Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUBE,. man whom he did not know by name Voitura was the first to perceive that he bad recovered and that his eyes were open; and he said in a woice which now struck our hero as being kind and tinctured with compassionate sympathy, “ How do you" feel now, signor P” “According to the laws of your Society,” said Charles, with a bitter irony in his accents, “ was it not thd duty of the person who drow the first lot, to kill me as a defaulting brother, after that same person had acted as executionor towards the culprit? Why, then, was I spared? Sooner would I have died ” * Speak not in such terms as these!" said the Marquis of Ortona; “but rather thank your stars that the first lot was drawn by a high- minded lady who knew how to perform her duty towards the Society to which ehe belongs by putting to death a criminal, but who experienced an illimitable compassion for you! For believe me,” continued the Marquis, “ if the first lot had been drawn by any one of the male membors of our fraternity—Columella or Raguso for instance --you would not now be alive to give utterance to a comment upon the subject !"” De Vere felt that whatever his sentiments might be in reference to the deed which the Peincess had perpetrated, he at least ought not to reproach her. It was un account of hie refusal to abide by the laws of the Society that the execution thereof had devolved upon that lady. He was more or less the cause of ber taking that course! Yet he felt humiliated to think that he was so placed as to be disqualified from commenting in full freedom upon what he still regarded as a fearful atrocity ; and he could have wept in bitterness because of the necessity of suppressing his indignation. ‘here was a long silence, during which he re- viewed his position. Ie was evidently a prisoner amongst the conspirators; and the proofs which he had received of thoir desperate character were enly too terrible. And not merely a prisoner was he— but likewise included in the ranks uf the con- spirators. What was his chance of escapo? Only that of landing with them at Leghorn and then trusting to circumstances. But if he asswmed a hostile front, looked sullen or indignant, or gave vent to bitter observations,—might he not fare even still worse at their hands * might they not so far mistrust him as to leave him out of the ex- pedition altogether, though at the same time taking effectual measures to prevent bim from be- traying it, by thrusting him into some dungeon at Genoa or by keeping him a captive on board the vessel which was to transport them from that city to Leghorn ? Or atill more horrible, might they not ju their desperation put him out of the way altogether by means of murder’s work ? — for when the crisis approactted, such bloodthirsty ruf- fians as Columella and Raguso would scarcely be inclined to stand upon much punctilio in order to ensure their own safety. All these reflections passed through the brain of Charles De Vere:—hot, feverish, and almost maddening reflections were they at first; but they gradually became cuovler—and he mentally argued the whole subject more soberly and more delibe- rately, He therefore came to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary for him to adopt a con. ciliatory demeanour—to dissemble the feelings that 2909 were now chafing his soul—and, in short, to throw the brethren as much off their guard as possitio and luli their mistrust of him asleep, eo that he might be placed in a position to realize his own special views and aims. As fur the dread scene which he bad witnessed in the subterranean of the Spartivento palace, he made up his mind to retain the seal of silence faithfully upon bis lips when he should obtain his liberty : for he was mindful of the oath which bound him to secrecy in respect to the present proceedinge, so long as such secreey might be needful to the interest of the cause itself or the safety of the members embarked in it, “ Alas!” thought De Vere within his own mind, “secrecy on this ane point will prove indispensable for the safety of the Princess as long as she lives} —for the law would not regard her as the execu- tive of a legitimate vengeance, but would look upon her as a cold-blooded murderess !”—~and he shud- dered as he made this reflection. Having completely settled his plans, and deter- mined upon the line of conduct which he was to pursue, our hero presently broke silence,—and aid in a mild friendly voice, “Signor Voitura, you were just now kind enough to inquire how I felt; and I fear that I answered you churlishly—for I was under the influence of those embittered im- pressions which naturally attended the collection of my thoughts on my first awakening from a state of unconsciousness.” “ Offer no apology, signor,” said Stefano; “but believe me when I[ declare that I am rejoiced ty hear you now speaking in a healthicr strain.” “ Yos—I feel much better,” observed De Vere; “and I beg that whatsoever rudeness or discourtesy there has been in my conduct, may be ascribed tu feelings that were tensely strung—to the novelty of my situation—to my ignorance of the usages of these Secret Sucicties ” “Enougb, my young friend! snough!” ex- claimed the Marquis of Ortona, now brusking in upon the discourse. “I am delighted tu be eva- bled once again to call you my friend. No | the ordeal through which you have pass was . trying and a painful one ” “Tt might be said,” interjected our hero, “ that for several hours 1 was kept balancivg between life and death,—first menaced with dostruction because I could not tako a particular osth-—next accused of being a spy——then threatened with capital penalties for refusing to fullil the duties which the drawing of the lots attributed to me- “ Well, well,” said the Marquis, “ we will not review unplesant things, nor travel again over dis- agreeable ground. It is suflicient that you are in a better frame of mind; and indeed | never knew a high and magnanimous spirit sugh as yours 1, to be otherwise than marvellously elastic !” Our hero by dint of the conciliatory manner vhich he now adopted, succeeded in replacing himself on good terms with his comrades; and the discourse was continued for snmo little while longer, but on general and indiflerent topics,— until one by one the occupants of the chaisy fell off into sleep. Charles De Vere slumbered for some houra: and when he awoke he felt quite refreshed. it was now morning; and the Marquis of Ortona intimated to our hero that in a few minutes they MIKGIOO C© S