Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

| | ing for three or four minutes in the adjoining chamber. Besides, all was perfectly stili therein : there was no sudden movement as if a murderous blow were dealt; but the serpent was evidently gliding noiselessly about, infusing its venom into every vessel containing a beverage likely to be ap- plied to human lips. At length the Marchioness di Mirano came forth from the inner chamber : she flung another passing look upon Ciprina, who continued to simulate the profoundest sleep ; and likewise having darted a last shuddering glance at the portrait of Lucrezia Borgia, Lucrezia Mi- rano proceeded into the boudoir. Then, light as a snow-fiake falling upon the earth — light as a feather sinking upon the grass—did Ciprina de- ecend from her couch. The Marchioness had left the door ajar, just as she had found it: Ciprina was therefore enabled at once to follow Lucrezia with her looks. She saw her traverse the boudoir and enter the ante-room. Across the boudoir now glided Ciprina likewise,—thus unseen and noise- lessly following in the track of the vile woman who was departing. A peep from the next half- open door—and what did Ciprina behold? The Marchioness disappearing through the wainscot of the ante-chamber—and that wainscot instan- taneously becoming whole in substance, level in surface, and uniform in aspect as Ciprina had ever known if to be! Could she believe her own vision? She drew her hand across her eyes. Had she been dream- ing? had she been following a phantom of the imagination P No!—her mind was too deeply im- pressed with the conviction of the reality of it all! And now, therefore, in a moment did the elarmed when she found Lucrezia Mirano remain- AGNES; OE, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. lated—or rather shrieked forth Ciprina, as she rushed forward, for she saw that the tumbler was half empty. “What have I done?” exclaimed Marcellin, looking bewildered and aghast. “I woke up—I felt athirst—you yourself filled that tumbler with the lemonade “Oh, wretch! wretch!” cried Ciprina, thus alluding to the Marchioness, “There is death in that glass !—death, Edgar !—death!” * My God, Ciprina! what have you done” cried the invalid, raising himself up to a sitting posture in the couch. “Qh, heaven be thanked! I remember! I ga. core !’—and now Ciprina flew wildly away into the adjacent room. In two or three moments she returned, bearing a pbial in her hand ; and she exclaimed, “ Drink, Edgar! deiay not! For heaven’s sake let me pour three or four drops down your throat !” “ Ciprina, you frighten me!’’ ejaculated Mar- cellin. “ No! no!”—and he repulsed her. “T will not allow a single drop——” “‘ Insensate ! you are poisoned!” cried Ciprina, vehemently. . * My God !—and you tell me so ?” exclaimed Marcellin. ‘Oh! what a house of infamy is this! But’twas you, Ciprina—’twas you that prepared the lemonade !—’twas you yourself that poured it out!” ** Ah, my God !” shrieked the wretched young lady ; “ he believes that it is I who have poisoned him! But Ah!” she abruptly ejaculated, “TI know what to do!” She then snatched up the tumbler from the suspicion of a secret door flash to Ciprina’s brain! | table, and she poured the remainder of its contents Yes—this must be the solution of the mystery! | down her throat. , But all this was accompanied A cold shudder swept throughout the young lady’s by a wildness, a vehemence, and a passion which form—a glacial chill seemed to strike to her heart, | were only too well calculated to bewilder Edgar as she thought within herself, “At the very mo-| Marcellin’s mind with misgivings and suspi- ment when I deemed myself secure, peril the cions. most tremendous was hovering around me!” * Just heaven!” he exclaimed, “in her remorse Ciprina sprang forward into the ante-chamber, | she has poisoned herself! Wretched girl 2 and pressed her hands hard against that partof “ Yes, yes—I am poisoned, Edgar!” ejaculated the wainscot which she had seen close behind the Ciprina,—as you also are poisoned! Therefore Marchioness a few moments before: but she met if we die we shall die together !—though, as I have with a complete resistance—nothing yieided to her | a soul to be saved it was not I who mixed the touch. Then she hastily placed a chair in a slant- | poison in that glass! But we will live !—yes, we ing position against that part of the wainscot, so will both live! And behold how !” that if the door were again opened inward, the She placed the phial to her lips and swallowed chair might fall in the same direction. All this afew drops of its contents: then presenting the was the result of nervous excitement and terror bottle to Edgar, she exclaimed, “ This is an anti- on Ciprina’s part: but now she suddenly regained | dote! For heaven’s sake delay not in taking her fortitude—and she mentally ejaculated, “ In- | it!” sensate that I am! Lucrezia will not return to| Marcellin, though still terribly bewildered, these rooms this night! The murderess thinks | nevertheless now suffered Ciprina to have her own that her work is done, and that she will never | way; and she accordingly poured some of the con- again behold either Edgar or myself in the land | tents of the phial down his throat. She imme- of the living! But let me see if Edgar still | diately appeared to breathe more freely—a chango sleeps !” took place in her looks—they lost all their wild- Ciprina, judging from what had taken place in | ness—an expression of serene confidence succeeded her own chamber, had not the slightest doubt that | to the horrified aspect her features had so recently every decanter, jug, and tumbler in Edgar’s room | worn—and she said, “ We are now both saved, was likewise poisoned. She therefore now glided, | Edgar,” with her swift but noiseless naked feet, through | the apartments to the innermost one of all. “ Ab, Ciprina, have I disturbed you ?” inquired } Marcellin, who at that very instant was replacing | a tumbler upon the table by the side of his couch. | a ©) = [6)(0K) “Just heaven! what have you done?” ejacu- 5