Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

360 ° AGNES; OR, BEAU?'Y AND PLEASUEE. * determined to get possession of the correspondence if possible. He knows the importance of it as it affects his father’s memory. Mark you how in- sidiously the placard endeavours tc throw discredit on that correspondence—almost to denounce it as a forgery! Itis as much as to say, ‘ The letters never were really written by Charles Albert; but as certain evil-minded and malevolent persons persist in declarisg that they were, it would be better for the Piedmontese Government to get hold of them at once, and thus put an end to every shadow of a cause for scandal.’”’ “Yes, yes! I understand all this!” said the Princess impatiently; ‘ but we will not now enter into political disquisitions. Hcaven be thanked, we have the means of saving the life of that young Englishman!” ** Yes—and I also say heaven be thanked!” ex- claimed Voitura; “for since your Highness told me that he is innocent of any ill-doing, I have felt as if I were something like a murderer in having helped to betray him into the grasp of justice. Yes—I have loathed myself!—it has appeared to me as if I had played the part of a traitorous coward!” “And now, signor,” interrupted the Princess, “we shall both of us have the satisfaction of un- doing the evil which we have accomplished. Where is the box containing the correspondence? One of us will speed to the young Englishman and place it in his bands Or perhaps better still, I will hasten, as if sent direct by him, to General Germini: for I daresay the proceedings of the tribunal are over by this time “Be kind enough to wait for a few minutes, siguora,” interrupted Voitura, “while I go and seek Raguso and Spezzi. Tlfey have the box in their custody. They went out just now for some purpose; put I have no doubt that by this time they have returned.” *‘ TTasten—hasten, signor!” said the Princess. “T long todo a good deed——~I who have lately done naught but evil ones!” These last words were spoken to herself; for the door had already closed behind Signor Voi- tura, whose fuotsteps we must now follow. He proceeded to the apartment where he ex- pected to find Raguso and Spezzi; and these gen- tlemen were now there. They were examining an iron box, the lid of which they had just closed and which they were locking. A flask of gunpowder lay upon the table. ‘My dear friends,” cried Voitura, “ I am glad that you have returned. I want Pe “One moment! do not be too hasty!” said Raguso. “I daresay we have more important things to tell you than you have to tell us “3 “Ab! important things? What do you mean? end what is that iron box? and what are you doing with gunpowder ?” “Stop! stop!” interjected Raguso, smiling : * you must not ask too many questions at once. In the first place we have found a spot where we can hide for as long as ever we think fit, until the present storm blows over. It isthe ruin of an old chateau, about a mile and a half from the city what is its name, Spezzi?” “The D’Orco Castle,” was the response. “Ab, to be sure! Well, the herbage and weeds have overgrown the place—it is almost buried in verdure—just the very epot for persons in our con- dition to betake themselves unto !” ~ “Very good,” said Voitura. “I am ready to accompany you when we have first accomplished @ certain purpose . “Ah! my dear friend,” interrupted Raguso, “ you are always for accomplishing something or another before you look to the main chance !—and in this way you will some day destroy yourselfand your friends if you do not mind. I¢ was little short of madness to come to Sienna: but you in- sisted—and now that we are here, the Princess talks only about saving the life of some one whom she yesterday betrayed! All this is puerile. As for Spezzi and myself, we have made up our minasto depart at once for the D’Orco ruins ——” “Have you seen the new placard, Raguso P” demanded Voitura suddenly. ““Spezzi and I were reading it just before we came in. Ah! they hope to get the correspon« dence—do they !” ‘© What made you both go out: just now after I had been telling you what the Princess had said to me,and how a fatal error had been committed in giving young Camerino into custody ?” “ Ob! our going out,” rejoined Raguso, “ had nothing to do with that matter. We merely thought it prudent to get a new box for the cor- respondence instead of the old tin case.” “ Ah, I understand,” said Voitura: “and this is the new one?” he added, pointing to the iron box which stood upon the table. “That is the new one,” responded Raguso. “ Tt has merits which you little suspect, but which I will quickly explain.” “Tt is not necessary——unless,” added Voi- tura, “the gunpowder can have anything to do with the mystery.” “Tt has almost everything to do it,” said Raguso. ‘“ Look you, my dear friend! Here is a secret compartment which constitutes a perfect infernal machine. Spezzi and I have just been loading it; and it is very fortunate we have found such a splendid box as this, just at the very instant that the authorities want to get our correspondence from us! No, no! sooner than let them have it we will blow up the documents themselves along with the fellows who may obtain possession of the box !”’ ‘‘T do not understand how it works—nor do I precisely comprehend your views and objects,” said Voitura. * Look you!” resumed Raguso, locking up the box and placing the key in his pocket: “the coffer is now secured, and the key is here”— tapping the pocket. “Suppose the box were stolen from us by stealth, or that the Tuscan sbirri were to rush in at this moment and seize it. They sbould not find the key! I would swallow it sooner! But the box would go to the authorities; and they would attempt to force the lid. Let them do it! Now do you understand me P” “In plain terms,” said Signor Spezzi, “if the box be opened hy fair means—that is to say, with the key—it is not dangerous: but if you try to force the lid, it at once becomes an infernal machine.” “But why, my dear friends,” asked Voitura, “ere you so resolute that Charles Albert’s cor- (EO) boo nn} S TT (©) 5}