Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

4GNH@; OB, BKAUL\ 42ND PLEASUBE. of De Vere was fervidly grasped in that of Ninn Corso, the Neapolitan. “Ab! you hore?” cried Charles in astonish- “ment, _ ‘These are the ladies ?” said Nino, as he swept bis eyes over the forms of the Princess and the Countess. “Yoo,” cried Charles, with increasing wonder- ment. “But you, Nino——” “Come with me!” said the Neapolitan; and he harried Charles and the two ladies towards a littio house that stood at a distance of about twenty ‘“Jargde,—their passage thither being almost com. pletely screened from the view by a quantity of bales of goods which formed a sort of wall be- tween the crane and that house. CHAPTER LIV. THE POSTCHAISE, TuE little house of which we have been speaking, and which stood upon the Mole, was connected with the Customs’ Department, and served as an office where a clerk might take an iaventory of goods that were landed trom ahips in that part of the harbour. The door was stunding half cpen : Nino Corso entered—Charles and the two ladies immediately following. “ Now,” said Nino, “ there is oot a moment to lose! The cause is lost! Tbe retreat to the heats will be cus of!” “ Bus what are you now 2" demanded cur hero, who, having at length laseu: to regard tho Nea- politan’s appearance, perceted that bu wore a species of uniform. “T am in the Tuscan Custum-house,” answered Nino: “and lucky it is for you, Signor De Vere, that Tam! Now ladies, hasten ye into that room, and put on the dresses you will find thero! Signor, you must assume another garb—and it io in reud) ness for you! In ten minutes I shall return !” Having hurriedly spoken these words, Nino Corso quitted the little house, locking the door behind him and taking away the koy. “ What does all this mean?” asked the Princess ef our hero, while her sister, the Countess, war equally at a loss to comprehend. “I know that man, and we may trust bim !” replied Charles. “ Beyond this I am utterly un- able to give your ladysbips any information: I em as much at a loss as you are to conceive how he should be in a position to help us in thie strait, But let us follow his counsel !” “You have saved our lives, signor,” said the Princess; and her dark eyes bent a peculiar look upon our hero. “ We will do as you bid us!” The Countess said nothing: but ber own looks shed an unspeakable gratitude upon our hero ere she turned to accompany her sister into the ad. joining room. There the two ladies found a small trunk containing two complete suite of female ap- pare), being travelling dresses such as might be. worn by persons of a genteel rank in life. Whale hastily assisting each other in the toilet thus mys- teriuusly furnished, they exchanged a few ranid observations, expressive of their deep regret at ihe (ailure of the enterprise, and their anxiety on 79- | 807 hsif of the remainder of the conspirators; while they could not help congratulating themselves ow their own safety, which at least wad thus far svourcd, Each at the same instant ssid somethin, in praise of the chivalrous gallantry of Charles De Vere; and then they both cast down their looks— for a blush was rising to the countenance of each, aud they could not endure each other’s regards. The necret no longer existed between them, though it was not bresthed from the lips of eithr: but tinea tell-tala bluehea, those downcast lodks, and the* air of sudden restraint, constituted a mutual revelation. Ina word, the Princess comprehended that her sister loved Charles Ue Vere—while the Countess understood that a similar impression had been made upon the heart of Bianca ! In the adjoining room, Charles De Vere found the undress uniform of a Tuscan eubaltern; ana ac this was the garb to which Nino Corso had psinted, he hastened to sinthe himeeclf in it. The | ¢xchange of this appare) for his own was quickly “made; and the key now again turning in the lock o¢ the door, Nino Corso almost immediately made hs appearance. — > “Things are better than I fancied, in one sense,’ be said: “they have succeeded in getting into their boats.” “Ah! I am rejoiced!” said Charles. the Marquis of Ortona—does he live ?” “Yes: I discerned him in one of the boats. Put methinks he is wounded. ‘The woldiers are tpringing into other boats in every direction. Toere will be a chase—but the chances are in favour of our friends. Aro the ladies ready ?” At this instant the Princess and the Countess came forth from the sdjoining rvom, elad in the rarb which best became their sex; ana they had ¢cawn down the veite with which their bonzets were furnished. “There is not a moment to lose,” said Nins Corso; “we must take advantage of tho excite- “ And suent that now prevails— or else every .>-hidid’: teaving the city will be presently stupped, and vone will be allowed to go out save those whose occupants are provided with passports rigidly in form. Come quick! follow me! Give your arms Signor, to the ladies.” Our hero did as he was bidden: Nino Corse weut onin front; and Charles followed, the Princes leaning on his right arm, the Counteas on hia left, A tremendous excitement prevailed :pon the Meles the people were rushing down in crowds towards the spot where the conflict had taken place, and where the soldiers were putting off in boats in pur- sui¢ of the fugitive conspirators. The little Custom-house and the pile of bales of goods cun- cealed from the view of our hero and the ladies, u3 they glanced back, the boats in which their late companions had put off; and in a few moments they were surrounded by the crowd through the midst of which they bad to make their way. Charles strove to keep Nino Corso in viow—which was not always very easy; for he was frequently lost amidst the dense living tide that was sweeping onward. Amidst the excited masses there were several soldiers; and they respectfully saluted our hero—for be it remembered that he now wore the uniform of a Tuscan heutenant. Tu about ten minutes Charles and the two Jadiee - had got clear of the crowd; and Nino, who was nn CO) Elooolks CO