Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

wt AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, —__—_— ee eee... 008°; G8 rr to encounter a friend who is in distress, and whom I might legitimately assist without violating the | measures were not well taken——-” vows which I took upon entering this fortress, I am not without the means. In that bed-chamber of which I have spoken, there isa curiously carved bureau of walnut-wood; and in one of the drawers there is a bag of coins—a sum of money, in short, which I do not want and can never use, and which I purpose to be some day or another devoted toa friendly aim. For do you not see, Number Twenty-nine, that if I did not choose to bestow that money as a gift—or if the person whose hands should grasp the bag, were too proud to receive the sum otherwise than as a loan—he might easily return it to me at his convenience on some future occasion P” “Unquestionably! I comprehend all this,” an- swered De Vere, wondering more and more why Pather Falconara should be conversing in such a strain. *Ah! I forgot to mention,” proceeded the ecclesiastic, “that the door on the left hand at the top of that staircase, communicates with a suite of apartments occupied by Captain Belluno and his family.” “Captain Belluno?” said Charles inquiringly. “ Yes—the Governor of the castle,” rejoined Pather Falconara ; “and therefore when ascending that staircase, I am always particularly careful to take the door to the right which opens into my own rooms, instead of that to the left which opens into the apartments occupied by the Governor, his wife, and daughter.” ** No doubt,” said Charles, in whose mind the suspicion began to flutter that the priest must have some motive in speaking to him on such subjects; for as he recollected everything which related to Father Falconara, he could think of naught that might justify the impression of fri- volity in his character or mere gossiping garrulity in his habits. Tt sometimes happens,” continued the priest, “that Tam compelled to go forth from the castle at a late hour in the evening, to attend some sick person in the town, or to shrive some dying sinner: for the minister of the placo is well stricken iz years, and I have considered it my duty to succour him to the utmost of my power. Thus you see that I have plenty of occupation on my hands, and I pass unquestioned in and out of the castle at will.” “You are fortunate,” said our hero. Father Faleonara now rose from his seat upon the pallet; and gazing slowly round the cell, he said, “ Yes—this must be the verysame! [ re- member full well the incident connected here- with; for it happened during the first feweweeks that I was chapluin to the castle.” “And what incident was that ?’”’ inquired De Vere. ' “There was a prisoner here,” continued the ecclesiastic, whose manner was that of one en- deavouring to amuse with a friendly species of chat,—*“ there was a prisoner here who made a desperate effort to escape Rf “Escape? Ah!” ejaculated our hero. “ Yes,” returned the ecclesiastic, appearing not to notice the youth’s sudden excitement: “ he made an endeavour to escape. Truly, it was natu- rai enough —— but it failed.” LLL IE I AL SIT CIEE TEE, CTO EN tt A ey Le in nei me meneame 76 * Perhaps the “You shall see,’’ responded the priest. “ It | appears that during the daytime he tore up some of his bedding into strips, and twisted them into strong cords. When the turnkey came the last thing in the evening, according to custom, the prisoner pounced upon him, overpowered him— stunned him, I believe, with. a fierce blow—and possessed himself of the man’s apparel. ‘Then he bound him hand and foot, leaving him with a gag between his lips, unable to move a hand to withdraw it, even if he should very soon re- cover his senses. Dressed in the turnkey’s cloth- ing, and of course provided with his keys, the prisoner very nearly succeeded in effecting his escapo from the castle: he even managed to pass through the lobby—but for want of the pass-word he was stopped at the outer gate and then everything was discovered.” “‘Ah!” said Charles De Vere: “ any one who has been for only a few hours in this fortress, knows enough of it to experience the ardent wish that the prisoner might have succeeded fully.” “Such is your opinion, Twenty-nine,” said the priest, somewhat sternly: then immediately re- suming his conversational mood, he said, “ Only fancy if that prisoner had dealt with me, the chaplain, instead of with the turnkey! If he had put on my ecclesiastical dress and hurriedly passed through the lobby—holding his kerchief, we will suppose, up to his countenance as if labouring under some strong emotion—he would have es- caped, because the pass-word would not have been demanded of him!” “True! true!” ejaculated Charles, whose heart was palpitating in his breast. ‘ But this stratagem could only have succeeded in the evening when it was dusk. And perhaps you are never accus- tomed to visit the prisoners’ cells at such late hours ?” ‘Perhaps not,” said Father Falconara coldly, At this moment the bolts were heard to draw back—the key grated in the lock—and the turn- key made his appearance. “Am TI too soon for your reverence?” he in- quired. “No,” replied the priest, with his accustomed calmness: and he issued forth from the cell. | Tho door was again closed and fastened; and | Charles De Vere was once more alone. Strange | wild thoughts were agitating within him: his | mind was full of suspense:—that balancing be- tween hope and fear was even fraught with the most painful sensations. What was he to think of the discourse which Father Faleconara had held to him throughout the latter part of their inter- view? Was it mere conversational gussip?—or had it a purpose and a meaning? He reviewed it all with the utmost minuteness,—sentence for sen- tence—syllable for syllable—in all its details! Was it a series of hints and suggestions ?—or was it pointless and aimless beyond the idea of amusing \for a moment? His mind continued in a wild feverish flutter for some hours, “It failed ?” repeated our hero. | At about two o’clock the turnkey, with his at- tendant, reappeared ; and this time it was to bring the captive his dinner. Tho fare was simple but wholesome, and served with cleanliness : it was also sufficient in quantity. Our hero however ate bus =} (9) (©) Ghook (©) 5}