Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 198: what you’re looking at

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ventures, and ‘ali of a certain description! But your name, madam—you have forgotten to men- tion it?” “First les me tell your Excollency that I am very uneasy in reference to an English gentleman. I have just called at his hutel—he is not thero— the landlord looked suspicious and would answer no questions ” “Ig it possible, madam,” ejaculated the Am- bassador, “that you can bo tho lady of whom i have heard a great deal within the fast two or {three hours? In a word, madam, pray mention ‘your name; and perhaps I muy be enabled to give you some information i ‘It mutters not,” interjected the lady, “ what \my propor linglish namo may be. Suflice it for yoyr Excellency to learn that for some timo past, while resident in Flurenee, L have borne the name of Cipring." “T thought so!” cried the representative of the fiuglish Guvernunent. “ But bow m the name of heaven is it that you are here? Pid they uberate you from Dapno r” ‘ “Then ‘Mr, De Vere must heve arrived in safety!” exclaimed Ciprina exultingly, ‘or else your Excellencyzeould know nothing of all these matters !” : “Vege- Mr. De Vere is safe,’ rejoined the Envoy; “and rest assured, madam, that he was not unmindful of your interests; for a requisition has already been drawn up by me, addressed to the ‘“uscan Minister of the Interior, demanding your liberation from Bagno—or in defuult thercof, a declaration of the reasons for which you might be detamed. In another half-hour that document would have been in the Minister’a hand, it) you iad not thus unexpectedly mado your appearance. But how is it-——” T havo eseaped,” ansawored Ciprina. tell me--where is Mr. De Vere ?” “ Rolluw mo, madam,” said the Envoy; and he} led the way to anothor apartment. As the door of this apartment was opened, Ci- | prinn at once beheld Churles De Vere, who wa. suated at a table where he had been engaged ip writing, but who instautancously started up with a ery of delight and astonishment on beholding the young lady whom he fancied to be afar off m the fortress of the Apennines, “Ah. you may indeed give vent to your am1z.- ment, Mr. Do Vere,’ said the Muvoy; “for tho escapo of 8 Jady from a castle tnust bo even more vurprising than that of » gentleman.” At this moment there was a kroek at the door which the Ambassador had just closed: he himself turned to answer the summenes—and Iidyar Alar- cellin made his appearance. fie was personuily unknown alike to tho British Ambassadeur and -tharles de Vere; but his uname was announced by the confidential laequey who had been instructed tv intruduce him thither immediately upon his arrival. Ciprina spoke not a word: she experi- enced an almost overpowering feeling on finding herself again in the presence of that man on whose neeount she had endured and suffered so much, and whom sho had begun to Jove with a chaster and purer paasion than she lad over previously known, at the timo when they were so suddenly and rudely reparated, “« But cellin ; “is it possible that you alao are here P?—~ and advancing towards the young lady hoe pressed her hand with all the fervid cordiality of that grateful friendship which he experienced towards her. ‘T shall Jeave you all three to your own explana- tions,” said the British Envoy; “for it is now timo that I should go and consult his Excellency the I'rench Ambasaudor, in respect tu the plan of proceedings which we are tu adopt.” Thus speaking, the represontative of the British Governmont lott the apartment, where Charles de Vere, Ciprina, and Marcellin remained together. “ tfitherto we have persunally been strangers to each other,” said Marcellin, thus addressing him- self tu our young hero; “but circuinstances ought to make us friends in a woment—fur we are row. Ing as if were in the same boat,” ‘Wo are leayued togother in the same cause,” ejneulated De Vere, “and we wall conyuer!” The two young men then shook hands with all’ the ardour of alhance and friendship; and the con- versation quickly became most deeply interesting ahke to themselves and Cipriua. Marcellin now~ learnt. how they had both been carried off from the Mirano mansion on the night of the Lat of November—how they had been coaveyed to Bagno —how Charles had escaped from the fortress in: the evening of the 2nd of November—-and how he had arrived that day (November 3rd) in Florence, in company with the villago mapistrate. ‘Then Ciprina told her tale — how on this same day (uamely, November 3rd) she had oJected her own escape in the baker’s basket—and low she had arvived scarcely an hour back at Florence in com- pany with tho Hardress family. Jidgar Marcellin spoke last: and when his turn came, he acquainted Da Vere and Ciprina with everything which had ocearred tu himself after he had awakened in ghe mornive of the previous day (November 2nd) and found fimself alone in his chamber at the Mirave mnANson. «Now, said Charles, “let us all threo sit down ab this table and hold a consultation: for though our course is telerably clear, yet must wo pursue it with due carcfulnesa and circumspection,” The three sat down accordingly; and Ciprina observed with a emile, ° 1¢ appears, thorefore, that while we are deliberating ghere, the two Ambags- sadors are holding a consultation elsewhere.” © Yoo,” said Charles; “beexuse they therms-lves feel that the affuir is somewhat w deheate one, and mist be conducted with caution and prudenee, At least such is the opinion of the British Aubaa- sadop——— 7? “And such,” interject Lt Marcollin, “is the view which the Fronch Huvoy hkewise takes of it. In respect to mysclf, there is no disguising the fact that the Marchioness di Mirano may at any moment proclaim abroad the dofamous accusation | which she privately and secretly hurled in my faco2 in Febraary last ; and if so, a warrant mich be | issued against me. It would then be difficult for, the French Ambassadcr to save me fro. temporary arrest— although he has given me the assurance that he is quite prepared to stretch bis authority ina Case 89 singular sud peentiar as that ia which - we aro now engaged.” “And the British Ambassador,” suit De Vere,: > ttuud heavens, Ciprina!’ ejaculated Mar | “bas hkewise his own good reasons tor advancing: cr} comicboo S C©