Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; UR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUBR. to a terror. He again retreated ; and in a few minutes he descended into the main cabin. There the gaming with cards and dice was still in pro- gress; and the atmosphere was hot, oppressive, and noxious with tobacco-smoke. He returned to the deck ; he leant over the bulwark—the next instant somebody was by his side—and the moon- beams reappearing revealed the countenance of the Princess of Spartivento. “You have shunned me,” she said, in a cold voice—and yet Charles fancied that it trembled : “you have shunned me,” she repeated, “ and if I conquited my own dignity I should not seek an ifterview with you. But it is hard to suffer in the estimation of those whose—whose”’—and hore | her voice quivered unmistakably—“ whose friond- ' ship one would be inclined to covet.” ‘me Charles knew not what to say. He could not deny that he had shunned hor; but of course he would not confess it. “ Because I performed a duty,” continued the Princess, in a low earnest voice, “ you have con- ceived an abhorrence for me! Ab, but even in the performance of that duty might I not have had some hidden ulterior motive ? and without this motive should I not have shrunk from tho accomplishment of such a deed ?_ I scarcely know why I thus chvose to justify myself in your esti- mation ; bnt lot it suffice that I feel the necessity of doing so. Listen! Tho first lot fell upon me: the second upon you. You shrank from the task which it entailed. I might also have shrunk ; and as ® woman an excuse would have been found for me. But what would have happened to you? Death would have been your portion! It needed but a volunteer to take my place; and if I bad surrendered it, your doom would have been sealed ! Was not Culumella panting for revenge ?—would he not have gladly played the part of executioner in reference to Fussano, that he might have after- wards performed the same part towards you? Well then, if I had flinched, you would have perished! Yot think you if it bad not been to save your life I could have taken that of Fussano ? No—by heaven, no! It was to save you that I thus sacrificed myself !” “My God! is thie true ?’. murmured Charles, seized with the deepest compassion towards the lady who was thus addressing him. “Can you doubt it ?” she asked: “docs not the tale speak fur itself? And now, therefore, will you continue to loathe and hate me ?” “No, nu—not hate you!” ejaculated Charles : “T did not hate you! I had not torgotten that you came to me in the guard-roum to save ap “ Hush !” interrupted the Princess. “ My sister was talking to you just now. You did not mention the visit to which you have just re- ferred ?” “No,” replied Charles. “TI considered it to be @ sacred secret even from your sister !” “And it ie su. But now tell me—tell me, Signor De Vere,” continued the Princess, “do yuu still regard me with loathing and abborrence? Or if you look upon me as a murderess,’—and she shuddered visibly as she spoke the word—“ wiil it not to some extent mitigate the svrength of your horror and aversion to know that I vecame a m:urderess for vour sake ?” 803 er creme ee net “T owe you my life,” answered Charles; “ and that is saying everything!” . © It ia sufficient,” rejoined the Princess: and taking bis hand, she retained it for nearly a minute in her own, at the same time bending upon him a look eo earnest and peculiar that he could ecarcely comprehend it: then slowly suffering him to dis- engage his hand, she turned and hurried to another part of the deck. Our hero did not wish to fall in with the sisters again; and wrapping himeelf in a cloak, he lay down in a convenient spot, where after a while he fell asleep. He was awakened by a hand being laid upon bia shoulder, and a voice saying in a friendly tone, “It is time, my young friond, to riso and arm !” De Vere atarted up: Ortona was by his side. It was daylight; but the position of the sun in the East showed bim that it was yet early. All was now bustle on board tho ship, above and below; and the deck was strown with arms and weapons, offensive and defensive. There were muskets and rifles — pistuls and blunderbusses — swords and sabres—side-arms and cross-belts: there were vast quantities of gunpowder and all requisite ammu- nition. Immense was the excitement which pre- vailed ; and Charles could not help thinking to himself that if this were a patriotism of tho true sterling character—democratic and republican, ip- stead of monarchical and aristocratico—it might indeed go far towards accomplishing a grand re- volution in the affairs of oppressed and trampled Italy. All the conspirators were now armed, each according to his own particular fancy and the skill which he possessed in the use of particular wea- pons. Where were the sisters? Charles looked around. The Princess was at the moment ap- proaching him with a belt and tho Countess with a sword. They gave him the morning’s greetings with cheerfulness and cordiality ; and as he suff-red them to arm him, he perceived that they main- tained the most complete propriety of demeanour, neither of them even so much as venturing t: in his face until they had again retreated4OO dis- tance of a few paces. They were armed with awords: they now each grasped a rifle; and they bade him take one likewise. This he did in order to avoid suspicion: but in his own mind he had not the slightest intention of taking a human lite otherwise than in self-defence. Leghorn was soun in sight ; and the eonspirators sent up a tremendous shout ue if the sea-purt of Tuscany were already in their possession! But indeed they considered themselves almost as good as virtual masters of the piace ; for their informa, tion bad been pvsitive to the effect that the inhae bitants were ripe for revolt and would receive them with open arms; so that they felt convinced they would only have to show themsclves upon the quay — perhaps overpower the first military station—and then raise the cry of the Solidarity of Italy in order to bring the whole population out to welcome them. Indeed it was a speech to this effect which the Marquis of Ortona addressed to the conspirators as they were‘all assembled upon the deck, and when they had sent up that loud enthusiastic shout as they descried tho buildings of Leghorn in the distance. Tue breeze still continued favuur- able—the vessel pursued its rapid way—uaud ia comicboo S