Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PHEASURE. and who immediately set off to bear it to its desti- nation. “1 will now inform you,” said the British Kn. voy, “of the steps that bave beon taken—or rather which are immediately about to be taken, in this difficult and peculiar case. You may rest assured that the French Envoy and I have given it our very best consideration ; and I think you will ap- prove of the conclusion to which we have arrived as the most efliciont means of bringing the entire watter to an issuc. or let it be borne in mind that the main object, after all, is to clear your character, M. Marcellin, from any aapersion which Lucrezia di Mirano may in her dcsporation or malignity throw upon it. Well then, if wo can « tho very outset prove the Marchioness di Mirano to be capable of onc heinous crime, wo fur- nish a good ground for the supposition that sho was guilty of anviher. In plain terms, wo mean to accuse her at once of the crime of dealing with the poisoncr La Dolfina, and attempting to ad- minister poison pufchased from that woman ; and we shall demand that justice may promptly take its course on that charge.” “ This is no doubt well planned,” said De Vero ; “for if once the Marchioness be arrested as ao poisoner, it will give weight to the other accusa- tion which will be mado against her. And who indeed would believe her if, under such circum- stances, she turned ruund and proclaimed you, M. Marcellin, to be the assassin of the unturtunate page Giulio ?” “* Besides,” continued the British Envoy, “in having two cases to deal with, we naturally select the strongor. Now in one instanco the evidence is positive: in tho other it is only circumstantial. We take the case where the evidence is positive - we charge Lucrezia di Mirano with being a great criminal—wo paralyze her—we beat duwn all her strongholds and defences—we render it imposmble for Kamorino, if ho have any regard for his own charactor, to coutinuc his protection in reapect to so vile a woman.” “ Yes,” said Marcellin, “ the arrangements are well taken. And now, what is tho procoss tu be adopted with regard tu her ?” “Tho French Knvoy has taken the inatter in band,” replied the British Ambassador. “ Iuime- liately upon the receipt of the document which I just now sent to his Excollency, ho will proceed 10 the Minister of the Interior, to whom bo will represent the facts. It is nut vocessary in this tase to go to Ramorino for a warrant. Besides, it tan be proved by the letter which ycu, M. Mar- ‘ollin, found in Lucrezia di Mirano’s writing-desk, shat the Minister of Police would rather shield hor rom arrest, or olse aid in her csvape, than suitor ustive to take its course.” “To be sure!’ observed Marcellin; “and it is herefure fortunate that the intervention of Ra- norino need not be sought in carrying out the pre- ent purpose. And what follows the application o the Minister of the Interior ?” inquired the roung Hrenchman. “Two distinct warrants will be granted,” repliod ho British Envoy,—“ one autborizing the arrest if Lucrezia di Mirano as a person accused of the eluny of dealing with poisons; and the other muansting from the Treasury, Jevying immediate wigure and confiscativn upon all the property of 149 tho Marchioness, to await tho issue of tho trial which she must undergo.” * And these warrants,” said Marcollin—“ when will they be issued ?P” “Presently,” rejoined the British Envoy. “ Ah! I forgot to observe that the Marcbioness is at Count Ramorino’s private dwelling. One of tho spies of tho French Ambassador tracked her thither at about seven o'clock.” “Will the warrant for hor arrest be executed there ?” inquired De Vere, “ No,” responded the Envoy. “The Minister uf the Interior will of course command that the privacy of his colleaguo’s abode shall be respected ; —the warrant will not therefore bo oxecuted until the Marchioness returns to her own house. In respect tu yourselves, thero ie little doubt that in consequence of the represontations which the French Ambassador purposes to address to the Minister of the Interior, your persons will be pro tected against all molestation pending the proceeds ings that are about tu take place.” Everything that was thus reported to the two young gentlemen and Ciprina, exporionced their warmest approval; and the British Envoy was cordially thanked for the trouble ho was taking in the matter. A It was about a quarter to nino o'clock whon the Ambassador was summoned from the apartment : but he alunost immediately returood, introducing the Freneh Envoy. ~. * I have succeeded,” said this last-named funce tionary, “in overyvbing that I undertook with the Minister of the Interiur. In tho first place, he has granted his warraut for the arrest of the Mar. chiuness di Mirano, and which warrant will be executed either to-myht or to-morrow morning, according to circumstances. In the sagond place, thea Minister of tho Interior has sent a form dee” wand to the Troasury, desiring his colleague the Minister of I*inanco to issue a warrant of confisca- tion ayainst tho property of Lucrezia di Mirano. In tho third place, here is @ safc-conduct, or special passport, for each of you threv,—exempt- ing you frum tho possibility of arrest un any ordi- nary warrant. Count Ramorino bimself can now interlere with your freodom!” Thus speakiug, tho Fronch Eavoy delivered the three passports, or sate-conducts, to Ciprina, De Vere, and Marcellin respectively. “You will perceive, M. Marcellin,” said the Krench representative, “that tho names of Ber- 7%}, Indeed, not oven all the power of. nardy and Antonio are included in your safe-con- - duct; and thes they likowiso are free from the danger of arrest. By the bye, 1 ought to have added that the Minister of the Interior will be ° careful to avoid the chance of suffering bis col- leazuc Ramvrino to know what is transpiring in this case, fur fear lest the Minister of Pulice showyg> give tiucly warning to his mistress Lucrezia, and thus enable her tu escape from the fatal conse- quences of her crimes.” The thanks which had been previously given to the British Eavoy, wera now renewed towards the French representative: and then De Vere ssid tc Marcellin—" Let ua now go and meot Paoli at Signor Petroro’s.”” “Ah! if I had thought of is” oxclaimed the French Ambassador, “1 would have prucured « “: ANICLOO©© CO Ror