Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. political opinions, signora P” inquired the medical man. Not at all,” was the response; “and this only makes tho matter all the more surprising. Besides, methought he was on his way to England for some very different purposo! Oh, just heaven have moroy upon him! spare him, O God, I be- seech thee !”—and the poor mother joined her hands together, as her countenance was upraised with an expression of mingled entreaty and anguish. “ Now,” exclaimed the surgeon, “ there seems to be a sensation amidst the crowd yonder, in the neighbourhood of the entrance to the Town Hall! Yes—depend upon it, the sentence is known !” Mrs. Do Vere endeavoured to rise up from the sofa to approach the window — but she could not: neither could she pive utterance to an articu- late sound: she sat gasping for breath. Deeply, decply did the amiable sisters compassionate her: the tears were trickling down her cheeks—and they whispered to each other, “ Heaven grant that he may be saved! heaven grant it !” “Hasten, signor—hasten,” said the old house- keeper, “and Jearn what the result is. See the auspense which this poor lady is enduring !—it is an agony !” ° “* You will soon know,” responded the surgeon, inaluw tone. “It is not necessary to go from this window to learn the result!’ “What mean you!” asked the housekeeper. “The populace would not shout if the young Count were acquitted: the authorities have issued proclamations against riot, noise, and disturb- ance i ‘Do you not understand me, dame?” inter- rupted the surgeon, still speaking in a low tone, vihich was likewise solemnly mournful. “If the prisoner be acquitted, he will presently issue forth with his friends: but if he be condemned he will be brought away in the midst of the guard.” The surgeon did not intend these words to bo overheard by Mrs. Do Vere: indeed he was de- liberating in his mind how, if the worst should heppen, he might in the most delicate and humane manner break the intelligence to the unbappy lady. But her ear was now torribly acute for any ijound, even the slightest, that might convey an intimation of her son’s fate or suggest the mode of promptly ascertaining it. Thus, while the house- keeper and the two sisters placed themselves on one sido of the surgeon as he stood at the window, he felt alight touch against his arm : he looked round —and there was the mother of the young man who was about to come forth from the Town Hall either a free or a doomed being. “Signora,” said the surgeon, “ perhaps if you were to resume your seat, it would be better—and I would give you the first intimation——” “ No—signor; I will remain hero:”—and now the lady seemed to be cold and rigid as a marble statue. Then succeeded an interval of dead silence and awful suspense at thatewindow; and then all of a sudden there was a movement-—a slight shock as it were on the part of each, Mrs. Do Vere only excepted; and she still remained rigid o8 a statue. Soldiers were seen coming forth——Ah! just heaven! the young Count is in the midst of 859 them! The sign was unmistakable:———he had been condemned! . " No word—no sound escaped Mrs. De Vere’s lips: she turned about with the intention of going forth to see her unfortunate son—to visié him in his dungeon—when nature gave way, and ehe fell down as if a bullet had passed through her heart. ; We muat now return to the Princess of Spar- tivento, whom we left at the moment when, with her veil drawn down, sho issued forth from the tribunal after having read the billet which had been placed in her hand. She hastily retraced her way to the hotel where she had taken up her quarters; and on proceeding to her apartment, ihe found Stefano Voitura waiting for her. “Have you received a billet, signora?” he quickly demanded. “ Yes—it is on account of it Iam here. The vorat is taking place !—and you say in your note that if it be so you have a means of saving his life, For beaven’s sake, tell me what you mean f for his doom is sealed so far as the tribunal ig con. cerned !” *Then your Highness did not happen to notice any of the large placards which have just been posted up in the Great Square and through all the streets P” “No—I did not linger on the way,” responded Bianca, ‘“ What are the placards? how do they concern that unfortunate young man P” ‘ Look, Princess!” said Vuitura: “ bere is one exactly opposite the hotel. You can read it from the window.” Bianca hurried to the casement; and then she read the placard, which was to the followimg effect :—that whegpas it had been at various time: reported in different parts of Italy, as well as ir other countries of Europe, that his late Majesty Charles Albert of Sardinia had encouraged th¢ trensonable attempts of Carbonari and other se. ditious persona; and whereas such rumours hac given great cause of distress to his Majeaty Victoi Emmanuel, the reigning Sovereign of Sardinia; i was determined to make an effort to obtain what soever correspondence might be in existence whic! had tended to furnish slanderous and evil tongue with a seeming foundation for the report that wa so propagated, And therefore (the placard wen on to say) his Royal Highness the Grand Duke o Tuscany experienced every willingness and anxiet: to forward the desire of King Victor Emmanuel ti obtain poasession of the letters which were allege to have been written by his deceased father Charle Albert. refore, proclamation was made to th effect that whosvever would surrender up the eai correspondence, should receive a certain reward and if a member of any secret political society, b should be pardoned; and furthermore, if he shoul be liable for any penalties in consequence of po litical offences, he should also receive a free pardor with complete restoration to his civil and politics rights, and to the enjoyment of his estates, fortune or other possessions, that might have been confis cated or forfeited, Such was the sense of the placard which th Princesa of Spartivento road from the hott wiudow; and an expression of joy appeared upo: her countenance. “You sce,” said Voitura, “Victor Emmanuel . 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