Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

414 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. _ for the next two or throe hours, as we shall not want him here.” Cesario was standing at the sideboard with his back towards Hardress as the latter thus spoke ; and Hailes gave o peculiar smile as he glanced to- wards his valet. He then said in Italian, “ I shall not want you, Cesario, any more for the present.” The valot made no answer, but slowly quitted the room. “What made you smile eo strangely ?” inquired THardross, as soon as the door closed behind Ce- sario. “ Does that young fellow happen to speak English P” “J don’t know--I think not—at Jeast I should conceive not—but I really never asked him ; and I’m sure I never tried. him; because as I myself can speak Italian as well as my own native VUR g et “To be*suag!” interjosted Hardress: “ you always address your Italian servant in the Itetian language. ‘Well, it is no matter, Come, let us fill our glasses.” : Thie was dono; the glasses were emptiod—the conversation was pursued on general topics for a fow minutes, until Hailes abruptly exclaimed, ** Tlow obstinate old Buwman was about insisting on ane production of the supposed Mr. Godol- phin !” “ Pig-headed to a degree,” responded Wardress. “Tt is simply ridiculous to suppose that the pre- sence or absence of tho other party to the duel can materially affect your case sr mine. By the bye, I suppose,” added Hardress, as if with a care- Joss air, “that Bowman has got your pecuniary affairs in hand ?” “Yes—to a certain extent : but he has no con- trol over them. Jie is an old friend of my family ~ho is @ very respectable man—and his father was established before him in tho same house in Bloomsbury Square. But I say, Hardress, wouldn’t he be pleased if ho could just lay his hand upon the shoulder of the young lady who played tho part of Mr. Gudolpbin !” “Why, it would play the deuce with me and my case!” cricd Hector, with a start. “Vio wouldn’t care one fig about that,” re- joined Hailes, “so long as he thought he could imoke my caso at all the better, I know very well what he means. His object would be to show that I was such a greenhorn and a dupe in the wholo affair——” “Very well,” interrupted Hardressimpationtly : “ what is the use of discussivg the business P” “Oh, none at all, if you like to change the discourse,” replied tho young man, sipping his Wine. There was a briof silence, during which the glasses wero again filled; and then Hardress said, * ‘You aro a lucky fellow, my dear Hailes, to in- herit such a fino income as eight thousand a-year. With such a fortune, and with your good looks, you ought to think of marrying well.” “There is plenty of time for that,” replied An- drew. “ Novertheless, if I saw a good chance——” “To be candid with you, my dear friend,” in- terjected Hardreas, “ you only want ono thing in order to be enabled to command a position in the highest circles of fashion.” “Ah! what is that?” ejaculated Hailoy, with a visible excitement; for bis weak point was nov being touched upon. ‘ What do you mean ? what is it that I want?” “ An aristocratic alliance—a marriage with some female scion of the patrician order—a union with the daughter of some titled and ancient house !”— and Hector emphasised bis words. “Poor Clifford used to tell moe the samo thing,” observed Hailes. “He even went further. He was kind enough to offer to introduce mo into certain good families, where I might have stood a chance——”’ “No doubt of it! "exclaimed Hardress, “ What if I were to do the aamo thing for you? what if I were even to introduce you to the very young lady that would best suit you? In short, my dear friend, what if I had already got my mental eye fixed upon the being who is destined to become your wife P” . You are joking, Hasdress !” “IT never was more serious in my life.” “But the young lady to whom you allude?” ejaculated Hailes, becoming more and more cx- cited. * She is the daughter of a peer—she hag conso- quently the prefix of Honourable. She is very beautifal—and what is more, she is desperately in love with you.” “Ah! now'I know that you really are jesting,” cried Hailes, with a look of disappointment. “T tell you that I am serious: I swear to you that I am! To be briof, Andrew, what should you think if I were to add that I am all the timo alluding to my own sister Josephine P” Andrew’s eyes kindled with delight: but the next moment an expression of incredulity swopt over his sountenanee——and he said, “This is too bad of you, Hardress! l never saw the young lady to my knowledge!~she bas never seen mc! end although I have heard her spoken of &s eminently beautiful ——” “Why will you think I am jesting on 30 serious a subject ?” interrupted Hector. “ My sister has | geen you-~-you have seen her—and report has not epoken untruthfully when it bas declared that she is strikingly handsome. I, as her brother, cau add that she is acco: plished -———~and, in short, elo shall become your wife!” “A thousand thanks, my dear friend!” cried Flailea, grasping Hector’s hand and preasing it warmly. ‘“ But you tell me that I havo had the honour of attracting the notico of the Hon. Miss Hardress P” “Such is the fact. To be candid with you, my dear fellow, there have been certain mysteries which must now be cleared up. ‘You aro an honourable man—TI should like to have you asa brother-in-law—- Josephine is ready to recoive you as her husband—and by means of this allianco you will immediately make your way into all tho best circles.” “A mystery P—what mystety can thero bo P” said Hailos, fecling strangely perplexed, although ho was also inclined to abandon bimeolf to feelings of joy. “I wish you would be more explicit. I can seo there is something lurking in your mind which you have got to tell me——” “Do you suspect nothing?” demanded Hector abruptly. “Nothing. What can I suspect? You aro bewildering me!” COMIUGDOOKS C©