Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

AUNBS, OK, “And they have doubtless escaped!” said the Minister. ‘ Well—as matters now stand, it is of no consequence—I care nothing at present for their arrest-————"* “They possess safe-conducts, my lord.” “ Ab! is this oP” cried the Count. “Yes, my lord,” rejoined the sdirro,—“ safe- onducts signed by the Minister uf the Interior.” T'he official then proceeded to describe the scene bhich touk place at the gate of the British Em- hesy: and scarcely had he finished his narrative, when the officer to whom Ramorino had entrusted he warrant fur Marcellin’s apprehension on the | yarge of murder, made his appearance in the | ng-room. What he had to tell was quickly said: another failure had been experienced—and Edgar Marcollin was evidently under the special protection of the Minister of the Interior! “No human being can now avert the storm from bursting over Lucrezia’s head !’”’ said Ramurino to himsclf, when having dismissed the two police- | officials, he .began to retrace his way back to the | apartment where be bad left her. “Aud let it burst! What matfers it now to me? Am I not | ruined? is not my own destruction inevitable? | uave 1 not plunged myself into a vortox whence | ‘here is no possible redemption P But Ah! there | Soaring at the gate! Perhaps itis some fresh in- | elligenco of evil? It were madness on my part | 0 suppose that any tidings of a pleasant or hope- ! ‘ul nature could now reach me !” | The Minister of Police lingered in the entrance- iall while a domestic went to answer the sum- nons at the gate; and a voice which was easily | BKAUTY AND PLEASURE. | jie | 166 can be immediately forthcoming—~—yes, even at this hour of the night.” “ And the guarantee P” patiently. “The Marchioness di Mirano possesses sevoral maguificent pictures,” said Furlo. “I am a judge of those works of art—I have seen her Jadyship’s pictures on one of those daye when she was good enough to throw open her gallery to the pub- ejaculated Ramorino im- “IT understand you, Furlo!” interrupted the Count: “you require some of those pictures as a guaranteo for the loan P” “' Exactly so,” rejoined the money-lender. “ I carry in my recollection some half-dozen of the pictures which I should be disposed to look upon as a sufficient security.” “ And you shall have them,” cried the Minister of Police: then rushing towards the bell-pull, he added, “ One of my domestics shall go with you.” “Not sv, my lord!"’ interjected Furlo. “There will bo levy and seizure on the entire property; and if any articles be now removed from within the walls of the Mirano mansion, it might be deemed @ surreptitious removal—and the goods, if traced to my habitation, might be taken from mo——yes, and what is more, I myself might get into trouble.” r* “Then what in tho namo of heaven do you mean P’” demanded Ramorino. “ Thero is evidently something in your mind. Tell me what it is! You would not be here now unless you saw the possible means of driving a bargain !” “To speak, my lor-, in a business-like manner,” ‘ecugnised, inquired in a low diffident tone, “Ie it! replied Furlo, “it is only necessary for me to ch, voasible to see his Hxcellency at such an hour ?” | serve that if your Excellency were to sedévtows “Ab, Furlo!” ejaculated the Count. “ What. —let us suppose in half-an-hour or an hour—and¥" ‘an he wantP Jias he thought better of it P dues | 1e yet purpose to lend me the money? If so, 1° nay still be saved !” | It was indeed Furlo, the old miscr, who came to eek an interview with the Count of Kamorino; | ind the two were quickly closeted together in the ‘partment whore the Minister had just before re- vived the police-officials . “Now, keep me not a mument in suspense, signor Furlo!’”’ said the Count: “but tell me— | 3 it possible that I can have the money which | equire P” | “TI think, my lord,” responded the cautious old | nan, “ that it is quite possible.” “Ab!” — and tho Minister instantaneously ireatbed more freely. “ But I presume that there 8 some security you require and which you may ave perhaps thought of P—somo guarantee that L oay give P” ‘Yes, my lord—it is so,” rejoined the old man ; | ‘that is to say, if the seigure and lovy have not | 8 yet been made upon the mansion of the Mar- tioness of Mirano.” “No—the seizure has not yet been made!” | ried the Count, who was literally palpitating from wad to foot with the excitement of hope and uspense. “What are you thinking of, Furlo? speak quickly ! time is precious !”’ “J will explain myself in a very few instante,” aid the miser. “It is truo that I require somo ittle guarantee; and this guarantee I think your {xc@lency will not find it difficult to give. It is | large eum which your lordship requires; but it your Exsellency weré to take me into some rootn within the wails of your mansion, and were to say to me, ‘IIere are some pictures on which I desire to raiso a loan of so much moncy,’—and if I happen to have that sum of money about my per- son ” “Enough! enough! 1 understand you, Furlo!” ejaculated tho Minister of Police, “ Which are the pictures you desire to hold as a security P” The miser drew fourth a pencil and a piece of | paper ; and after writing afew lines thereon, he presented the fragment to the Minister, saying, ‘If your Excellency ask me which I think the half-dozen best pictures in tho Mirano mansion, [ should auy that they are those which I have here specified.” “ Gvuod!” said Ramorino. ‘“ Will you bave the kindness to call upon me »n the course of an hour ?” “Tis very late, wy lord—past twelve o'clock,” answered Furlo: “but nevertheless, as a matter of business 1 will obey your Excellency’s summons.” The miser quitted the house; and the very mo- ment that the front gate closed behind him, Ramo- rino summoned a confidential domestic, to whom he spoke in the following manner :— “Take some convenient vehicle, and proceed to the Mirano mansion. Ask fur the steward —~and tell him that his mistress has sent for the six pic- tures specified in this list. The steward will not hesitate to give you the pictures at once, as he knows you belong to my household. Bring the pietures hither ” CO) Ghook