Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

66 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Oh, not a syllable on that score! But I must i chaise, he endeavoured to make the fallen steed go and rouse that lazy hostler of mine; for, as I told you, signora, we were all up very late ? The hostess must have concluded her speech in the passage, if she finished it at all; for she was now bustling out of the kitchen and was closing the door behind her. Ciprina was overjoyed to think that everything was thus progressing so favourably: she was warmed by the fire and the coffee—she dried her feet, which had been wet with the heavy dew—she wasnow cheered and her spirits were elevated. Ina few minutes tho land- lady returned, with the intimation that it was all right, and the vehicle would be round at the front door by the time the signora had taken another cup of coffee. “ But, by the bye,” she said, “which road are you going ?” “In which direction does this road load?” in- quired the young lady, who was utterly tennant on the point. “ Why, in one direction to Florence,” answer; “and in the other to Bagno.” * And how far off is Bagnor” inguired Ci- | to open the door of the yehicle—to spring up in- prina. “Oh! upwards of thinty miles,” hostess. returned the “And from Bagno into the Roman States, haw | far ?” asked Ciprina. “ Not above ten miles to the nearest point agroas| the frontier,” was the response. “That will do,” said the young lady, after — ing appeared to reflect for a few moments, though in reality her mind was made up on the instart. “Yes—I will proceed to Bagno.” The worthy bostess was either completely cre- dulous, or at all events she chose to seem so; and in a few minutes the vehicle drove round to the front of the inn. Cipriua forced a very liberal sum upon the landlady in payment of her atten- tions, and likewise for the hire of the equipage; and so far as she could judge, the horse seemed fully competent to do its work at a quick rate. The chaise was an old-fashioned concern; but it was comfortable enough; and Ciprina, taking her seat, bade the woman farewell. On went the equipage; and for about half-an-hour it pursued its way along the broad even road amidst the argentine splendour which prevailed. ll of a sudden, at the expiration of that brief interval, Ciprina’s ear caught the sounds of a galloping steed’s hoofs; anda horseman quickly appeared in sight. He was coming up a lane which diverged at right angles from the road; and he was be- labouring his animal with every appearance of the most remorsoless violence. But what was Ci- prina’s amazement when at a second glance she recognised her late travelling-companion, Charles De Vere! Instantaneously throwing herself back in the vehicle, she pulled the veil over her countenance, and drew her ample cloak still more closely around her form. Then she was on the very point of crying out to Charles, that she might ascertain the cause of his furious riding—whether danger were at hand, and if so, of what nature it was— when all in a moment the animal which cur hero bestrode stumbled and fell. De Vere was thrown off; but he was instantaneously on his feet again; was ithe | stant that she had succeeded in escaping as well as rise up. But the blood was now flowing from the horse’s mouth ; and it was therefore only too plain that its last work was done—and perhaps the closing achievement of its useful career was not the least exciting nor memorable in its brute existence. An ejaculation of despair burst from the youth’s lips, as he flung anxious glances behind him down the lane. But Ah! did he hear aright P—was some one calling him by name? “Mr. De Vere! Mr. De Vere!” said the voice, which though somewhat altered from that in which Ciprina was accustomed to speak—or though, in other words, it was a feigned voice—yet was it full of soft music. At the same instant the young lady thrust forth her head from the window of the velticle, and ealled to the driver to stop. An exclamation of mingled surprise and joy now expressed the feeling with which Charles was inspired on beholding that yeiled lady; for a glance showed him that she was alone —and he therefore naturally concluded on the in- he himself had ere now done. To rush forward— side—all this was the work of a moment; and | thrusting his head from the window, he ejaculated to the driver, “On, on at the height of your eed! there are robbers close at hand !” It only required this intimation to induce the | driver to lash the steed into the fleetest gallop which it was capable of accomplishing ; and as the horse was really a good one, the vehicle apad along at a tremendous rate. “ Robbers?” ejaculated Ciprina, “you do not mean ” “Robbers in one sense af not in another,” cried — Charles quickly,—“ men who would rob us of our liberty 1” “But is there any immediate danger? You were flying “From the mounted sbirré!/” responded Charles. “The poor brute which you saw sink down under me, performed wonders—miracles —prodigies! For half-an-hour I distanced them 4 | “ Just heaven!” exclaimed Ciprina: “ then they are upon our track * Yes !—-perdition take them!” interrupted De Vere, who had just peeped forth from the window. “They are coming along in the same direction! I was in hopes they would be thrown off the scent!” * What chance have we of escape?” asked Ci- pring, who thus beheld all the heaven of her hopes suddenly darkened with the blackest clouds. “No chance but the fleetness of this horse!” rejoined Charles. And after all, it is ridiculous to suppose for a single moment that we can out- strip them! Ah, signora! I am now perhaps bringing destruction upon youn——” “Do these sbirri know us?” demanded the young lady quickly: “ are they aware . “I scarcely can tell what they know or what they conjecture,” exclaimed Charles. “They pur- sued me all of a sudden—lI had fire-arms—the carbine and the pistol which I took from those officers - “Well, well?” ejaculated Ciprina impatiently. and without paying any heed to the passing post-| “ And those weapons ?” ESI st OSETe ST a ©) = Ghook won eee a ee eee =e ee we oe oe |