Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

AGNUS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. CHAPTER XIV. THE TWO DISGUISES. Ts lady in whose presence Charles De Vere thus found himself, was elecantly dressed in the evening costume. Handsome she was not—neither was she exactly pretty; but yet her countenance was interesting, while her figure was voluptuous and striking. She appeared to be about six-and-thirty years of age; she might even have been a couple of years older—for her toilet being gay and juvenile in its fashion, afforded her the benefit of ali its advantages. She had small features, which were delicate without being regular, and which were somewhat too diminutive for the fulness of the face: but sho had handsome dark blue eyes and a set of admirably preserved teeth. Her brown hair was thrown back from above her high fore- head; and it was suffered to flow upon her shoulders and down her back with what may be termed a studied negligence, and which was ren- dered all the more piquant by a picturesque kind of head-dress to which a veil was attached. Alto- together, with the advantage of her toilet, with her fine figure, her softly rounded shoulders of snowy whiteness, her handsome eyes, and her good teeth, the lady was far from an unattractive per- sonage, She sat in a species of half pensive, half bashful mood, for nearly a minute after Charles De Vere thus found himself in her presence: her eyes, which for an instant had been fixed upon him with a peculiar look, were bent down; and she seemed as if she had taken some step of which she was half afraid, but which nevertheless was the result of some irresistible infatuation. Charles now sud- denly fancied that he had made another discovery in reference to the adventure wherein he found himself involved. Father Falconara had spoken of the Governor’s wife and daughter. This then must assuredly be the wife? She had conceived a guilty passion for the young priest, but she had not hitherto gone to any great lengths in avowing it——— perhaps indeed she had seen that her looks, her hints, and her intimations were either under- stood but partially, or else reciprocated but feebly —even if at all; and now she thought to avail herself of her husband’s temporary absence to bring matters to an explanation. These were the ideas which swept through the mind of Charles De Vere; and they were naturally engendered by the half-bashful, half-frightened demeanour which the lady wore; for if things had gone further than he suspected, and if there really ' 1 know that tho flesh is frail existed any undue familiarity between herself and Father Falconara, would she not have sprung for- | luno, “you will betray me to your friend! ee Ce ———]$—$——$_ $< pal ieee etme ean eae Se ts Sie alia —— = io which they communicated, and within the glass |frame-work of which heavy clusters of ripe grapes were ready for the hand that might be stretched forth to pluck them. It was evident that tho Governor’s wifo and daughter had studied to }subdue the prison-like gloom of the fortress as much as they possibly could, so far as their own habitation was concerned. “Will you not advanco?” the lady at. length said, rising from the sofa, and now flinging upon the seeming priest a look that was expressive of her own fluttering pleasure, and at the same time deprecatory of any remonstrance or rebuke on his part. “Did not Ursula tell you that my husband had gone to pass the evening with some friends in the townP Carlotta has gone with her father— and therefore I But wherefore do you remain there? why thus persist in concealing your coun- tenance? Ah! have my looks been really mis- understood? or have you altogether failed to per- ceive the demonstrations of love which I have from time to time ventured ” *Signora,” said Charles, suddenly resolving to bring matters to @ crisis, “you are mistaken! I ” A low half-subdued shriek burst from the lips of Signora Belluno; for the tones of our hero’s voice had enabled her to anticipate the avowal which he was about to make—namely, that he was not Father Falconara. “Bo silent, Signora! or you will betray yourself!” he ejaculated, as he suddenly removed the kerchief from his face and advanced quickly towards her, full of a feverish excitement as he found that she was now seized with a terror which if loudly and passionately expressed, might prove destruction to himself. “Who are you, holy sir?” she quickly do- manded. ‘“ And how came you here P” “Can you not understand, Signora, that I am a friend of Father Falconara’s ?” * But you are not an Italian?” she interjected. “'No—I am a Frenchman,” was the ready re- sponse given by our hero. “In short, I am the chaplain to the French HWmbassy at Florence—LI came to see my beloved friend Father Fal- conara ,? “Just heaven! and what a secret have you discovered |’”’ exclaimed the lady, now throwing herself upon the sofa and wringing her hands. “I am ruined! Iam degraded! Lam undone! Oh, fatal passion !—miserable, miserable infatuation !” “Signora,” Charles hastened to explain, “ take courage! Iam a man of honour! and though a priest, I can make allowances! Alas, full well do 2 “But, Oh! reverend sir!’ cried Signora Bel- You ward to clasp in her arms the seeming priest who | will now render me contemptible and ridiculous now stood in her presence? Yes—a minute passed while De Vere remained standing close by the door, and still hiding his eountenance with a white kerchief, in his eyes !” “No, signora—no!”’ cried Charles. “Ob, if I could put faith in your promise,” Thus he had | cried the unhappy lady, “I should be comforted! not merely leisure to observe the appearance of ;—an immense weight would be taken off my the lady, as we have already described it— but he also noticed that the room was hand- somely furnished and exhibited all the evidences of feminine taste. There were vases of flowers: the draperies were well appointed; and the open mind!” “Signora, wherefore should you not believe me?” asked our hero, who was driven almost to frenzy by this delay which was taking place ere further steps were adopted to ensure his escape casements afforded a glimpse of @ green-house with | from the castle; for he dreaded Jest at any in- Ss Se lNOOLK ee TT TE CO 5}