Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

236 “Then some one will draw for you,” said the Marquis coolly. “] deny the proxy!” cried our hero: “I repu- diate the substitute !” “Enough, enough!” interrupted the Marquis impatiently. “If you will not draw for yourself some one must draw for you: and if the lot fall upon you, and you refuse to obey the decision, you yourself incur the penalty of death.” “Then here all human patience faile!” ex- claimed Charles; “and I denounce you all, without exception, as—-” But he etopped short as he caught sight of the Princess and the Countess, and remembered how they had sought him in the guard-room to offer him the means of escape, even though they themselves beoame perjured by the fact. “You do well, signor, to cease thie style of language,” said the Marquis of Ortona, who was however far from comprehending the cause of that sudden ceseation ;: “or else I should bo compelled to adopt coercive means towards you. And now let the drawing of the lots proceed.” While this altercation was taking place, Stefano Voitura had calmly and tranquilly continued to write out the names of those present; while the brother named Raguso proceeded with equal de- liberation to load a largo double-barreled pistol with bullete, Meanwhile the wretched man Ludo- vioo Fossano, who was the main cause of al) these proceedings, was lying upon the pavement of the subterranean hall, in a state of either torpor or sullenness. The slips of paper containing the names were folded up: they were then thrown into a hat, which was duly shaken about for several minutes ; and then Voitura presented it to the Marquis of Ortona, who averted his countenance in such a way that he could not look into the hat as he stretched out his right hand to draw a paper. “ According to the laws of our Society,” said the Marquis, “ I am about to draw forth two papers. “L8SF% sé name so drawn is for the purpose of being in reserve: the escond individual on whom the lot falle must perform the work of justice. But if this second individual should refuse so to do, the duty devolves upon the first one drawn,~—and in this case the person who by the defalcation of a brother is forced into the office of executioner against the culprit, is bound likewise to inflict the capital penalty on the defaulting brother himself. These are our laws; and by virtue thereof I proceed to draw the names.” The Marquis of Ortona, still with his counte- nance completely averted over his left shoulder, thrust his right hand and drew forth one of the folded papers. He handed it to Columella, who opened it, proclaiming aloud the name of Sparti- wento Charles De Vere started with a strong shudder- ing es he flung his looks upon the Princess: but that lady seemed determined to maintain a heroism that was in accordance with the masculine garb which she wore—and she preserved an almost per- fect se}f-possession : but her sister turned very pale and staggered visibly for a momént. “The second name!” cried the Marquis of Ortona. Again he thrust his band inte the hat—he drew forth a paper, which he handed to Signor Co- AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE. lumella, who proclaimed aloud the name of Dy» Vere. Our hero was about to repudiate with horror and indignation the result which so vitally con- cerned himself: but all in a moment a full sense of the terrible consequences which would redound upon the Princess swept into his mind, making him reel beneath the weight of an awful coneter- nation and striking bim dumb. CHAPTER LII. THE BXECUTION, Yre—fearful was the predicament in which Charles De Vere suddenly found himself placed. If he refused to take the double-barrelled pistol and therewith blow out the brains of the wretched culprit, Fosaano, the duty of playing the part of executioner would of necessity devolve upon tho Princess di Spartivento. But this was not all ! The Princess would be compelled to wreak the vengeance of the Secret Society on De Vero also! In brief terms, she muet first put the culprit to death, and then perform the same part towards the defaulting brother, who by shirking his own duty, thue entailed the horrible twofold task on the individusl whose name was first drawn ! All eyes wero turned upon De Vere ; for every one comprehended in a moment how he waa placed in the most embarrassing and even awful predica- ment. What would his decision beP Great was the suapensd that prevailed. As for the Princess, she was calmly dignified — paler perbaps than usual; while her sister the Countess could but ill conceal the terrible agitation which was torturing ber soul. The silence too was awful; and as if to aggravate the deep noiseless hideous aspect of the scene, the wretched culprit had risen up to his feet and wae gazing with ghastliest vacancy upon those around bim. *Sigdor De Vere,” said the Marquis of Ortona, at Jength breaking the appalling stilinoss; “thero stands the criminal—here is the woapon—and you are the person appointed by lot to inflict the punishment decreed by the laws of our Society !” Our hero started as if from a horrible reverie; and ho eaid, “I acknowledge not such laws; they level honest men down to the grade of the lowest assassins |” * Remember your oath!” said the Marquise sternly. * Ah, yes!” cried Charles; “appeal to my oath if you will! To what did I swear? That I would in all things obey my superiors in the con- templated enterprise, so long as they ordered me to undertake nothing repugnant to my own feel- ings !” The Marquis bit his lip fora moment; and then as an idea struck bim, he said, “ Bewaro how you persist in refusing to obey our laws: for if you continue to be thus headstrong and disobedient— thus self-willed and perverse—you will revive all our suspicions against you.” “How do we know,” exclaimed Columelia, “but that he might have been as much a spy as Fossano himeelf ?” “The word spy in your throat !” vociferate? out cConniclooolks CO