Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

AOWaS; OF, SMAUTY AW PLEASE: “Yes: it was immediately after Clifford fell.” “You bade me and the self-styled Mr. Go- dolphia fily——we obeyed you--we stasted in dif- ferent directione—but it was destined that we were to meet egain.” “ Ah!” said Hector. “ You met again? But not that same night, surely ?” “Thet eame night—within the same hour— and a6 no very great distance from the scene of the duel. But you are sure that you have not hefore heard of this ?’’ “How could I,” asked Hector, “ when I tel! you that I have not seen that young female since thanight of which you are speaking? Pray there- lore tell me what happened.” “T found the poor disguised girl leaning ainet 0 gate, evidently overpowered by her feel- _ Indeed? And then I suppose she confessed to ‘ou that ehe wae of the gentler sex—or perhaps © fainted in your arms—or you conjectured it?” “* Notbing of all this,” interrupted Hailes. “I firmly believed her to be Mr. Godolphin, whom I looked upon as a young, timid, trembling strip- ling who never ought to have been dragged into such a dilemma. I took ber with me to a house at no great distance: I was well known at the place—for the fact ie, I kept a mistrése there——” “ And you introduced the young woman to your mistress ? you left them together P” ‘How deuced fast you are getting on!” ex- claimed Hailes. ‘“ Of course I introduced them but I thought at the time that Mr. Godolphin was really what he was represented: I was atill ignorant of the mystery. There was but one chamber which could be placed at our disposal ; and—and—can’t you imagine the rest P”’ No,” said Hector: and if Hailes had not bien stirring the fire at the moment, he would have been struck by the sombre expression of his companion’s countenance. “No?f” be cried with a laugh. “ Why, hoi was such an adventure to terminate otherwise than it actually did? In plain terme, the position was such—circumstances combined so singularly —that—-that the delusion could be no longer sus- tained ; and Jo and behold! your Mr. Godolphin turned out to be a female!” “ And so it was then that you made the diseo- very?” seid Hardress. ‘ Well, perhaps you~ But tell the tale after your own fashion.” ‘There is nothing more to tell,” rejoined Hailes,—“ unless you are so dull that I muat be cone still more cireumstential and tell you how I was infinitely delighted with the discovery. I wanted something to cheer and amuse me—I was depressed and horrified at the recollection of the tragedy——” “ And therefore,” said Hardress, with a foreed laugh, ‘‘ you took advantage of the piece of good luck which was thus thrown in your way P” “Of course I did. The girl pretended to be coy and basbful: but I was not to be duped any wore: | knew very well that there could be neither modesty por morality to any extraordinary extent on the part of a young female who dressed uerself up in male apparel and plunged headlong into such adventures. There was certainly one thing which surprised me at the time, and which I had since forgotten until now——”’ “And what wae that?” inquired Hardr. ».. “Oh! only that on the following morniog wy fair companion sent a note, by my mistress Eisetta, to your wife: but I accounted for it by the supposition that you had on the preceding evening introduced the girl to Mrs. Hardress whem you were setting out to fight the duel.” “Yes—it was somethiag of the sort—I forget ixactly how it happened now,” stammered Hector, whose breast was a perfect pandemonium raging with the fiercest and darkest passions, “One is compelled to do extraordinary or unpleasant things under particular circumstances. But I shall leave ‘ou now for the present ——-I have some little bu- ineas to attend to in Boulogne——We ehall see each other again in the evening.” “I shall be very happy,” answered Hailes, “1 have no other acquaintances in the town,’ and should be dull if you were not to look in upon me for half-an-bour or so.” Meanwhile Cesario, the genteel-looking valet had’ superintended the eonveyance of his youn; master’s luggage to his bed-chaurber; and he wa passing along « corridor on his way to the roon which Lad been allotted to his own use, when h beheld a lady issue from a neighbouring apartment He stepped politely aside to meke way for thi lady, when he wae struck by her countenance. H gased upon her earnestly ; and a singular expret sicw seized upon his features as he seemed to re cognise the face of the lady of whom we ar speaking. She did not notice the sensation whic ber presence thus produced: she merely fluvg transiens glance upon the handsome geateel-lookin valet; and she continued her way along the cor ridor. She was descending the stairs to seek th sitteng-apartment, when she was met by. Hectc Hardrees, who was springing up those ateirs tw or three steps-at a time. “ Ah, Josephine P” he saic,: “’tis well met! want to speak tn you particularly.” “To ma, Hector ?” and the young lady starter turned pale, and eves appeared to stagger back pace or two. . “Yes—to you. Where ie your roomP W had better bo alone together—I do not want | speak before Ciccly for the present.” _ Josephine Hardress threw a frightencd look « inquiry upon ber brother: then a strange expre: sion, woe-begone and desperate, settled upon be naturally bandsome countenance; and she led tk way (o ber own apartment, intou which she we closely followed by Hector. Whether it were that Andrew Hajles’s gentee looking valet, Cesario, had some important reaec for watching the movements of Juseplvune Hardee —or whether it were that be wag inapiced only t a feeling of impertiment curissi': 1¢ wre umab at thia moment to decide: bute. vis it is that ol bad no sooner passed inty her coumber, fullowe by her brother, than Ceearic, gliding along tro! the obseurity et the other end of the passage, ato up to the door of that room, and applying his et to the keyhole, dzank in as much as be could thi possibly glean of the discourse which tuok plu inside. But leaving the valet outside the door, we ma penetrate into the rovm itself, and describe ¢! scene that now took place between the bruthe> « sister. The moment Hector had closed the u: Oo COnmniclooe® G SS CO