Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

wa the anchor was weighed and the vessel stood away from the queenly city of the Mediterranean, The night set in wery dark: but there wasa strong breese blowing favourably, and the ship was a fast aailer. The distance from Genoa to Leghorn is ninety miles; and the pilot prophesied that if the wind continued thus propitious, the voyage might be accomplished in about twelve hours. Now that all the conspirators were on ship-board—hemmed in within those wooden walls -—debarred from the possibility of communicating with any persons beyond those barriers—the rigi- dity of the Society’s discipline began to relax itself, and the members no longer kept together in couples. Indeed, the Marquis of Ortona him- self gave an intimation to the effect that the rule might for the present be suspended ; and he bade Charles walk about the vessel, remain on deck or go below, just as he thought fit. Our hero first descended iuto the main cabin, where he found a number of the conspirators engeged with cards end dice: he returned to the deck, and slowly made the circuit thereof—for he naturally had a curiosity to ascertain whether the Princess and the Countess were on board. He had not as yet seen them ; and he had not chosen to put the question either to the Marquis of Ortona or any other of the conspirators with whom he happened tv be acquainted. We have already said that it was vory dark: there were several forms stretched here and there upon convenient parts of the deck, enjoying s alumber: others were leaning over the bulwarks, fig smoking their cigars—or watching to catch a glimpse of the white crest of sume wave flashing through the darkness—or else keeping their eyes fixed upon the lights of Genoa which seemed to be receding farther and farther into the distance— and periaps there were sume hearts that were yeurning towards homes which never might be re- visited—towards wives and children whose smiles aud kisses might never again be experienced ! __ a8 he made the circuit of the deck, en- deavourét—but of course without ubtrusiveness — to obtain a glimpse of the countenances of these persons whom he thus passed: but in sume in- stances he only saw them indistinctly—in others not at all. At length he ceased bis walk: he likewise leant over the bulwarks; and gradually forgetting Princess and Countess, ship and conspiracy, he sank into a reverie the whole interest of which was concentrated in the image of bis beloved Agnes. How long this reverie lasted he knew not; but he was gradually recalled from it on becoming aware that there was anotber form close by his side; and the countenance of this person was so completely bent over the bulwark that be could not catch even the faintest glimpse of it. Never- theless there was a growing suspicion in his mind as to who this person might be: but he was re- solved to say nothing until first spoken to. He therefore pretended not to perceive that there was anybody thus cluse to him; and it wae not till after a long silence that a vuice stule soft and low upon his ear, saying, “Signor, we are now bent upon this expedition, which may have such im- portant results for Italy!” It was the Countess di Milazso who thus spoke; and he had suspected thut 1t was she. There was something tremulous, hesitating, aud diflident in AGNRS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, her accents,—-something which seemed to depre- cato any evil opinion which De Vere might have formed in consequence of the final scene at the Spaertivento palace. She was in hor male apparel, just as when our hero had last seen her in the subterranean at Turin; and as she slowly ratsed ber countenance while she spoke, the moon ap- pearing from behind 4 cloud, shed its beams upon her features and revealed the melting bashfulness of theie expression. “ Yes,” said De Vere, “we aro entering on an expedition the results of which may be of such consequence to ourselves |” “ You, signor,” said the Countess, “ may ‘powai- bly think that the undertaking has commenced under evil auspices—— “Oh, Iam not superstitious, signora!” inter- jected Charles. “ My sister and I have felt for you very much,” resumed the Countess, speaking still more hesita- tingly and diffidently than at first: “ we regret that you should have been led against your will into the enterprise———and atill more profoundly do we deplore that there should have been so many adverse, menacing, and—and—shocking cir- cumstances——” “Signora:” interrupted Charles, “it wore better not tu refer to the past! Heaven forbid that 1 should encourage you to proceed in a strain éf ro- grets which may sadden or weaken your spirit at a time when you need all your energies! But ie it possible that you mean to fight—~actually to ht ?” “Aye, truly!” replied the Countesa: and now her charming countenance suddenly glowed with enthusiam as the moonbeams fell upon it. There was something at the tip of our hero’s tongue—something which the natural chivalry of his disposition prompted him to speak—and yet which, on the other hand, a certain punctilious delicacy in reference to his beloved Agnes made him hesitate to express.” But all in a moment recullecting how the Countess had come to save him in the guard-room, and how zealous she had been in espousing his cause when ho was accused as a spy, be hesitated no longer; but in a fervid voice he said, ‘‘ Rest assured that there shall be at least one arm to shield you in the coming strife!” The Countess started: she caught Do Vere’s hand, and pressed it warmly: then in a low but fervid tune, ahe said, “I thank you, my friend !”— and she glided away from him. Almost at the same instant the moon disap- peared behind a cloud; and her retreating form was lost to his view in the obscurity which pre- vailed towards the other extremity of the ship. He turned to pace the deck slowly and to medi- tate upon the singular character of these two sisters, when he beheld a form sitting motionless apart from all the rest. Again did an instinctive idea come t¢-hia assistance for the recognition of the individual; and suddenly seized with an irresistible loathing, he abruptly turned back. Ho then continued to pace to and fro, at a distance from the spot where that form was seated, until at the expiration of several minutes he advanced to the fore-part of the ship : but there he was struck by beholding the form again svated!—~and for a mument a cold sensation crept vuver bim —a specios of preternatural awe, amounting aluvat comiclooolk CO