Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

132 AGNES; OL, BEAUTY AND PLEASURR. lereets ‘you would comprehend that a man will do | the assumption of a demeanour which would have more for his wife than he would for his mistress, ‘staggered any other person. He therefore only If a mistreas become endangered or dishonoured, ; shook his head, in the bope that Lucrezia would he can cast her off: but the danger and dis- retreat from a defence-work which she ought to honour of a wife affect the husband! Her in- feel to be utterly untenable. But she mistook tereats aro his interests: there is an identity of Ramorino’s meaning: she thought that he was position, 60 to epeak !” indeed staggered—and she hastened to follow up “What mean you?” asked Lucrezis, gazing the advantage which she fancied herself to have with a species of affright and bewilderment on gained. Ramorino; for she thought that there wassome- “ You have touched upon a tender subject to- thing covertly significant in his language. wards me, my dear Ramorino,” she said ; “and “1 mean,” he replied, fixing his regards stead- you will now permit me in my turn to approach fastly upon her, “that if you well studied your one which is delicate in reference to yourself. I own interests, you would rejoice to have the | love you—and I am grateful for your kindness, Minister of Police as your husband. Ah, Lu- It would please me well to be enabled to afford crezia! let us not dissemble any longer! I have! you a proof alike of my love agd my gratitude. penctrated your seerct. Become my wife—and 1 Come! why should there be any want of conti- will protect and shield and defend you, with all | | dence between usP Rumour bas wafted to my thore moans eo powerful and so comprehensive, so ears the fact that you have been a little extrava- insidious and so subtle, which enable me to prove | | gant it happens that I have at my banker's the most valuable of friends or the most dangerous ; a considerable sum for which 1 bavo no immediate of enemics!” | use I beseech you to take it ms The Marchioness of Mirano sat gazing uponthe; “ Lucrezia,” interruptal the Minister of Pulice, Minister of Police with borror and consternation | “there ought indeed to be no want of contidence in her looks. Whispers relative to his pecuniary | i between us! You have indignantly denied the erabarrarsments had reached ber eara; and she: accusation which I threw out ; and I am bound to saw ino moment that if she gave him her hand | ,reccive such an assurance from the lips of a in marriage, she would at the same instant be: lady.” making him the master of her entire furtune. | There was a scarcely perceptible snecr on the “You understand me, Lucrezia ?” be said. Minister's lips for a moment. Slight though it “Je there any uecd for me to speak out more; were, Lucrezia perceived it—for all her senses and plainly?” faculties had now a horrible clearness and keen- “Nu, Remorino- no!” she ejaculated. “I will noss; and she trembled. be your ‘tmistrese~-[ will »ot be your wife! I “ But just suppose, for argument’s sake,” con- will love you—I will provo your sincerest friend— ; tinued Ramorino, “ that other voices proclaimed 1 will display my gratitude - the same charge—that other tongues sent forth * Useless words, Lucrezia !” exclaimed the the same accusation!—what course could I Count vehemently. “You shall become my wife pursue? There are certain cases in which even within twelve hours; or else ” those who are the most highly placed, dare nut ‘Or else what ?” she demanded, starting up trifle with justice ‘“ aud gazing with the most feverish anxiety upon ‘Oh !” interrupted Lucrezia, bitterly, ‘ there is him; fur she now determined to know the a repetition of the cruel accusation boneath all the worst, cold composure of this language of your's! What “(re else,” he answered, in a stcrma implacable ' do you mean? ‘T'ell me once for all—will you tone, ‘ I abandon you to your fate—and you will _ succour me ? or rather I should say, will you do he arreatod as the rourderess of the young page : ‘all that I just now asked for both our sakes?” Criulio !? , © Lueregia,” interrupted the Count; “let this A fearful moan came forth from the lips of the ' | farce have an ending! Be my wife—or resign miserable Luerezia, as she staggerod back and | yourself to the doom of a murdcress!" would have fallen if she had not suddenly sup. “What! again ?” shrieked forth the wretched ported hereelf ayainst a pieco of furniture. In- woman: “again this terrible accusation —this ucecribable horror was in her looks ; and Ramorino fearful threat ?” felt that (he triumph was bis own, But it wasonly “ Yes—again and again!” ejaculated Ramorino, fora single instant that he betrayed this sense of “ Listen! Why was Paoli obnoxious to you? success: if wus no subject for him to gloat malig- Because he was Giulio’s father. Why has Mar- nantly upon — nor had he any desire to prolong cellin become obnoxious to you? Because he the mental tortures of the miserable Marchioness. | can mcst probably reveal something which you And on Luerczia’s own part, a rapid rovulsion of ; would fain stifle in his throat. Why did Ciprina feeling tuok place. She mentally ejaculated, “ It | become vbnoxivus to you P Because, as 1 now is only a random arrow which he has shot !”—-and gather from the different things you have told me, then advancing towards the Minister, she said | she was Marcellin’s paramour—in bis secrets—and with cold haughty dignity, “You are falsely ac- | doubtless sympathizing with him. And why did cusing mé—ang#you know it! But you have , you deceive me in reference to Marcellin? Why rendered me too many services to permit wy in- | tell me his name was Bourdon? Why refuse a dignation to flame up against you. Therefore I personal description of him? Because you were fargive you for the cruel injury involved in such afraid of affurding me a clue—of exciting suspi- & suspicion,” cion—of making me think that certain things ap- The Minister of Police was too much accus- peared strange, and thereby setting my ref'ections Lomed, by the very nature of his office, to read in a particular strain! Yes—it is all apparent iteply rto the human heart, to be deceived by now !” COnniclboooks