Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 66: what you’re looking at

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58 proot which I can give you is contained in the assurance that to-morrow evening, between eight and nine o’clock, he shall meet you at Signor Petroro’s dwelling.” “Ab, that is more favourable!” ejaculated Charles joyfully. “But may I inquire the mean- ing of all this mystery,—why the young guide who brought me hither, maintained so studied a silence when asked whither she was conducting me—why I was not permitted to know to what mansion I was being brought—and why x Charles stopped short, looking slowly round the room as if in allusion to its obscurity, with that dimly lighted lamp—and then settliog his regards upon the muffled and veiled form of Ciprina herself, “Everything shall be explained,” resumed the young lady: “but I am about to make an appeal to you as a gentleman——” “ Madam, I begin to understand !” cried Charles, as he fancied that all in a moment a light broke in upon bis comprehension. “ M. Marcellin has doubtless found a friend who for certain réasons would fain continue unknown to every one but himself; and the mansion which now harbours him, must likewise continue unknown, lest the knowledge of it should at once indicate who the kind friend herself is.” “Your conjecture is accurate,” responded Ci- prina. ‘Ob, sir! you now comprehend how it is that an erring but loving woman throws herself upon your mercy! My honour is inyolyed—and were it not on account of the deep anxiety of Edgar Marcellin to see you with the least possible delay, you would not have been introduced within these walls!” ' ‘ AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. maiden opened a door—we entered a garden—and the another door almost immediately admitted us into the house itself. I tell you aH this in order that you may be completely reassured of the come bination of circumstances, together with my own inclination, to induce me to keep the secret.” “Every sy:lable that flows from your lips cone vinces me,” said Ciprina, “ more and more of the generous loftiness of your sentiments and of the chivalrous honour with which you are inspired.” Nay, madam,” said the youth, “1 am but pere forming a duty under the peculiar circumstances in which I find myself placed. Even if on going forth from this mansion I found the night as light as day, with the stars and moon shining—or if all Florence itself were brilliantly illuminated — I swear to you that I would speed away without casting a look behind me of impertinent curiosity. And now tell me, how long has M. Marcellin been afflicted with illaess?—and has he made any pro- gress towards the elucidation of that horrible mys- tery with which you are doubtless acquainted? Or rather, perhaps, I ought to ask whether he has succeeded in obtaining those evidences——” Charles De Vere’s speech was suddenly inter- rupted by what appeared to be the bursting open of a portion of the wainscot; and in the twinkling of an eye half-a-dozen sbizvi rushed into the ante- room. A scream rang forth from Ciprina’s lips: the youth started up from his chair, with an eja- culation expressive of a sense of treachery: but both the young man and the young lady were seized upon in a moment. Carbines and drawn swords menaced them in fearful proximity: there was an instant’s struggle on De Vere’s part—but * Madam,” replied De Vere, “ I ama gentleman | it was useless—for he was at once overpowered. A anda man of honour. You may rely upon me! I would not for the world do aught that should | thick shawl was thrown over his head, while the same process was being adopted in respect to Ci- menace the happiness of a lady who throws berself | prina; and they were tied over their mouths in upon my mercy; I even regret that circumstances | such a way as to constitute gags wufiiling and should haye rendered it necessary for you to give | stifling any sounds to which they might have given an explanation which savours of an appeal.” ‘A thousand, thousand thanks for this generous language !” responded Ciprina: ‘ but such conduct or your. part is nothing less than what I could have expected from an English gentleman in the high diplomatic service of his country. You promise me, therefore, that you will not make any attempt to discover whose mansion this is to which you have been brought—nor who the lady is that now addresses you?” ‘I swear most solemnly,” exclaimed the chival- rous-minded Charles, “ that unless accident should at any time reveal these secrets to my knowledge, they shall never become known to me through any | inquiry or research of my own.” ‘“‘ Acain I thank you, sir,” said the young lady. “To-morrow evening, I repeat, you shall see M. Marcellin; and he will reiterate the entreaties which I myself have made to the same effect.” “It is absolutely unnecessary,” rejoined Charles, with vehemence. “I will not permit him to give utterance to a syllable upon the subject! Nay, I will tell you more! I am totally unacquainted with Florence ; and from Signor Petroro’s dwell- ing to this mansion I am completely ignorant of the streets through which your handmaiden led me. I willtell youmore yet! The night is pitch dark—and I beheld not the aspect of the mansion. A wall, with overhanging trees, was skirted—the peewee Fg vent. But they were both silent now,—for Ci- prina had fainted; and Charles De Vere, perceiv- ing how useless it was to resist the will of his captors in any way, deemed it more prudent to hold his peace. The sbirri hurried their two prisoners along the secret passage,—one of them tarrying for a mo- ment to close the door opening into the ante-room ; and as the foremost carried a light, there was no delay in threading the mysterious corridor. Down the staircase they hastened: one of their com- rades had remained stationed at the door com- municating with the stable-yard; and this there- fore was thrown open the instant the party began to make its appearance. No intruder nor looker-on was in that yard: the prisoners were hurried onward to a gate opening into one of the streets that bounded the premises of the Mirano mansion : and a poschaise was in readiness at a little distance, Into this vehicle Ciprina was lifted, and Charles De Vere was ordered to ascend. The former re- mained in a state of unconsciousness: the latter, being blindfolded, had continued in complete igno- rance of the mode of egress by which he had been hurried forth from the interior of the mansion. A couple of the sbirri took their seats in the chaise, opposite the captives: a third mounted the box —and the epuipage at once drove away, oO Ghbooks im (E(0) co