Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OF, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. thank you. Leave me, I beseech you—leave me here for a little while!” Charles bowed coldly, and quitted the picture gsllery. Then, all in a moment, a singular change came over the Princess of Spartivento: a vivid crimson mantled upon her cheeks~~her eyes flashed fires—and her whole countenance indicated a de- gree of rage and hate and vindictive fury that would even have armed the head of Medusa with more horrid terrors, “Ah!” she ejaculated: “am I now odious in his eyesP and is he for ever lost to meP He would send me away—and he would keep his paramour Lucia! No—ié shall not be.” She glanced around: there were writing mate- riels on a side table—she penned a hasty note— she sealed and addressed it. Scarcely was this done, when Stefano Voitura entered the picture-gallery. “Ab! ’tis fortunate!” he said. “TI feared that the evening would pass without affording us a moment to be alone together, Has your High- ness reflected well P” “J have:’—-and Voitura was struck with the strangeness of her manner as she thus answered “‘ And your decision, signora P” “Tt is bere :”—and she handed him the billet. “TI knew that your Highness was stanch and firm to the good cause!” said Voitura, his whole countenance kindling with enthusiasm as he pressed to his lips the band from, which he received the billet. “In lees than an hour everything shall have been done !” Voitura returned into the drawing-room, where he remained for two or three minutes; and then he said, as if quite in a casual manner, that he would go and smoke a cigar in the garden. Charles was talking to Palmes and Lucia. Voitura left the apartment; and presently the Princess re-entered it, She seated herself at the table on which the volume of prints lay, and affected to study them with great interest. The old notary was telling another long story, to which Lucia gave her atten- tion out of courtesy, and to which Charles pre- tended to listen as an excuse for not going near the Princess. Time passed on,—when all of a sudden a scream pealed from Lucia’s lips as she beheld a cavalry officer make his appearnce on the threshold of the open portals. The officer entered the room, closely followed by half-a-dozen soldiers. “ Ah! my lord,” he at once exclaimed, “if was your turn to win the game this afternoon: it is my turn now. Yet I am sorry for it—for you. were hospitable and generous-~and I am devilishly grieved to have to take you into custody for high treason against the Grand Duke.” “ My God!” moaned Lucia, clasping her hands together.. “You did not expect me, my lord,” proceeded the lieutenant. “I managed the thing well; I did not allow your servants time to raise an alarm. May I ask which is the Princess of Spar. tivento P” here “7,” aaid Bigscu, ab once stepping forward. “Then yar Highness is ensured pardon and impuoity,ter heving given the infurmation ——” “ Mono! it ia impossible!” shrieked Lucia, in accent, of wildest despair. “My sister to have done typist” 889 “Yes—I!” said the Princess; “and I am proud of it. You and your parampur-—” Bianca, you dare not say it!” exclaimed Lucia, -all of a sudden drawing herself up proudly—that is to aay, with the. pride of conscious innocence and flinging her indignant looks upon her sister. “The Count of Camerino’s love is given to an amiable young lady in England———" “The Signora Agnes Evelyn,” interposed Palmas. “That I know; for my Lord Count has told me so.” The Princess now looked aghast; and she was seized with the horrible idea that after all she had made some frightful mistake, and that Lucia was not the object of the young Count’s love. Bug the lieutenant now atepped forward; and addreas- ing Lucia, he said, “I suppose that your ladyabip is the Countess of Milazzo?—and therefore you also are my prisoner.” “Ab! ig it thus?” ejaculated Charles, as a | sudden thought struck him: and then quickly turning towards Lucis, he said in a@ hurried whisper, “Do what I am about to tell you, I con- jure you! Do not think of me!~rest assured that I can save myself! Or at all events you must be at freedom to save me!” “Speak, apoak !—what is it?” demanded the Countess with feverish excitement, but alao ia a whisper. “Proclaim that you know where La Dolfina is ~—gay that she is concealed in the subterrancans of this house—and offer to give her into custody ! Then may you demand your own pardon and for- giveness! Quick, quick !—hesitate not !” “ My lord,” said the lieutenant, “I am sorry ¢o be uncourteously hasty or rudely pressing—but time is slipping away-you and the Countess must come with me-———” Ob, my God! What have I done? what have I done ?” cried the wretched Princess of Spare tivento, sinking upon a seat and covering her face with her hands, “ Signor,” said Lucia, addressing hergelf to the lieutenant, “I will aurrender up @ criminal into your hands——~” “A criminal! Who?” and the Princess gave a quiok convulsive stert, #8 if suddenly galvanized. “J mean La Dolfina—the poisoner—the branded woman of Florence!” exclaimed Lucia. “Ab!’—-and again the Princess sank, terror- stricken and overwhelmed, on the chair, murmur- ing, “Then they doubtless know everything!” . “Tf you can fulfil your promise, signora,” said the lieutenant to the Countess, “ you will be per- forming an immense service to the State-aye, and to society in general.” “And I myself shall be held free and acquitted of all offence, attaint, or misdeed in respect to the Tuscan Government ———is it not so?” asked Lucia" ; By the Saints, that would be the effect of the proceeding!” exclaimed the officer, who looked as if he were by no means sorry that eo charming a lady as the Countess di Milazzo should thus be enabled to save herself. “Take a couple of your mon, signor,” continued Lueis,—“ go into the subterraneans—and there you will find the poison-vender of Florence.” “But how to reach the stuberraneans P” in- quired the lieutenant, C© C© nniclo@elk