Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 107: what you’re looking at

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heart to leave you exposed to the slightest risk. You muaét escape!” “Escape! And why 60, lady ?” “ Because you may be disappointed in the result of this mission which has been entrusted to Stefano. In a word——” “In a word, your ladysbip,” interjected Charles, “ believes that I am guilty of being a spy?” “J consider that it is possible you may hav. harboured a certain intent,” pursued the Countess “ you may have been driven to it by desperation—- goaded by feelings of madness—inspired by a ferce anger against those who compelled you to remain enlisted under their banner ——-” “ And you think, lady,” said Oharies, “ that I was capable of devising means to betray yoursel: and your sister to the scaffold? No, by heaven I would not do so! I would die first !” The beautiful eyes of the Countess surveyed ou! hero with mingled admiration and gratitude; an for a few moments their expression acquired softness which was even of a tender character. Then her regards were modestly bent down, as sh faltered forth, “You see, Signor De Vere, you have not altogether outdone me in the generosit: of your conduct. I came to save you I will save you now if you think that you incur the slightest peril! Yes—though I become a perjured woman yet sooner that than to see you perish Understand me well, signor! Iam speaking as a friend speaks to a friend, or as a sister to a brotber !—for if you on your side have been gene- rous and magnanimous, I on my own alao must make some sacrifice. Ina word, signor, will you follow me, and I will show you the avenue of escape.” “A thousand, thousand thanke, signora!” ex- elaimed Charles, with looks and accenta of the most grateful fervour: “but I need not compro- mise you. I am certain that my innocence must presently be made apparent.” ‘ You.proe convinced P” said the Countess, now fixing her eyes earnestly upon him, “ you are sure there can be no error—no mistake? Itemember that when you again stand before the Marquis of Ortona, it will be too late for me to urge a syllable yo your behalf !” “I must run tho risk,” said Charles,—“a risk, which, alas! innocence is too often compelled to l\acur on the part of all earthly tribunals. But I swear to your ladyship that I am innvucent, and that Fossano is the spy !” “Tnen God will not desert you,” replied the Countess solemnly. “ And now, signor, I must *ntreat that you return into the guard-rvom.” Charles at onoe obeyed,—the Countess following bim as fur as the threshold, on reaching which she said timidly and bashfully, and again with down. rast eyes, “I trust, siguor, that you will nut think: ihe worse of me for the step which I have taken, ind that never to mortal ear will you breathe the ‘act that the Cuuntess di Milazzo visited you tealthily in a dungeon. Lut no!” she imme- tiqtely added : “to proffer such requests were as ouch as to imply that I mistrust your honourable tharacter, whoreas I havo every faith in it!” She gave him her hand, but timidly and diffi. lently; and it was only for a single instant that ihe suffered it to linger in his own—thuugh at the ane time her eyes bad a melting expression and AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. the colour was coming and going in quick tran- sitions upon her beautiful countenance. She clused the door: i¢ swung noiselessly upon its hinges— and Charles was again alone. | The reader may wonder why he did not avail himself of the offer nade either of the sisters to eseape from the Spartivento palace; and yet a minute’s reflection upon the character of our hero would sufficiently explain his forbearing conduct in this respect. He bad taken ap oath which he would not violate. But even if he were locas punctilious on the point, and considered thag$ hu was not bound by vows extorted from him under circumstanées of cuercion, he would nevertheloss have been incapable of permitting those ladies to violate the oaths which they themselves had taken to thé’ Secret Society. And then too, he would not for the world have it be believed by the Mar- quis and his confederates thut he was after all a base spy. No! there was something so spirited, lofty, and chivalrous in our hero’s disposition, that he would sooner encounter any difficulties and dangers, or subject himself to any incunvonience, than risk bis character for straightforward inte- grity and high-minded generosity. These wore the motives which prevented him from accepting the offer of eacape from either of the sisters. While reflecting upon the separate visits which had been paid him, bo comprehended that the Princess and the Countess had acted unknown to one another; and he fancied that though they were both impelled by the same genervus and grateful sentiment, yet they had not dared to re- veal it to each other. While Charles was thus giving way to his meditations, he porceived that the fire was getting very low; and as the night was cold, especially in that vaulted subterranean, he rose from his seat for tho purpose of raking the embers together and putting on fresh logs—for there was an ample sugply of wood in a recess. While he was mending the fire, his attention was caught by a piece of papor which was crumpled up, and which bad escaped burning, though it was singed into yellowness. A thought struck him ! he took up the paper—be opened it—and he fouud to his joy that it was the letter which be bad dic- tated in that guard-room to Fussano, and which the villain had thrown into the fire! “ Now,” thought Charles with exultant feelings, there will be but little difliculty for wo tu prove mine innocence and bring homo the guilt to that 'illain. Aye! and thie I will most assuredly do, whatsoever may be tho consequences to hi !” He secured the singed letter abuut his person ; and in a short time the dour opened and three or four of the brethren appeared to conduct him back tu the audience hall, where the investigutiun was to be continatd. CUAPTER LL '& Princess of Spartivento and the Countess of Milazzo met in one of the splendid apartments of ihe palace, after tho visit which they had respro- ely paid tu our hero. GDoo