Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 105: what you’re looking at

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290 “* Yes—proven! proven!” ejaculated several | voices vehemently. The Marquis of Ortona looked deeply sombre ; ard even the Countess herself had not another syl- lable to urge in favour of Do Vere. “Speak, unhappy young man!” at length said the Marquis, “ have you aught to plead wherefore the extreme sentence should not be passed upon you P” De Vere was revolving in his mind whether he should at once proclaim how he had heard from Fioribel’s lips that St. Didier had employed a spy to penetrate into the Spartivento Palace: but he feared that it would be an exceeding breach of confidence. He bowever said to himeslf, “I know that Floribel would rathor I should make use of her name, even though it were to compromise her, than that I should perish thus miserably ;— and at all ovents I havo this alternative asa last reeource. In the moanwhile I will try anothor plan.” ‘‘ For heaven's sake, signor,” hastily whispered thé Countess, in accents which displayed the deepest concern on his behalf, “ if you havo aught more to urge, dolay nut !” “ Methinks I can proposes plan,” said Charles, “by which mine innocence will be fully proven, and the guilt brought home to the right party.” “ Speak,” suid the Marquis. “ 1f the plan be reasonable it shall be executed.” “Jn the firat place,” pursued De Vere, “ let Signor Fossano write in this same cipher a note which 1 shall dictate.” “ Readily!” said the Tuscan, who lost not his presence of mind, inasmuch as he began to feel that he stood in much need of it. Tle took paper and pen; and taking good care to write in a feigned hand, he thus followed De Vere’s dictation :— “T have been altogother on the wrong scent: there isa no mischief brewing here; and it ig | needless tu watch the Spartivento Palace. I can- not come to you myself at this moment, for I am fulowing up enother clue which I have acciden- tally obtained. You may trust the bearer with any note; and my surnamo is the pase-word.” . “Now,” said De Vere, addressing himaelf to the Marquis of Ortona, “may I beseech your lordship to send some trusty and intelligent person to that same Captain St. Didier who was just now men- tioned ; and your messenger cannot fail to discover by this billet what is the name of the spy who has introduced himsolf within these walls.” While thus speaking, Charles steadily watched Fossano’s countenance; and he saw that the man grew pale: ho observed likewise that he trembled | despite all his endeavours to conceal what he felt. The Marquis of Ortone’s features indicated a sen- sation of internal relief as he said, “ Your proposi- tion seems fair enough, young signor; and so far as I may fathom its purpose, it appears as if it were calculated to bring mutters to a speedy and unmistakable issue.” “Yes,” said tho Countess di Milazzo, whose beautiful countenance bed likewise partially cleared up, though there was still a lingering shade of un- casiness upon it; “it isa test that cannot fail in ane way or the other.” AGNES; OR, NRAUTY AND FLAALUAR, “But stop!” ejaculated Fossano; “the mere fact of suspecting me is an indignity! it amounts to anineult !” “Who suspects youP” demanded the Marquis of Ortona, almost sternly. ‘“* By putting the matter to such a test as this,” answered Fossano, “a suspicion is implied. What is the value of all my credentials—all my services —if they are to be thus ignored just because a stranger whose word ought not to be taken, and whose actions are replete with causes for mistrust, chooses to impugn my character P” “You bave accused him,” said the Marquis of Ortona; “and he had a right to make his dofonce. Though the stringency of our laws and the urgent nature of our interests—embarked as we are in such an enterprise—render ue stern and im- placable in carrying out a sentence that is pro- nounced, yet we are men and we are Christianse— woe love justico—and we will not pronounce that extreme sentence until all the requisite proofs are before our eyes, Where is Stefano Voitura P” A young man, about four-and-twenty years of age, with a pale thoughtful countenance, but with the fire of, intelligence in his black eyos, stepped forward on thus being summoned. IIe had becn leaning against the wall, with hie arms folded across his breast, listening to the proceedings that we have been describing : but he had not opened his lips to join in any of the clamorous exclama- tions raised by the tongues of others who were present. Hoe was well though plainly dressed : that ja to say, he was attired like a gentleman, but without the least display or pretension. Le was distantly related to the Marquis of Ortona: he followed no profession—but subsisted on sume small independent means of his own; while honrt and soul he was dovoted to the cause in whict he hadembarked. Such was the young gentlemap who now stepped forwand; and Charles De Vere, who had previously noticed him with a feeling of friendly interest, felt pleased that euch a messen- ger should be eelected for the important object which involved matters of life and death. “Stefano,” said the Marquis, “ you have heard everything which has just passed—you behold the accuser and accused face to face—and an experi- ment is about to be tried which must inevitably have an important result. Take this billet to Cap- tain St. Didicr, and return with the least possible delay.” Stefano took the note which had been written in cipher to Charles De Vere’s dictation; and with a bow to the Marquis, he quitted that subterranean hall of assemblage. Now,” said Ortona, “I am compelled by pro- sent circumstances to regard botb the accueer and the accused as prisoners. Let them be securcd separately and well guarded.” The Marquis waved his hand; and while Charlcs De Vere was borne back to the guard-room and there left alone, Fossano was conducted tu sume other place amidst that mase of subterrancan vaults; and a sentinel was placed at the door of each prison-chamber. There was a light in the guard-room ; and our hero sat down upon a bench and gave way to hié reflections. He now observed for the first timo that thero waa ah inner door, which appeared to be of immense strongth ; for it was crossed with iron Oo CO INOO nn G SS CO