Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ‘“‘ Dearest sister,” said the Princess, “ how think you that it will fare with the youn: English- man P” It was the very question, my dear Bianca,” said the Countess, &that I was about to put to you !” ‘But- you, Lucia,” proceeded the Princess, “beard the entire proceedings.” “And I reported everything to you, Bianca. You therefore are enabled to judge as well as my- self.” “There was a pauee: tho sisters looked at each other, and it seemed as if some little degree of constrain¢é had eprung up between them. Again they glanced at ono another, each anxious to as- certain whether there were really this altered feel- ing on the part of the other;—and then they bent down their eyes again. “Surely she cannot possibly suspect what I have done ?” thought the Princess. “Surely she cannot suspect my proceeding ?” thought the Countess, at the same moment that a slight blush crossed her countenance, while the Princess regained her wonted air of calm self: posseasion. “Well, my dear Lucia,” said ber Ifighness, “ if you wish me to give my opinion, it is entirely in tavour of the Englishman.” The Countess hesitated for a moment; and then she said, “ And mine also.” ‘“‘]t would indeed be a very great pity,” said the Princess, “if a young gentleman who has shown such magnanimous feelings in certain respects, could in others prove less generous—less high- minded 7 “No doubt!” said the Countess. “ But there is really something in his looks which oarries to the heart the conviction of his integrity———” “And when he speaks there is something so frank and ingenuous if his speech ——” “Something so truthful and convincing in the easy flow of his language—which is well chosen— nevor halting for a word-——” “ And his voice of such perfect masculine har- mony !” said the Princess, “And his manners,” added the Countess, “ alto- gether so fascinating and elegant—yet with such a well bred ease———” She stopped short: her looks encountered those of the Princess, and both sistera seemed troubled, and they could not for more than an instant meet each other’s regards; but their eyes were bent down. There was a pause—a sense of constraint, an embarrassment almost amounting to a coldness; and these two sistera felt as if there were indeed a secret between them. “Lucia!” suddenly ejaculated the Princess. “ Bianca!” cried the Countess, atartled by the adjuration. “We have not forgotten,” continued the Prin. cess, “the vows which wo pledged to one another over tho dead bodies of our husbands !-those vows which we have incessantly reiterated by the side of tho waxen effigies representing the beloved perished ones !” ‘‘ No, sister,” answered the Countess, “ we have nut furgotten thuse vows which bind us to the sucred cause of Italian freedom!” “And which,” continued the Princess, “ leave Lu roum io our hearts fur the entertainment of any other sentiment, passion, thought, or feel- ing |” “Yes, dearest sister,” rejoined the Countess; “we are faithful to those vows !” Yet the Princess of Spartivento felt as if she herself were speaking with less energy and with a less genuine sincerity of feeling than was her wont ewhen on former occasions alluding to those vows which she and her sister had taken: while, on the other hand, the Countess said to herself, “Am I speaking truthfully ? is there nu differ- ence between my words and my thoughts P” Then the two sisters again looked at each other —and the Countess flung herself into the arms of the Princess: but it occurred to them both that the embrace was less fervid than usual, and there was a feeling as if some kind of a barrier had risen up betwixt them. They therefore ventured not upon any further test of each other’s feelings : but they hastened to their chambers to make pre- parations for departure on the revolutionary expe- dition, We must now return to Stefano Voitura, whom we left at the moment when he quitted tho subterravean hall of assembly, with the billet in his possession. Muflling his closk around him, he presently issued forth from the Spartivento palace by means of the principal entrance, where the lights were burning in front and where a flood of lustre was poured forth trom the portals. Voitura descended the marble steps slowly, with an easy lounging air ae if he were one of the guests who had so recestly thronged in the gilded saloons, and as if he were therefore very far from being bent on a business-pursuit. Most of the guests bad already taken their departure: but some few vere etill lingering in the hall and on the marble steps, waiting till their carriages should be an- nounced. Voitura was just entering upon tho gravel-road leading towards the outer-gate of the grounds, when a man who seemed to be a valet in plain clothes, bustled officiously up to him, saying, Are you looking, signor, for any partfoular equi- page P” “I am not looking for any equipage,” replied Stefano. ‘“‘ For any particular person?” said the man. “Ab, that is as it may be, and is a differont thing altogether,” rejoined Voitura. “Can I assist you, signor?” and the man eyed him scrutinizingly. “TI think not. But this is for your trouble ;” and tossing him a piece of silver, Voitura turned to pursue bis way. “ §t. Didier !” ejaculated the man, but in a low tone and with evident caution, as he stooped to pick up the cvin. Voitura—who from the first moment had aus- pected something from the manner of the indivi- dual—was now struck with that name which ap- peared to be thrown out like a watchword to be caught up by the initiated, while to the uninitiated it would pass as a mere ejaculatory expression. He accordingly turned again towards the man; and looking him hard in the face, repeated the word—“ St. Didier !” “Fullow me,” said the man: avd he at once diverged from the avenue, making bie way to- wards a clump of trees, into the midst of which he plunged. conniclooolk CO