Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

134, holy father: the ceremony shall take place at The priest bowed, and followed the Count of Kamorino from the apartment. The reader can easily understand how Father Falounara was deeply anxious to shield the Governor of Bagno against the ire of the Minister of Police on ac- count of the escape of the prisoners: because the young priest himself had aided one of those cap- tives to regain the fresh air of freedom. It would have weighed upon Falconara’s conscience as a huge crime, if Captain Belluno should suffer on | that account. Thus, when Falconara found that | instead of having to deal with a stern functionary | who bad to be coaxed and cajoled, entreated and | implored, he was treated with the utmost favour and friendliness, his heart leapt within him. The | sort of marriage which he was called upun to solemnnize, was perfectly legal, and not altogether unusual ; so that there was not the slightest | scruple of conscience on the part of Father Fal- | oonara in acceding to Ramorino’s request. “It will be time enough,” thought the young | priest, “ to explain the object of my mission, and | communicate the evil tidings to the Alinister, when [I shall have rendered him the service ie has | ‘demanded, Tbe pardon of Captain Belluno is the | fee that 1 shall demand!” The Minister of Polive led Father Falconara into the apartment where the Marchioness ai Mirano had remained. Ife deemed it better not to eater befurehand to prepare her for the cere- mony, as he did not wish to stand a chance of | AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASTRE. WRT CET ORD tomy proper service in a low but impressive tone. We ; need not dwell upon the prooeeding: suffice it to say that the wieh previously entertained by the Count of Ramorino, was gratified: and within the hour then passing the Marchioness became his wife. No legal intervention had given security to her fortune—no marrisge-settlement had invested her with the exclusive control of her great wealth : but all was now at the mercy of a gambler and a spendthrift. This she knew : but, on the other hand, | it wae her very life which had been at stake—and now she experienced e sudden sense of security, such as for some time past she had not known ! They rose from their knees—that couple—man and wife !—~and Father Falconara breathed a few | words of congratulation; but they fell tamely and languidly from his lips, for he could not blind himself to the fact that there was something strange and peouliar in this wedding. Reema ’ CHAPTER “XXIII. OMINOUS APPEARANCES. Yee -it was no wonder that the young pricst should think thers was something etrange in the bridal which he bad just consecrated : for though, as we have already suid, there was nothing illegal in it, nor was such a wedding altogether unusual, yet 1t natura'ly struck Father Falconara that being compelled to argue the whole question over | nobleman and a lady belonging to the highest again: he thought that by acting thus promptly | class #f society might well have spared a little aud abruptly, he should be striking a blow which | time to have their espuusais celebrated in a would convince Lucrezia of his resolute firmness, | manner more consistent with their rank. and therefore prove irresistible on her part. As the priest closed his missal, the Count of The instant tbe door opened, the Marchioness | Raworino imprinted a kiss upon the forehead of flung her looks anxiously towards it ; for her mind Lucrezia, who recoived it with simulated tender- was in so perturbed, anxious, and unsettled a ness: for though she looked upon the Minister as state, that the slightest incident was now full well the man who was to save and defend her, yet calculated to be fraught with terror. She beheld! she detested him in the light of a husbsnd who Ramorjno—and she bebeld also the priest follow: | bad furced himself upon her. ivy lim. Sbestarted—and a flush of indignation Father Faleonsra took a seat at a side-table, gluwed for an instant upon her cheeks: but she, where there were writing matcrials; aud drew immediately resigned berself to ber fate. up the usuai certificate of the marriage. Tuis “Dearest Lucrezia,’ Kamorino hastened to | was speedily accomplished; and he handed the whisper in her ear, “ the opportune arrival of this | document to the Count of Ramorino, who at once Young ceclesiastic, who has come to ask me some | secured it about his person, Then, drawing forth faveur ™ | ¢wo or three piecve of gold, Ramorino approached “ Eaough, my lord !” returned the Marchioness. | Father Falconara, and hurriedly whispered, “Come “As well now ae to-murrow !” | to me to worrow—and [ will fulfil my promise, if “ Permit me, boly father,” said the Minister of | possible. You have some boon to ask —and if it Pulice, with an air of the most perfect courtesy, ' is reasonable, it shall be granted.” “19 preeent you to the Marchioness di Mirano.” | The young prieat received not the gold which The soung pricst bowed: Lucrezia bestowed | the Minister endeavoured to thruat into his hand; upon tim a cold and distant qalutetivn—for in the | and he said, “ Pardon me, my lord— but I cannot rourbid state of her mind she almost regarded him | accept such a fee ; and the boon which I have to as an enemy. entreat of you, is one that can be granted by “A white cluth if you please, my lord,” whis- means of a single word from your lips.” pered Father Falconara, “What mean you? But to-morrow let it be !” A snowy napkingias instantaneously procured ; said the Count. “ At present - from an adjoiuing room, withaut the necessity of | “Not two minutes shall I detain your lord- summoning #& domestic; awd the young priest | ship!” interrupted Eatber Falconara: “and be- epréad the eluth upon the table to make 1t repre- rent ati altar. Then the ceromony commenced. Tho Minister of Police and the Marehwness di ‘freno knelt together; apd Father Falconara, ‘. Sng a miceal from beneath bie cassuck, read the lieve me, my mission is an important one.” “Well, well,” said Ramorino, impatiently, “ pro- ceed. What 18 your business P Whence do you come #"” “Tam the chapioin, may it please your F.x0-i Ccomicboo SS