Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

AGNEB; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ' Jency,” continued the priest, “at the Castle o Bagno in the Apennines.” The Marchioness di Mirano, who after th marriage-coremony had thrown herself upon seat in a corner of the room, indifferent to whal was passing betwixt her husband and the priest, now gave a sudden start ; for she know that it was to the Apennive fortress just named that Ciprine ‘and her companion (whoever he were) had been conveyed. Ramorino himself now asemed inspired with a sudden interest in the discourse; and he said, “Ab! you are the chaplain at Bagno? What tidings have you for me?” “ The boon that I would crave at the hands of your iene “eeeh proceeded Falconara, “ is your pardon on Dehalf of the Governor Captain Bel- luno, on account of the escape of two prisoners.” The Marchioness shivered from head to foot for sho was at once snitten with a presentiment which made her think within herself, “ Every. thing will yes go wrong! Heaven ie warring against me!” “The escape of two prisoners?” cried Ramo- rino. “Bot who? — “Numbers Twenty-nine and Thirty,” answered the young priest, “* But their names? their names?” oried Lucrezia, springing forward ; for she was unable to restrain her feverish impatience a moment longer. “Hush, dearest!” said the Minister, thus hastily speaking aside to bis wife: “no names are known at the Castle of Bagno! Holy father,” he continued, turning again towards the priest, “ per: haps you have brought some written report from his Excellency Captain Belluno ?” * No, my lord,” returned Falconara : “ Captain BelJuno considered the matter to be so grave that ho begged me to become tho bearer of verbal ex- plavations. I therefore set out at once from Bagno : it was at four o’clock in the afternvon— and immediately on my arrival in Florence, I waited on your Excellency.” ‘“‘But these prisoners,” exclaimed Ramorino,—- “who are they? Not those who were so recently consigned to Bagno ?” “Yes, my lord—those who arrived at Bagno at a very early hour yesterday morning.” “A young lady—vory beautiful—tall—with dark hair and eyes?” ejaculated Lucrezia, almost wild with the fears that were racking her: “ about nine- teen years of age—elegantly formed ——” “The young lady,” replied Father Falconara, meekly and diffidently, “ certainly possesses a Jarge share of what the world oalla beauty; and ber de- scription corresponds with that which your lady- ship has just given.” “Then my enemy has escaped!” almost shrieked forth the wretched Lucrezia, forgetting iu her mental agony that eho might betray something ia the presence of the priest, or that at all events he would think this excitement on her part very stranze. ‘ ‘For heaven's sake compose yourself!” said Remorino, again turning aside towards Lucrezia. “What must this young man think?” he de- manded, with petulant, and almost with savage accentg, “True! true!” murmured Lucrezia: and then le a vuice which was acarcely audibie, she said, 188 “After a moment’s lull the storm gathers more fearfully around me than ever.” “Oh, my lord! and you also my lady!” ox. claimed Father Falconara, terrified at the turn which the proceedings appeared to be taking, though everything was so unaccountable to him; “‘T beseech you to believe me—on the sacred word of an ecclesiastic—the Governor of the fortress of Bagno is faultless in respect to the escape of these persons !”” Good heavens! what will be the result P’? mur- mured Lucrezia, heedless of what the priest was now saying. “Have courage!” bastily reaponded Ramorino, drawing his wife still further aside: “ you wiil only make matters worse by giving way to this wild excitement! There!—~sit down—be quiet, I be. seech you! Be silent!—and let me question this priest.” Lucrezia sank upon the seat to which her Lus- band conducted her: and the Count again turned towarde Father Falconara. “The young lady has escaped, you say? When did this happen ?” he demanded. | “ At about two o'clock in the afternoon of this day,” replied the priest ; “and by some meana so mysterious that they utterly defy all conjegture.” “Then she has already had time to &rrive in Florence, if such be her purpose!”’ thought Lu- crezia to herself :—and the same reflectiod simul- taneously occurred to her husband. _ “And the other prisoner?” asked Ramorino quickly. “Toe one who arrived with the young lady,” ‘returned the priest. “It was last evening—at ibout this same hour,” he continued, glancing at a iime-pieco which stood upon the mantel, “ that he young gentleman escaped. The means which he adopted are neither mysterious nor unknown: but in this case, as in the other, Captain Belluoo ras utterly devoid of all blame.” “Well, well,” ejaculated Ramorino hastily, “we will hold the Governor acquitted of any fault in connexion with these misadventures,” “A thousand thanks, my lord!” *exclaimed Fal- conara: “this is the most liberal and bounteous fee your [xcellency could possibly bestow upon me ‘or the ceremony which I have had the honour of solemnizing !” ‘ But that young gentleman ? for you said that he is a young one, I believe ?” “ Yea~—his age cannot exceed twenty,” replied he priest. “A mere stripling!” ejxculated the Minister. ‘But bis personal description f” “ Rather tall of stature—of slender figure-—very ‘entcel in his bearing and mannera—I should Jso say that the worid would consider him re- oarkably handsome.” “Proceed,” said Ramorino: “there are yet more ‘articular details which you may give His hair?” * Dark hair, clustering in natural curls,” con- iinued the priest. “ His eyes aleo dark—laryy, md clear; and I am bound in truthfulness ts dd, that manly frankness, a lofty spirit, « renerous disposition, as well as a certain firmness ff character, are all indicated in the expression of his countenance.” “Of course you aro iguorant of bis nawe f” laid Ramorino, inquiriagly. inn IN@OIlK C©