Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 7° S) SL ‘ “J dare show no signs of friendship to a cap- tive,” rejoined the priest. “I am bound by the most sacred of vows neither to grasp the hand of @ prisoner nor break bread with him—nor demon- strate any human kindness or social amenity unless under circumstances in which,’ added Father Falconara, “I hope that I shall not see you placed.” “And those circumstances ?” hero. “The circumstances of a doomed one about to go forth to die, and in his supreme hour receiv- ing absolution together with the last sacraments at my hands!” ‘Heaven alone can tell what fate my enemies may have in store for me,” cried Charles; “and now tkat this last hope has abandoned me——” “Speak not in my presence of any hope, eave that which the devout Christian repeses in heaven.” No. 62,—AenEs. demanded our ME —S = SIGNORA BELLUNUV. * But what,” exclaimed Charles, who was now alike indignant and disgusted at what he looked upon as the cold unnatural stoicism displayed by the young ecclesiastic and which he could not even conceive to be justified by whatsoever oaths and vows he might have taken,—“ but what if I were to persist in telling you my tale—in forcing you to listen—in demanding your succour—in going upon my knees Oh! what if I were to do all this, must you not hear me ?—for during one half- hour you are as much a captive within the walls of this cell as I myself am!” “If you were to act as you have threatened,” rejoined Father Falconara, still with the same glacial calmness and icy self-possession as before, *T should never revisit you: my vows would pres vent me.” Charles remained silent for upwards of a mi- nute, wondering whether it could be possible that all the hope which he himself had cherished, and Vou. IL Comicdiook > co 5}