Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

163 Fioribel could have bad tiwe to call, gather her effects togetber, and take her departure again. But let as see !” Thus speaking, he rang the bell; and the gate- porter made his appearancv. Immediately recog: nisivg Marcellin, the man bowed respectfully, and said in 8 mournful voice, “ Ab, signor! this is a ead business!—a very sad business !” “It is indeed,” replied the young Frenchman. “But tell me, has the Signora Cipriva becn hither ?” Yes, signor; she called in a postchaise about ten minutes ago.” “ Always ten minutes too late!” ejaculated De Vere. “But let us speed in pursuit—for I must eco hor !” “Stop, my dear friend!” cried Marcellin, catch- ing bim by the arm; “it is useless! A wretched hack-vehicle would never overtake a post-chaise! Besides, how do you know which route she may be pursuing? She may say Rome when she means Ravenna !” “True!” said Do Vere. “I am afraid that I must abandon all thoughts of an interview with poor erring Floribel !” “ But how Jong could the Signora Ciprina have stopped hero ?” inquired Marcellin, again turning towards the gate-porter. ** Not more than a few instants, signor,” was the response. “A few instants to pack up all hor effects!” ried Marcellin, incredulously. “Antonia had already done it, signor. She: ‘ame to look after hor own property; and the | iteward told her to put the Signora Ciprina’s effecte | wugother aleo. So Antonia packed them up; and ihus the boxes were all ready for removal the instant the chaise stopped at the door.” At this moment the steward made his appear- ance in the lobby of the gateway ; and bowing to Marcellin and De Vere (for he knew the latter on account of having seen him that day at the Judge’a residence), he waid with a gloomy shake of his head, ‘“‘ Ab, signore! this is a bouse of mourning pow; for no matter how guilty the Mar- shioness may have been, she was a kind mis- tress to her dependants—and we all feel deeply Lhe tragic occurrence! Besides, the cstablishment will be broken up—the mansion and its costly fur- niture will be sold—and numbers of domostics who have long lived together like one family as it were, will be separated and thrown out of em- dloyment.” “ Where is the corpse of the Marchioness?” in- yuired Edgar. “it ia lying in the large dining-room,” was the rofly. “It is already in its coffin; and the fune- ral is to take place to morrow— but quite privately 8 you may suppose, signors. Will you walk in ?’’ Marcellin shuok his head, saying, “ My recollec- ‘ions of the interior of this mansion are in many ‘espects too painful———” “‘ Nevertheless,” interrupted the steward, “ you rvud render me a great service, signor, if you would enter the establishment. There is a se. ret~ , “i comprehend” exclaimed Marcellin. “ You yish to know the secret of the passage unto which pusivw == frequently made before the Judge AGNKS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUBR. The steward answered in the aflirmative,— adding, “I can find no key that fits the dvuor opening into the stable-yard ; and I do not dare to employ any vivlent means to force an entrance, because the mansion is now the property of the State. But I have a great curiosity to visit this secret passage of which so much has been said.” “ Tho key of the door opening into the stable- yard,” said Marcellin, “ I myself touk away with me when I escaped with Antonia by means of the secret avenue; and I have left it in my room at the French Embassy. But inasmuch as it is a harmless curiosity on your part, and like- wise a very natural one,” ho continued, thus ad- dressing himself to the steward, “I will show you the secret means of entranco from the suite of apartments which the Signora Ciprina used to occupy. And perhaps you, De Vere,” added Mar- collin, “would have no objectioh to inspect that strange mysterious place along which you were hurried with a@ shawl or kerchief thrown over your head?” “Come,” said our hero; “let us visit it.” The steward led the way up the grand stair- case; and in a minute or two the ante-room of the suite of apartments which Ciprina used to occupy, was reached. Edgar Marcellin could not help shuddering when he thought of all the tre- mendous perila he had incurred beneath that roof; and then his heart was melted with emotions as he thought the next instant of all the tender assiduities and attentions which Floribel bad lavished upon him in this suite of rooms. “T must tell you candidly, signors,” ssid the steward, “that I have been examining the ainscot and walls of every one of these roums with the utmost care—but without success.” “Did you not think of asking Antonia to tell you the secret ?” inquired Marcellin. ** Strange to say, it never struck me,” responded the steward. ‘“ When we were before the Judgo to-day, you, signor, did not specify from which room the accret communication opened: you merely spoke in general terms of tho suite of apartments possessing this secret issue p “TI will soon satisfy your curiosity,” said Mar- cellin, ‘The accret communication is here, in this ante-room! Look! I count the gilt naile—I press upon this particular one—and behold the result !” The door had flown open, just as if it were a portion of the wainscot giving way in a place where there was previously no visible evidence of the existence of a door at all. The steward held a wax taper in his hand; but Marcellin said, “ I! we are going to traverse the passage, we will light another in case of one being extin. guished by the draught. Come! I will lead thc way, as Tam acquainted with the geography of the place.” Provided with @ light, Marcellin crossed the threshold and entered the passage: De Vere fol- lowed; the steward, carrying the second taper, brought up the rear. They threaded the stone passage—the steward ejaculating at almost every pace, “ Who would ever have suspected it? Aud I, who fancied myeelf a confidential servant, tiever to have beon trusted with tho secret!” “Ah!” thought Charles, within himself, “ the position of affairs is somewhat different now, frou: comichboae® S