Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

298 I have obtained. You will hear from me in due course, when I shail know more. It is needless to watch the Spartivento palace: indeed, it were much better that there should be no espionage in that quarter.” “In good sooth,” said the Marquis of Ortona, after be had read the billet, “ we are bound in all honour and justice to acquit this young English- man.’ “I will stake my life upon his innocence !” said Voitura, emphatically. De Vere thanked him with a glance: but Ste- fano’s demeanour was still cold and inscrutable, as he said, “ At the same time it is impossible to absolve De Vere from the responsibilities and liabilities which are entailed upon him by his con- nexion with our Society.” ** Once for all, young man,” said Ortona, “ will you do your duty ?”—and he pointed first to the pistol and then to the culprit. “Thero was a moment, when I was a prisoner in the guard-room,” said De Vere,—“ a moment in which [ thought that even with my own hand I could take the life of the man who so basely and falsely acoused me! But now | shrink with loathing and abhorrence from the bare idea of en act which seems to me nothing less than one of foulest agsaseination.” “Then let De Vere himself die!” exclaimed several voices, amongst which Columella’s was the loudest, : “* Hold!” said the Princess of Spartivento, atep- ping forward; and ber mien was uunaturally cold and determined. “There is strife amongst us !— we stand upon the verge of disruption and ruin— and the cause of Italy will bo sacrificed to private feuds and personal animosities! This must not bo!—and it is reserved for @ woman to recall you to a sense of your duty. Lead the criminal aside.” Thus speaking, with a species of cold, glacial iuccism which produced an overawing effect, as if some Supernatural feeling had seized upon the listeners, the Princess took up the pistol. Her sister made one stop forward as if about to clutch the weapon from her grasp: but sbe restrained herself, and then stood motionless, “My God! what would you do?” cried our hero, horrified almost to madness by this new phase of the hideous scene—a phase more fright- ful and appalling than all the rest! “What would I do?” said the Princess: and then sho added coldly and sternly, “ My duty.” “Your duty,” exclaimed Charles: “ your duty to whom? Will you forget your duty towards God in the falee notions which are bere incul- cated? If it wera the cause of real patrivtism it would be different! But it is not for the sake of the oppressed millions-———~” “ Kuough, signor — enough!” interrupted tho Marquis of Ortuna. “Wo are not going tu discuss that question anew.” “Unhand me! let me go!” yelled forth Fossano, now galvanised into new life, as several of the brethren seized upon him and were dragging him towards the farther extremity of the hall. “Wrotch, be silent!’ cried Columella, who was one of those who bad hold upon him. “ Your doom is sealed!” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUER. “Signora,” exclaimed Charles, turning like on distracted towards the Princess, “I beseech you Highness to reflect well on what you are doing |! Ob, signora!”—and now he flew to the Coun. tess; ‘intercede — remonstrate—entreat — com: mand i ; “Seize upon this madman!” thundered the Marquis of Ortona, now losing all patience. Half-a-dozen men obeyed the mandate as if they were sc many tigers springing upon the same victim ; and notwithstanding the desperate re- sistance which our hero made, be was quickly overpowered. He gasped for breath, and his eyes stared wildly. A horrible scone now took place. Fossano, still shrieking and struggling, yelling and entreating, was dragged into a corner of the hall. “Spare me!”’ he cried. ‘Mercy! mercy! as you yourselves would hope for mercy at the great day of judgment! Help! help! Murder! Let me go! Oh, I have a wife and children! —little children that wiil be asking for their father! Let me go! Ah, the wretches! Iwill kick! I will bite! Murder! Death! Let me go!” And while the miserable wretch was thus giving vent to the awful agony of his feelings~and while Charles Ds Vere was powerless in the arms of the men who held him—the Princess of Spartivento was advancing with a pistol in ber hand towards the shrieking, yelling, imploring culprit. Then, just as she reached bim—just as her fine form habited in masculine apparel cast its shadow upon the wall closo by where the miserable being was battling and screaming, shrieking and entreating in the midst of his custodians—Charles De Vere, recovering his breath, cried out, “No, no! for God’a sake do it not!” The words were still vibrating through the sub- terranean, when there was a loud report, the sound of which ovuld not however penetrate beyond the massive walle which beat it back. There was not even so much as a groan—for the muzzio of the weapon had been placed close to the wretch’s head: and there he now lay a corpse! A dizziness came over the eyes of Charics De Vere—a faintness seized upon him—and his hoad fell back. He endeavoured to rally himself—but he could not; and consciousness abandoned him. He had gone through so much during the last few hours-—-his feelings had been wound up to so fear- ful a degree of tension—that, bigh-spirited and full of fortitude though he were, he could not meet with impunity that succession of shocks, the last of which was the most fearful of all. Aud thus he sank into a state of insensibility. When he came to himself be was inside a post- chaise that waa proceeding at a rapid rate. It was a beautiful moonlight night; and he found that he had three companions. At first he felt as if he were just awaking from a horrible dream : but as his recollections rapidly came back, and all the details of that horrible closing scene roso up like ghastly phantoms in his brain, he shuddered trom head to foot, and he would have given half the remainder of his life to know that it was in- deed alla mere dream! It was some time before he apoke; and in the meanwhile he ascertained who were these three companions. Next to him was tho Marquis of Ortuna; in front of him was Stefano Voitura ; and the other was a young Oo MIGIOO CO SS CO