Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

~—_—_---—_ --—_—-_ -- —-—---— sw sere ee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 63 hostler; “and here is something for your|my wife return? It may not yet be too late! I pains!” The latter, greedily grasping the handsome fee _ which Charles slipped into his hand, sped to the stable and quickly reappeared with the saddle. “‘ Here, my good fellow !” said Charles, now addressing himself to the landlord: “ here is my purse! What is the price you ask for that horse P” “The price, signor?’” responded the man, scratching his head and pretending to reflect, “Why, now I remember, it has not as yet been mentioned between us and before I conclude the bargain I must go and consult my wife ie “Very well! Begone, and be quick !” cried our hero, who was heartily glad to get rid of him. % The landlord hurried into the kitchen; and Charles lost not a moment in putting on the saddle: the next instant he had caught up a stick which happened to lie conveniently near—and then in the twinkling of an eye he was on the back of the animal. “ Hallo!” exclaimed the landlord, rushing forth from the kitchen: “‘ the bargain’s not concluded! I will not sell the horse!—my wife won’t part with him !” “Ah! isit so!” ejaculated De Vere. “ Then take this!”—and he flung the purse towards him. “Stop, stop, thief! murderers! assassins ! lord. “Stop! stop!” But Charles was speeding away at a rate which the animal had not accomplished for a long time past, and to which it was urged by the belabour- ing that our hero bestowed on its sides with the stick serving him as a whip. The gate of the stable-yard opening into the street of the viilage, was shut; but at the opposite extremity there was only a little narrow ditch, or open sewer, separa- ting it from the adjacent field. The ditch was crossed ; and away the animal sped as if it had all in a moment conceived an affection for its new master, and entertained the instinctive idea that it must do its best to help him in an emergency that was only too perceptible. The landlord hastily picked up the purse; and opening it, found that it contained enough coin in gold and silver to purchase half-a-dozen such horses at even the most extravagant prices which the most unconscionable individual could possibly put upon them. Why do you ery after the youth?” demanded the old hostler. “ By all the saints! you are well paid, master !” “But I have lost double as much!” exclaimed the landlord. “That fellow is one of the no- torious robbers—one of the banditti re “ Banditti? — Robbers?” echoed the hostler, now turning pale and trembling, **To be sure!” vociferated the landlord: “ the robbers on whose heads, each and all—collectively or individually—so immense a reward is placed!” “What, so young a man —and evidently a foreigner too, by his accent and his dress?” inter- ected the hostler, with a doubt as to the accuracy of his master’s statement. _ “Yes, yes! I tell you Tam positive! I saw @ musket under his coat! Why the devil doesn’t Help! help! Robbers! Fire !” shouted the land- sent her off for the mounted police that came into village last night———Ah ! here they are!” And sure enough half-a-dozen sbirri on horse- back appeared at the gate communicating with the street, just as the landlord gave vent to that concluding ejaculation. He rushed forward to open the gate; and pointing with his extended arm, he cried, “There! there!” thus indicating the direction which Charles De Vere had taken: but the youth was by this time concealed from the view in consequence of having passed the brow of an eminence and plunged into a deep valley which lay beyond. The sbixvri, whose special duty it was to scour the Apennine roads and extirpate the banditti which infested them, were mounted on steeds ad- mirably adapted for the purpose by the blended qualities of fleetness and strength. Away they sped!—the little ditch was crossed in a moment— through the field they galloped—and on reaching the eminence, they sent forth a shout of triumph to inform the landlord that the fugitive was in view. “You are a witness,” exclaimed the landlord, rubbing his hands gleefully, as he turned to the old hostler, “ that it was I who gave the information P Besides, my wife can prove it—and so the reward is certain to be mine!” CHAPTER XII. THE TWO FUGITIVES. We must now return to the postchaise, which we left at the moment when it was dashing off at the most rapid pace to which the driver could pos- sibly urge his horses. The whole incident—or rather series of incidents connected with Charles De Vere’s escape, had taken place with such start- ling rapidity, that Ciprina was overwhelmed with mingled bewilderment and alarm. First there was the explosion of the carbine, filling the chaise with smoke, and eliciting from her lips that scream which indicated her terror lest some one should have been killed by the weapon which was dis- charged, but which weapon it was she could noé immediately perceive. Then, while the din of the report was yet vibrating in her ears, came the sounds of the heavy blows dealt in rapid succes- sion upon the heads of the two sbirri by the pistol which De Vere had snatched from the hand of one of them. Almost at the same instant the door was dashed open with another startling din; and the next circumstance of which Ciprina became conscious, was the rushing forth of Charles him- self, and his encounter with the police-official who had leapt down from the box. The next instant away sped the chaise; and Ciprina, who was on the very point of springing forth after De Vere, fell back in the seat, smitten with the cruel con- viction that if he had succeeded in escaping she herself was still a prisoner. The smoke quickly cleared away, as the speed with which the equipage dashed on caused a cur- rent of air to sweep through ; and now the young lady flung looks of horrified suspense upon the two ebirri, lest they should present ghastly and <> lNOOLK GO 5}