Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

R36 AGNES 3 OR, how full of apprehension you were while my Lord Count was absent from the room—then how feverish was the suspense which you displayed on his return » “ Aad natural enough, signor!” interrupted our hero: for Lucia had just averted ber crimsoning cheek=; and he comprebended why—he knew how much she bad felt on his account. The Princess and Signor Voitura exchanged sig- nificant glances,—the latter hastily whispering, “Your sister’s love for the Count is an infatuation —a madness!” Bianca felt a fierce rage glowing though her entire form; and it seemed to her for a moment as if her veine ran with lightning : thon the next instant she became all cold, and a glacial sensa- tion struck ber as she thought within herself, “ I have the means of vengeance!” for the phial of poison was about her pereon. “ It is all very well, my jord,” proceeded Pal- mar, who was inclined to be garrulous, “ to say that it is natural to give way to these paroxysms of atrong excitement: but I tell you that they are to be guarded against just the same as a pru- dent person would avoid inebriation. Of course 1 veed not tell an enlightened audience, such as I have now about me, that sudden emotions are most dangerous, morally and physically. They tnay destroy the reason—or they may cut short the existence. I hope, signora, you will bear all these facts in mind.” “ Surely, my dear signor,” eaid De Vere, “ you night choose a more cheerful topic P” “It at least has the merit of being an interest- ing one,” replied the Princess of Spartivento with a smile that seemed full of amiability ; for she rather liked the turn which the nutary was giving tu the conversation. “J have a brother who is a physician,” pro- vecded the notary, who was terribly apt to work a particular tupic into complete exhaustion, and who was eéelf-willed and obstinate in eticking to a ‘avaurite subject. “Tle bas written a book upon the nerves, and he gives mauy singular incidents ond illustrations of his special thoories. They are well authenticated. Sume happened of his own t.nowledge, and beneath his own eyes. I will toll vou & Cage,” “Pray for heaven’s sake,” interposed Charles, ‘think of some other topie ”’ “T shall not detain you many minutes, my ‘ord,” said the notary. s "Why don’t they announce dianer P” muttered \harles to bimself. ‘“My brother, the physician,” resumed Signor Vulmas, “relates the tale I am about to tell you. {here was a young lady at Palermo, and she was engaged to be married to a very handsome young gentleman of independent property. He waa well known for hie liberal opinidns, and had more than voce jncurred the risk of boing thrown into prison. At length bis name was mentioned in s somewhat serious manner, in convexion with one ut the numerous cunspiracies which are constantly batching or exploding in Sicily: but rumour had exaggerated the real’ facta of the case as they ro- garded the hero of my story; for he had ample evidence tu prove that he was nof at a particular pince at the time whon it was alleged he was there with the chief conspirators. Hia intended bride BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, had heard the rumour in its worst form; and she was full of terror and suspense. Her lover flew to comfort, console, and reassure ber; and yoy“ may conceive how great was her delight when atfe found that he was in no way seriously implicated. My brother the physician called at the time, and he read the lady a long lecture upon the fo! ty and danger of abandoning herself to the impulse of every emotion and allowing any suddenly excited feeling to gain euch a potent ascendancy over her. She promised to be more guarded and coun.geous for the future : but while she was still speaking, a troop of soldiers rode up to the house—just as that little party came to this mansion ere now. The poor young lady, forgetting all her wise reso- lutions, jumped at the most evil conclusion— namely, that the worst was going to happen, and that the soldiers had come to arrest her lover. They asked for him: he went down stairs to speak to them; and during his temporary absence the young lady was a prey to ae terrible a sus- pense and inward agitation as your ladyship was just now :”~-and here Signor Palmas addressed himself to the Countess di Milazzo. “Have you nearly done, signor?” inquired Charles impatiently ; and then he again muttered to himself, “ Why in heaven’s nawe is the butler so long in announcing dinner P” “ My story is almost ended,” said Palmas, who was as good-natured as he was garrulous. ‘ Let me see? where was IP Oh, I recollect! Well, the soldiers cama not with the alightest intention of molesting the young gentleman. Two officers who were frienda of bis, were in command of the troop; and they called to let him know that he had better go and give certain explanations to the wilitary commandant—in which case all would be well; but that on the other hand, if he neg- lected to do sn, an order for his arrest might be issued. Well, the soldier rode away; and the young gentleman hastened up-staira to reassuro his intended bridu——just as you, my lord, came hurrying io ere now. Not however that the cases are quite parallel “Surely dinner must be ready ?” ejaculated the young Count impatiently. “Ten words and I have finished ?” said Pal- mas. “The young lady seemed to have quite re- covered from the abock sho had experienced and the excitement that followed: her lover went to the commandant, made everything right with that functionary, and then returned to the house of his intended bride. Several guests were pre- sent, when they all sat down to dinner. Now comes the tragical catastrophe.” “ Indeed ?” said the Princess, who had been lis- tening with a growing interest in the narrative. “'W.s8 the & quel a calamitous one ?” “Dinner must be served up!” ejaculated Charles. “Three worda and 1 have done!” said Palmas. * An hour had elapsed—perhaps two hours indeed, from the departure of the*st.. ~e—the intended bride was eeated at table with her “over and her friends—they were at dessert—-when all Ome a sudden, just after the young lady had raised a gia: to her lips, she fell from her seat—a corpse! Exc ament had killed her.” “How strange! how remarkable !” ejac “ated the Princess: and indeed she inwardly felt the ElDOO SS CO