Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

AGWBS; OF, SAARSR AAG PLEASURE. man stepped forward to welcome the young lord, aud Charles thrust a piece of gold into his hand. On .ssuing from the church, our hero perceived & man posting a large bill against a wall where thero wero already eeveral placards. Certain words whict instantanoously met De Vere’s eye, led him to cross over and peruse the entire bill with attention. It was to the effect that whereas &@ most agdacious and piratical attack had been made up: the town of Leghorn—but whereas such atiack had signally failed, and the traitorous desperadoes had been beaten off with immense loss—~yet whereas it was rumoured that some of the conspiratore had escaped amongst the popu- lace, and were supposed to heve succeeded in getting into tho interior of the country, it was made known by that proclamation that any one who would give up such conspirators to the autho- rities, should receive a specified reward. A notice was furthor given to the effect that any one of the conspirators who had a2 escaped, who would give proote of contrition by delivering up his recent ac- complices, should receive a full pardon. “By heaven!” thought Cherles to himeelf, “this may possibly be serious, if any of those pos- tilions who drove us should be incitéd by the hope of reward to turn round and betray ue! And yot I have heard strange tales of the wonderful stanchness which prevails amongst the working classes and poorer orders when mixed up in poli- tical affuirs. And then too, it certainly is not by fleeing the country that I can fulfil the formalities which are to confirm me in the possession of my estute aud tend to put me in a position to prove any allegiance to the Grand Duke.” Charles was about to turn slowly away with these reflections, when bis eyea were attracted to. wards one of the older placards which were upon the samo wall. Ie beheld the name of La Dol- fina; aud he romembvred that an infamous woman bearing that denomination bad been mixed with the affuir of the Marchioness di Mirano. Ie therefore paused to read this particular placard to which we are alluding. It scot out by stating that whereas a woman bearing such a name ard of such a description (which de-cription wag musi. minutely given) had tor somo yeare past practised the moet diabolical iniquities in the City of Flo- rence, whence she had recently fled, it was dater- mined by his Excellency the now Minister of Police to adopt all possible measures to bring the woman to punishment. A reward was ther: fore offered for ler apprebension ; and in order thal sho might not be harboured or concealed even by her most intimate friends, severe penalties wore «de- creed azainst apy persons so offending. Mure- over, '0 increase the probubilities of ensuring hor eppture, there was the following somewhat curious | provision roade ;—“* If avy person baving by ouy means Uitunded against the law, save and cacept for the crime of turder, shall beeome instrumental in handing the said wowan La Dulfina over to tho grasp of justice, such persun, whether male or female, sball receive a prowpt and full pardon for whatsvever offence he or she may have committed, the erime of murder always excopted.” “ And thue,” thought Charles to himself, “ tle authorities secens determined to have La Dolfina: byt perlaye eho is far enough away by this times” flor be n» mors suspected that the wretch of in Ky. 4 famous reputo was in the subterrancans of his own mansion, than he was enabled to conjecture that the secret of those subterraneans was known tu the Princess. Ife retraced his way homeward, and told Signor Palmas how he had read the placard offering a re- ward for the discovery of tho conspirators. “ You might have been tolerably well assured, my lord,” auswered tho worthy notary, “that something of this sort would be dono by the autho- rities: but it by no means follows that the pro- clamation should experience any success,” “‘ But the postilions and the ovuricr ?” “Stanch as Nino Corso bimaelf! —and I am sure that you would not for a moment permit any ono to question the integrity or fidelity of that individual.” In the meanwhile the Princess di Spartivento —who was dissembling in her manner tuwards ber sister—had propused to Lucia that they should walk into the town together, to wake sume few little purchases to complete their mourning. Lucia at once agreed ; and unsuspicious of any einistor or ulterior intent, accompanied Bianca. The fact was, the Prmcess thought it would seem suspicious, or at Jeast strange, if she wero to go out alone under existing circumstances; and so she was ina manner compelled to requost the society of Lucia. They entered the town; and their attention was epecdily attracted towards the placard which had been newly put up; and then the eyes of tho Princees were riveted upon that proclamation which related to La Dulfina— whereas in respect to this latter one tho Countess di Milazzo was asa matter of course perfectly indifferent. “You see, Bianea,” she said, indicating the first-mentioned placard, “ that it is suspected sume of the conspirators escaped from amidat the con- flict at Leghorn. Oh! would it not be terrible if any harm were to befall our chivalrous young host at the very instant when tho sun of 60 much proe- perity would otherwise be shedding its light upun bie head ?” Lucia made these remarks with the most inge- nuous candour of look as well as with the utmost sincerity of heart; for her mind bad acquired a wond:cous equanimity since she had determined to love our bero only as a sister might love a brother. “Yoa,” answered the Princess, while the blood mantled on her chveks, and then in another momont guitted them altugetner; “it would be q horrible catastrophe if any evil cecurred. Wu must be cuutivus, Lucia! Let ua not rewain tou lung in the town. The less notice we attract, thu better. Ds you go to one shop, while I gu to another,” ; This arrangement was followed ; and the Princess was thereby onabled to separate herself tempurarily fruin ber sister while she purchased th: drug which she had undertaken to procure for La Duoltina, The sistera presently returned together tu the mansion: but they had no opportunity of speaking tu tho young Count until the party were assen- bled at the dinner-table. Then, on the Princess observing that she and Lucia had beon intu the town to make some few purcbaacs, Charles alluded to the placard in referenco to the conspirators, for ho felt assured that tho ladiea had seen it; and he oxpressed hiy deterwinativn to remain at the Louso Conn GIOoOks CO