Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

158 AGNRS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “Ob, assuredly!” ejaculated Ramorino, who thought it better to take the matter with a high hand. “Good night, Father Falconara. Ab, by the bye! come to me to-morrow according to our | previous appointment ; and notwithstanding the terms in which you have now been speaking, I shall fulfil my promise of granting whatsvever buon you may have to claim. Good night, holy father.” Ramorino bowed the ecclesiastic out of the room ; and he was retracing his way towards the apartment where Lucrezia again most anxiously awaited him, when he was accosted by the domestic to whom be had entrusted the errand to the Mirano mansion. “ It is done, my lord,” said the confidential do- pendant, “ Your Excellency will admit that all posaible despatch has been used P” * Kvidently so—and I am well pleased,” replied the GQopat. “ You have procured the pictures ?” 'Yos, my lord. The steward at once delivered them up to me,” was the response. ‘ And where have you placed them P” demanded Ramorino. ** In the uppermost room at the back part of the house, my lord.” “ The uppermost room ?” ejaculated Ramorino. * But what was the use of that P” * Your Excellency bade me lodge the pictures in the apartment most convenient for the purpose in that part of the house,” replied the domestic ; “and as tho uppermost room communicating with the private staircase was the only one that was empty - “ Well, well—thero is no harm done,” inter- rupted sre Minister of Police. “ You may retire :” —and then, as tbe man withdrew, Ramorino mut tered to himself, “It is only an extra flight of stairs or two for old Furlo to ascend presently in order to see the pictures—and a little additional truuble in taking them down to the vehicle which he may bring for the purpuse of fetching thom away.” CHAPTER XXVIL THE CATASTROPHE. LET us pow return to Father Falconara, whom wo left at the moment when Le was bowed out of the room where his last interview had taken place with the Minister of Police. He left the house, waying to himself, “ Yes, Charles Do Vere was right! It ie the sinful man protecting the erring woman! An identity of interests of some guilty complexion or another, must have induced them tu Jom their hands with bonds even more powertul thau thoso which had previously united them !” As Father Faleonars was slowly pursuing his way alung the strect, he met Edgar Marcollin and Charles De Vere. “What tidings, holy father P” inquired the young Frenchman: “ have you succeeded with that vile woman?” * “No,” waa the response, “There was an ip- atant when I felt confident of success: but | fniled !” Sho is atill there?” interjected Marcellin, in- quiringly “ Yes—she ie still there,” rejuined the eccle- siastic. “She is evidently in a state of wild mental agitation ” “Thank heaven, she is there!” exclaimed Marcel- lin. “ We have seon the Minister of the Interior ; and the measures which are now taken are of a decisive character. that muffled individual gliding along on the other side of the street ? And there is another !—an-i look! there comes another !” \t ‘Yes. What means all this?” inquired the priest. ‘ Are they the emissaries of justice P” “They are officials from the Ministry of th: Interior,” repliod Marcellin : “ they are about to surround the Count of Ramorino’s house. Nvise- lessly and stealthily they creep, because the arrest taelf, though now fully resolved upon, is to be effected tranquilly and quietly———at least if Ra- morino himself will so permit it. But if other- wise, then ‘I understand,” said Father Falconara : “ foreo will be used if necessary P Ala3z, unhappy voman ! it isimpossible for her to make her peace with man! TI can only pray that she may recon- cile herself to heaven !” With those words Fathor Falconara was moving on, when Edgar Marcellin, grasping his band, said, “ Although you failed to obtain from that vile wuran’s lips the confession which would have at once exonerated my churacter, yet let me proffer the assurance of my sincerest gratitude for the kind interest you have dispiayod on my behalf.” Father Falconara expressed due acknowledg- mente fur the courteous language thus held to- wards him ; and he pureued his way in one direc- tion, while Kdgar Marcellin and Charles De Vero continued their own route in another. The two young gentlemen quickly arrived at the gate of Ramorino’s private residence; and me of the muffled individuals to whom we have sv recently alluded, glided towards thom. ‘It js all right,” said Marcellin. there” The individual spoke not a word, but glided iway again; and Ide Vero now rang at the gate. The summons was immediately answered by a lacquey ; and Charles eaid, ‘“ We wish to speak to hus Excellency the Count of Ramorino.” “What names shall { bear to his lordship ?’’ inquired the dumostic. ‘It is unnecessary to mention any names,” re- phed Charles. “ Say simply that two gentlemen desire to see his Exeellency on most impurtant business. Ab! when I bethink me, you may add, if you like, that one comes from the Frenci Kin- baxsy and the other from the English.” The dumestic conducted the two young pentle- mon into the waiting-room where the Cuunt of Raworino had already seen so many persons on thie particular evening. Jn the meanwhile Ramorino had rejoined Lu- cresia after having parted from Father Falcunara ; and he told her of the failure of his endeavours to effect the promised arrests,—a circumstance which she had already more than half conjectured from 1 observation which had fallen from the lips of Father Falconara. The Count did not thiak it worth while to mention that be bad sent for the pictures, or that he expected Furlo to supply him with the funds which should ensure his own safety s “She is CoOnmicloookks.€O Look, holy father ! seo you . inn