Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 153: what you’re looking at

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838 more admirably suited to my purpose, nor have told it in a more appropriate manner !” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE him again, he was gazing in another direction, and | with an air as if be had nothing unusual in his The dinner progressed; there were several | thoughts. courses following each other—and then came the dessert. The hothouses of the garden produced the most delicious fruits in that December season; and there were several likewise which still grew in the open air that had disappeared months back from the colder latitudes of more northerly climes. There was likewise a varied assortment of wines, chosen by the good taste of the butter, who had long been in the service of the late Count, and who was now well pleased to do all pessible honcer to the present one. The conversation progressed with gaiety: i¢ seemed as if Charles had infused an hilarious spirit into it, As for the Princess, she had never appeared more cheerful, and her manner seemed more than ever kind and affeo- tionate towards ber sister. Charles never omce leat sight of the Princess, although she was very far from noticing or sus- pecting thet he thus watehed her, But he fol- lowed every movement, every gesture on her part. At length, while Signor Voitura was relating some anecdote that riveted the attention of the Cous- teas and the notary~and while Charles himedif affected to be equally interested in the tale-—the Princess of Spartivento dexterously drew forth the little phial from the laced bodice of her dress. Quick as lightning was the glance which she darted round the table at the moment: but no one seemed to be observing her. She sat next to her sister: Lucia’s wine-glass was about three parte flied; and the Princess, while affeeting to lean a little more across the table with an eir as if she were loath to lose « single word spoken by Stefano Voitura, poured some half-dozen drops from the phial inte that glass. Charles saq it alls but the Princess fancied that he beheld naught of the proceeding. And now what an interval of etupendous sus- pense ensued for Bianca, during the three or four minutes that Voitura’s tale still lasted ere it reached its conclasion. Three or four minutes |— they seemed to be three or four ages! In how long a time would Bianca see her sister fall dead at her feet? were not her very minutes now aum- bered P would she live five or ten P and then what would ensue? Terrible was the ayitation which reigned within the guilty woman’s soul: but ex- ternally she was calm, collected, and with all her attention apparently absorbed in the tale whieh Voitura was telling. At length the anecdote was finished; and Signor Palmas, while making some remark, took up his glass—a movement which was mechanically fol- lowed by Lucia. And now how violently beat Biance’s heart! Lucia slowly emptied her glass, and replaced it upon the table. But the expected catastrophe did not ensue. There was no falling from the chair—no corpse tolling at Bianca’s feet: her sister was apparently as full of lite and health as she was before she had partaken of the con- tents of the little phiel. What did it mean? had La Dolfina deceived her? or was the poison slower in its operation than she bad been led to believe? As she swept her looks round the table, she fancied that she caught the eyes of the young Count of Camerino fixed upon her—her coun- senance became gscarlet-—but when she looked at Half-an-bour passed, and the contents of the phial remained without effect. The party now reese from their seate, and ascended to the drawing- room, where coffee wae served. Presently Palmas engaged Lucia and Voitura in listening to some laughable aneodote which he had to tell them, and te which the Countess readily gave her attention, inasmuch as it was very different from the gloomy tale he had told before dinner. The opportunity for which Charles had been seeking now presented itself; and he eaid to the Princsss, “Will your Highness take a tarn with me in the picture gallery ” “ Willingly, my lord,” anewered Bianca, amazed at the proposal, but not terrified by it: on the contrary, there was a flattering plessure mingled with her ro ae cnanged she axed hereel f, “Cen he possibly have to mo?” They quitted the drawing- a landing—and entered the picture gallery. There the Princess was just begianing to make some re- mark in an affable and even tender tone, whea our hero, turning reund upen her with startling ab- ruptness, and (encaing an eminous sternness of look, said, “.figaora, 1 have saved you from the coramission of « crime !” eo” Prineess wee stricken ghastly and speech- _* Yeu-—I repeat my words,” continued Charles, “'You found the phial gpon your toilet-table—bat it contained water! Your Highness may with all possible impunity swallow the remainder of ite eontents.” “ My God!"—and Bianca could say-no more: she was as white as @ cor: $ she was trem- bling as if ahe were smitten with the palsy. “You see that you are unmasked,” continued Charles; “but it is not my intention to expose you in the presence of your sister and the two tlemen who are now with her.’ I would spare e Oountess of Milasszo the anguish and the shame of knowing that her sister would have be- come an assassin but for the wondrous intervention of providence which placed me in a condition to frustrate the intended crime. But your Highness must depart from my dwelling ——” “ Yos, yes~-I will depart! Oh, for God’s sake do not expose mes I will leave your house at once |” Not so, Signora,” interrupted our hero: “that would be to excite some suspicion. Remain here until to-morrow morning, and I promise you that no look nor word on my part shall seem to upbraid you for any seeret cause. The crime which you committed at your palace at Turin, has hardened you for the perpetration of other deeds of turpi- tude; and I cannot forget that it was on my account that you committed that first crime. For this regson I spere you now! More I need not suy~——anlese it be 60 enjoin that you do naught to exeite in my mind @ gusnigion that you are bent on further mischief: for it «jt will be my duty to place your sieter on her gird against you.” . “My lord, you are mereifal,” murmuid the _ Princess, with a tone and look of the deeped' come trifion—the most abject humiliation; “ I comicbooks.com