Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

304 another hour the salient features of the Tuscan seaport might be easily descried. Nearer and nearer did the vessel bear its armed freight ; and ss our hero glanced around him, he beheld joyous enthusiasm depicted on all the ceuntenances which met his eyes. “My prophecy will come true,” said the Prin: cess, approaching him for a moment and hastily flinging at him these emphatically whispered words, “You are burning to play a noble part, and you will be our’s heart and soul !” Charles could not repress a shudder as that woman spoke to him: be blamed himself for it— he thought that he judged her harshly and cruelly —but still he could not help it' It wasa relief to him when ehe glided away to another part of the deck; and he sincerely boped that he had suc- seeded in veiling from her the strong repugnance and aversion with which she atill inspired him. A few minutes after he met the Countess of Mi- laszo as he was proceeding to speak tothe Marquis of Ortonsa, who had just beckoned to him; and he could not help saying, “I think your ladysbip would do well to reflect, seriously and for the last time, whether you will venture ashore until you at Jeast ascertain that there is some chance of suc- cess.” The beautiful eyes of the Countess bent upon our bero a look of reproach for a moment—and then their expression seemed te melt into the soft- ness of gratitude, as she said, “ What, signor! you would have me keep aloof during the storm, but rush in when the sunshine appearsP Ah! and yet I know that it is from the best of motives that you give me this counsel! I have not forgotten, sig- nor, your promise of last night—that you would keep @ protecting eye over myself and—and—my biater |” Charles was about to correct her by declaring that he hed given no such promise in reference to her sister, when he suddenly perceived how rude, foolish, and strange such a remark would appear Bla therofore hastened to exclaim, ‘‘ Rest assured, signors, that wherever I own obligations I am not unmindful of them! No, no! I will fulfil them }” The Countess blushed slightly—she hesitated for a moment—she became plunged in a still deeper vonfysion ; and then she said murdmuringly and tremulously, “ You have not told my sister that— that—I visited you stealthily in the guard-room P” And Charles answered ag he had previously ro- plied to the Princess :—‘“ No; I deemed it to be a recret that must be kept sacred even from your sister 1° The beautiful eyee of the Countess flung upon him a look which showed how grateful she was fur the relief which was just given to her mind; and they again separated. Charles bastened to join the Marquis of Ortona, who esid to him, “You will keep near me; ‘fur the moment is ap- proaching when the atrict discipline of tho So- ciety is to be renewed |” Our hero bowed; and as he glanced along the deck, he perceived that the conspirators were arranging themselves ic pairs, according to the way in which they hati been coupled in the subter. ranean hall in Turin. The veasel put in as close as was convenient to the harbour of Leghorn : the buats were quickly lowered ; and tho prepara- AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE. tione for the landing were speedily commenced The firearms were placad in the boats; but in the enthusiasm which filled their souls, some of the conspiratars drew their swords and began to brandish them fiercely as if already engaging wiih an enemy. “ Now,” thought Oharles to himeelf, “ " ‘the time for me to inspire the belief that I -am alto- gether with them :”—and he according|y flourished his own brand as he descended the ship’s side. The sisters were already in the boat which he wes entering: he caught their looke. The Princess was surveying him with an unmistakable air of proud admiration, as she might have loos. upon a husband or a brother—while the Countess was regarding him with a softer and more sub- dued expression, though not less glowing with enthusiam. It was ten o'clock in the morning—~in the broad daylight—with the sun shining, that the three or four boats carrying the conspirators, put off from the ship. The gleaming of their weapons could bo observed from the shore: but this was in reality a matter of no consequence — because even if the arms had been concealed, the disembarkation of so large a number of men from one ship and all at the same ‘ime, would have naturally excited the suspicion of the authorities. The boats pulled hastily towards the. Mole, where a number of aul- diers were being drawn up, and in the neighbour- hood of which numbers of people were collecting in all convenient places. The idea of the con- epirators was that the populace were thus throng- ing in order to welcome and succour them; and they exchanged amongst themselves expressions replete with enthusiastic hope. “If it beso,” mentally ejaculated Charles, “ the work may be short and the enterprise euccesaful : but if the contrary be the oase, it is certain failure !” He was now compelled to look closely at two alternatives which presented themselves like phan- toms before him—but by no means for the first ime since be had found himself so seriously in- volved in this enterprise. The spectres to which we allude were death or capture; and our hero felt that his fate balanced most uncomfortably bv- tween these evil genii. For, to tell the truth, he had no faith ia the sudden explosion of the popular enthusiasm in favour of the expedition, unless in- deed the veritable democratic cry should be raised loudly enough. But we must not waste time in description ; for we now come to events as startling and rapid in their succession as the volleys of musketry rhich presently burst forth from the harbour and from the boats. As the conspirators drew nigh, ihe Colonel commanding the troops demanded who they were. “We will tell you when we land,” responded ihe Marquis of Ortona. “Then ye are traitors!” cried the Colonel ; ‘and ye muet keep off, or I will fire upon you !” * Soldiers!” vooiferated the Marquis, standing up in the boat and addressing the military drawn up on the Mole, “ we come in the cause of Italian freedom!” ‘Present! Fire !” thundered the Qulonel : and his mandate was at once obeyed. “By heaven, they are with us!” ejaculated Oo COnmniclooe® SS CO