Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 371 meddled with the casket, for she had not forgotten that it was so fashioned as to constitute undor cortain circumstances an infernal machine. How- ever, it was in safety that she conducted her pro: cecdings ; and having secured the packet of letters, she stooped down for a momont to ascertain whether the spark of life might possibly scintillate still in the heart of either of the three individuals that lay at her feet. But there could be no possi- bility of doubt as to the fact that their souls had takon wing; and Bianca, having extinguished the lantern, began to take her way with all possible rapidity back to Sienna. There was now 8 wild joy in her heart-a strange feverish enthusiasm—a feeling as if she had accom. plished some praiseworthy doed of self-martyrdom, or had made some stupendous personal sacrifice in order to save the life which hor own wickedness had in the first inetance placed in such fearful jeopardy. She thought not now of the fearful crimes that had just been perpetrated in order to carry out her views: she was not haunted by the spectros of those three persons whose lives had been sacrificed in order that the life of one might be saved! In about twenty minutes she reached the city, towards which she was guided by the shining lights; for otherwise she might have lost her way aftor emerging from tie grove in the midst of which the ruins of the Castle D’Orco were situated. The Princess proceeded straight to the hotel where she bad taken up her quarters; and on gaining the apartment, she drank a large draught of water. There was wine upon the table: but she would not touch it It was now close upon midnight ; and Bianca remembered the appoint- ment which she had given to her sister. ‘aking a sheet of paper, she enclosed the packet of letters gherein : she carefully sealed tho envelope and she addressed the packet thus: “To his Excellency General Germini, from the Count of Camerino,” No sooner was this done, whon Lucia—full of the most painful anxiety, and consequently before her timo by several minutes—made her appear- ance. “ What tidings, sister P” she demanded, as sho rushed into the apartment, “ Te is saved, Lucia !” responded the Princess. “Saved! saved!’ cried the Countess sand then springing towards Lianca, she flung her arms about her neck, exclaiming, “ Ob, heaven will biess you ! heaven will bless you, my sister !—and all the mischief you have previously done is amply atoned for! But how is he saved P” “This packet contains the correspondence of Carlo Alberto, the late King of Piedmont, with the chiefs of the Secret Societies; and on giving this up to the Commandant the young English- man msy claim his life.” An exclamation of joy burst from the lips of Lucia: but all in a moment a change came over her—a ghastly pallor seized upon her countenance and she staggered back as if recviling in dread horror from some spectacle that affrighted her. “Good heavens! whatete it ?’’ oried the Prin- cess, “ Blood! blood !”—-and Luoia pointed in in- creasing horror to her sister’s garments, ‘Aye, blood! blood! to be sure!” —and the Princess laughed with scornful wildness, ‘ And why not P To avert the consequences of this one crime I was prepared to commit a thousand ! Sooner than have the innocent blood of that young man upon my head, I was ready to wade knoo- deep through the blood of those membors of the Secret Socicty who had compelled him to remain in their midst !” “My God! what have you done, Bianca?” murmured the Countess, who tottered to a chair, and felt as if she were about to faint. “No matter what I have done,” replied tho Princess, almost fiercely. “Suffice it for you to know, sister, that these documents have been purchased with blood! And now let thore be no loas of time in using them on behalf of him whom they are to save from death! It wasa satisfac- tion that I had promised mysalf,—tho last, last pleasure which on earth I may know: but I feel that Iam not equal to the task! There is blood upon my garments!—the General might see the tell-tale etains !—and Charles himself might recoil in horror from the idea of using a talisman of safety when presented to him by the red right hand of Murder! Go you, Lucia !—go, and convey the packet to tho Governor and the tidings of freedom to the young Englishman! You deserve to become themessenzer of such good tidings! Yes—for you have maintained the purity of your soul and the integrity of your repute throughout this terrible series of incidents wherein my own happiness and fame have been engulfed as ina whirlpool! Go you, therefore, my sister! But suffer Charles to know that I had at least somo share in accom- plishing his salvation !” “ He shall know that you have done i¢ all, Bianca !” exclaimed the Countess, with a mo- mentary fervour: and then in a tone that sud. denly changed to sadness, she added, “ But he shall not learn that you have plunged atill moro deeply into crime on his account !” “I leave it all to your ‘discretion, Lucia,” re=- sponded the Princess. ‘And now go! But return to mo so soon as you have accomplished your mission: for I have something of importance to make known unto you.” ; The Countess di Milazzo departed. She wag absent a littlo short of an hour; and on her return to the hotel she threw herself intu Bianca’s arms, proclaiming tho result of her visit to the prison. She likewise entered into dotails of what had there occurred: but inasmuch as we shall pre- sently have to record thom in their propor place, we will pass them over altugether now. Lucia found her sister attired in another dross; and there was a bundie lying upon a chair. Now, come with mec,” gaid Bianca, when Lucia had given her explanations. “Whither are you gving, sister?” asked the Yountess. “At this time of night-———indeed it is past one in the morning!—aud it must seem so strange at the hotel that there should be these outgoings and incominge!” “You are above public opinion, doar sister,” in- terrupted Bianca, “and I am beneath it. You are too high placed upon tho pedestal of your own character for calumny to reach you; and I am so utterly debased and degraded that no aldi- tional weight of opprobrium can crush me down lower than Zam. Lut come, sister!” —and taking up the bundle, the Princess concealed it beneata COMIUGDOOKS C©