefinite, yet with a sweetness and soft- ness ineffable and magical: ‘‘ and we are dying to- gether! Together we wandered amidst the beau- tiful flowers and delicious fruit-trees of my native land; and together we shall penetrate into those unknown scenes which lie beyond the grave! Ob, it is bliss to die thus!—and I do not feel that I have committed a crime; for it is the inspiration of love that I am obeying—and Oh! a love so im- mense and illimitable as mine, must be a virtue whereon the angels smile! Sleep, my Gustavus, sleop !—we are not to be separated !—and if your lips could not for ever smile on me, they at least shall not smile upon another ! and if your eyes could not always beam with love for me, they shall never beam with fondness for another! Sleep on, my Gustavus! —- slumber now comes upon me also! Ob, ’tis sweet to die thus! Art thou gone, my Gustavus? has thy spirit fled, my well-beloved? is thy cheek growing colder and colder against my bosom? Then, Oh! come quickly, Death! and bear me away also! A last kiss——a last !—the fondest of all! And now—and now—let my soul take wing !” Here we must suddenly and abruptly divert the reader’s attention from this strange, wild, aud ter- ribly romantic episode, to speak of somethiag else that was occurring. It was about eleven o’clock at night, when a domestic, dressed in a groom’s livery, called at the humble residence of the Dal- hams in Kentish Town; and as the servants had just gone to bed, Sir Roderick himself anwered the summons at the front door. “Tf you please, sir, is my master here?” inquired the domestic. ‘“‘T suppose you are Mr. Barrington’s servant?” observed Dalham. ‘“ Well then, your master was here this afternoon; but he left between four and five o’clock.” ‘He has not returned home to his hotel, sir. His dinner was ready at six o’clock—Mr. Wardour the barrister was to dine with him. I took mas- ter’s note to that gentleman in the Temple; aad AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. according to the answer that he gave me I was to order dinner for one or two persons at six o'clock i “My good fellow,” interrupted Sir Roderick, “the mystery may be soon cleared up. I have not the slightest doubt I can tell you where you may find your master :’’—and he named the hotel where Mrs, Barrington had taken up her quarters, “In a word, your mistress is there—and your master has gone to see her.” “Thank you, sir:”—and away sped the groom. John had his misgivings—he scarcely knew why, nor could he even explain to himself what their nature was. But he knew precisely under what circumstances his master and mistress had separated in Florence, and the fearful scene which had occurred when the quadroon intended to shoot Gustavus and then take her own life by poison. It was not therefore very extraordinary that the groom should be alike suspicious and anxious on account of this meeting which to hig astonishment was taking place in London. More- over, he thought it strange that Gustavus had not sent to the hotel to excuse his absence to Mr, Wardour the barrister : but the fact was that the young man, when once he found himself with Emily, became so absorbed in his interview with her, that he quite forgot the circumstance of having invited a guest to dine with him elso- where. The groom proceeded without delay to tho hotel which Sir Roderick Dalham had mentioned ; and on arriving there, he asked the waiter if a gentleman named Berrington was within? “* Yes—I believe so,” was the response; “ but I really don’t know. A gentleman came to dine with a lady of that name—I think they must be husband and wife e “* They are—they are,” said Jchn. *‘ Well then,” continued the waiter, with an air that indicated some little degree of surprise, “ are you astonished that they should be together ?” “Ob, no—not at all! But perhaps it would be better if I should see whether master has got any orders to give me ; because as he and mistress did not arrive in town together, his luggage is at another hotel.” “Twill go up and say that you are here,” re- joined the waiter. «¢ He ascended the stairs accordingly: but in a few moments he came very quickly down again, saying, “ The door is locked—I can’t make any one hear. If they’ve both fallen asleep, I knocked loud enough to awake them. I peeped through the keyhole—for the key is taken out of the lock —but I can’t see them.” “Good God! something has happened!” ejacu- lated John, a sudden dismay seizing upon his countenance. “I suspected it! I almost know’d it!” “Something happened P” echoed the waiter. ** Here, policeman!” he cried to a constable who was at the instant passing the hotel: “you're wanted.” “What is it ?” asked the officer, stepping into the entrance-way. The matter was soon explained to him; and he said, “ Well, the shortest thing to do. if the people don’t answer from inside the room, is to break open the dvor.” COPNICLOO< (E@) |