Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BDRAUTY AND PLHASURE. tional evidences of tho fact that there was some one residing in the subterrancan. There were broken victuals—a bundle of herbs—two or three hotties costaining water—a few little articles of crockery—and some cooking vessels, There was also a small canister of coffee, and a bottle half filled with spirits. Wondering who the tenant of the place could be—or whether there were more than one—and | hav: ag his dagger in readiness to uee in case of | “accessity—De Vere issued from the room, and autiously opened the door at the extremity of the | passage. He now found himeelf at the foot of an ascent of stone steps; and he at once concluded | that this led up towards the suite of Crimson | Apartments, at present occupied by the Princess of Spartivento. But where was the individual~ or where the persons, if more than one there were | —-of whose tenancy in that subterranean such ample proofe bad been discovered? Was there sume placo which bad hitherto escaped our hero’s notice P or had the person or persons issued tem- porarily forth by means of the secret contrivance | of the summer-house ?-—or, on the other hand, did | this stone staircase at the foot of which Charles | now stood, lead up to some other room besides: the boudoir of the Crimson Apartments? Charles was determined to ascertain the point. He accord- ingly ascended the steps: all was still; there was no door on eitber side—no room, no recess where any one could be concealed; and thue he crept noiselessly up until his farther progress was barred by a door at tho top of the staircase. fo looked for the spring; it was there—and he therefore knew that he had reached the door leading into tho boudoir, and that on the other side of the wuuden barrier which now opposed him, there waa the superb mirror reaching to the floor. From a sense of delicacy towards the Princess, our hero was about to beat an ‘immediate retreat from the vicinage of the boudoir, when certain words which suddenly smote his ears riveted him to the spot. ma And the poison will be of the deadliest kind P” —it was thus that the voice of the Princess her. solf was speaking. not deceiving me?” “Why should I deceive your Highness?” asked ® vice which to the ear of Charles was utterly unknown. ‘“ Havo you not promised me gold P” “True!” ejaculated the Princess; “and a dis- guiso to enable you to depart from the awful soli- tudo of that subterranean where for nearly a month past you have been hiding yourself. And now Sook you! Sv soon as my object shall have been accowplished—so soon as my vengeance shall have been wreaked — in short, so soon as the deadly venom which you, woman, undertake to provide, shall have done its work, ¢hen shall my promise to- wards yourself be kept! When am I to have this poison ?” “‘Tu-murrow, without fail,” was tho woman’s responso. “ This night will 1 brew it.” “ But have you the means? have you now all the ingrédivuts that you require ?” demanded tho Drincess, * Last night 1 stole forth and procured the vari- ous herbs that I wanted; and now that your Highness has furnished we with the article that vob orerised tu obtuin in the town- “You are sure that you are: gor “Well then,” interrupted the Princess, * we thoroughly understand each other. Provide me with the poison that shall give mo the vengeance I seek ; and when its effect shall bave proved to mo that you have not deceived me, then shall my word be kept with you. But beware how you trifle with me! You said yesterday that we were in each other’s power: you forget how much more you are in my power than Iam in your’s. For look you! this very day have I read a placard which is posted up in the adjacent town, offering a reward for your discovery » “ Well, I know that euch a placard is issued,” "interrupted the woman. “I myself told your Highness that there was a reward set upon me. ” “Nay, but there is even moro than that,” inter- | jected the Princess. “What mean you?” demanded the voice of the woman, “Some fresh placard ?” “It may be one which yuu havo not seen, though it appeared to have been posted for at least several i days. It is to the effect that whosoever may har- bour you, becomes subject to the same pains 1and penalties as those whereunto yourself aro liable———” “Oh, is that all P” said the woman’s voice. “Every proclamation for the capture of offenders contains a similar warning.” “ But atill that is not all,” pursued the Princess, “ Listen! If any person who has become amenablo ito the law for any offence save that of murder, shall provo instrumental in handing over La Dul- fina to justice, such person shall become purged and acquitted of the crime whereof he or she may have been culpable (murder still excepted). Now, woman, do you cumprebend how completely you are in my power, and héw little Iam in your’s If you trifle with me or deceive me, I hand yox over to the grasp of justice: and by so duing I have a right to claim full pardon and forgiveness for the part which I took in tho invasion of the Tuscan territory. Yos—it is thus that you and I stand towards each other; and if I havo explained unto you all theso facts, it is simply that there may bo no mistake between us, but that you may be fully sensible of what the consequences may be if you in any way trifle with or deceive me.” “And the Minister of Justice has issued such a placard as that!” said the woman in a tone of concentrated bitterness. “ Why, ’tis tho same as hunting one to death with bloodhounds! I could not have believed it!” “No matter to you,” responded the Prinoass, “if you serve me faithfully, and thus ensure tho means of effecting your escape. Now, in ono word, when shall you be prepared to restore unto mo that phial which I have given you——” This phial which you have given me empty,’’ answerud La Dolfina, “ you shall find upon your dressing-tuble to-morrow, when you seek this bou- doir fur your dinner-toilet. lt will then be full of a white fluid, a few drops of which poured inte tho drink of your enemy, will bu suflicient. And how [ will ask your Highness, when may I hope fur the realization of the promises you have made tome? If there bo any delay in avenging your- self upon your enemy, whoever that enemy may be, you may try tho efficacy of the poison upou a dog—a cat—a rabbit ——’ “ Eovugh!" interrusted the Princesa, “ You COnmniclooe® SS