Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

4i2 ‘ refinement — one who is capable of becoming profligate as Mossalina herself, and who noverthless would succeed in ‘ding even the most fastidious of lovers in bur ......en obains,~if you want to speak to me of such « being as this, talk to me of Fioribel !” “And yet you said just now that you hated her?” observed the Viscount, “This is very strange—decidedly strange! It is even contra- dictory —positively.” “TI know not how I feel towards her,” ex- claimed Hardress, bewildered and balf maddened ‘by the distracting influences of his own thoughts as well as by the wine of which he continued to drink glass after glaes in rapid succession. “I could love her with an almost frenzied devotedness if ehe would throw herself into my arms: but while she scorns and loathes me—makes me the object of her capriges —flatters me at one moment, and then disappoints all my bopes the next———”’ “ But does sbe do all this?” asked the Viscount. “ Not actually at present, because I know not where she is,” rejoined Hardress, “But this is what she Aas done—and it is for this that I hate her! Ob, that scene at Turin !” “‘ What scene P” inquired Mervyn. “ You in- terest and amuse me, Hector—positively, But you alarm me—decidedly.” ‘ What scone? Ab, I will tell you !” ejaculated the young man, who had just poured more wine down his throat. But at this moment the deor opened, and a gentleman hastened into the coffee-roum. Hector instantaneously averted his countenance, for he was under the continuous spprebension of being observed and recognised by an English detective officer.. The gentleman did not th: fore catch a view of his features ; but hurriedly, :ccosting the Viscount, he said, “ Who the deuce, my dear Mervyn, do you think has just arrived at the hotel ?” ; “Can't eay—positively.” “With a sweet pretty lady’a-maid, and such 4 fine handsome young man—whother her husband or lover I know not———” “Who bas thus arrived ?” asked Mervyn. “ You remember Floribel Lister ——” “ Wloribel !’—-and Hector sprang up from his chair. “Ab, Mr, Hardresa!” said the gentleman, who first made a movement of surprise and then in- stantaneously became cold in hie demeanour and drew himself up haughtily. “Tell me, Fitzherbert,” cried Hector, who in the excitement of his mind did not immediately perceive the glacial air which the new-comer had just put on,—* tell me, you say that you saw Fio- ribel ?” “If it be of any consequence, Mr. Hardress, for you to ascertain the fact,” replied Captain Fitaberbert, in a freezing tone, “I have no objec- tion to inform you that the lady in question has just alighted from a carriage in the cuurt-yard of the hotel.” “ How strangé!” cried Hector. “ Are we des- tined'to meet here? But you said, I think—yes, did you not say”—and his countenance became white with rage-—“ that she had a person with ber —@ lover nerbape ?” “You hud better make inquiries for yourself,” AGNES ; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. interrupted Captain Fitsherbert ourtly,’ as he, turned his back with an air of loathing and dis. . gust upon Hardress. J Aft any other time, or under different ciroums:i stances, Hector would have avenged such an affronéy: upon the spot by means of a blow, or would avez least have challenged the author of the insulp, But ‘ he was not now the master of his own thoughts. nor actions; and in the whirl of ideas which were } agitating confusedly in his brain, he failed to per- ,. ceive how different the manner of the punctilious and high-notioned Fitzherbert was from that of the good-natured and atolid Mervyn. Hardress stood transfixed for a few moments after Fitzherbert had turned his back upon him: then suddenly ejaculating, “Floribel is here!” he made a rush towards the door and burst from the coffee-room. Let us vow shift the scene for a few minutes to another part of the hotel. Fioribel, accompanied by the handsome Sardinian officer, Captain St. Didier—and attended by the pretty and faithful Antonia—was following the landlady up to a suite of apartments. Floribel and her lover had come to pass two or three weeks at Genoa, St. Didier having obtained leave of absence for the purpose. They had just returned from Florence, to which St. Didier hag been aent by the King of Sardinia oD a private mission to the Grand Duke, concern- ing the recent Italian conspiracies into which the young Sardinian officer had obtained so much in- sight through the medium of the apy Fussanv. We need hardly observe that Fioribel had accompaniad St. Didier to the Tuscan capital: it was througif-, him that she had seen the plan of the subgerrancan of the Camerino mansion—and it was thie circume stance that had enabled her tu accomplish her de- sign in obtaining an interview alone with Agnes, ~—a@ last interview, at which there might be no tear of intrusion nor interruption. ° But to return to the thread of our story—we were saying that Fioribel bad now arrived at the hotel at Genoa with her lover and ber Iady's-x.aid, They were conducted to a suite of apartments; , aod while dinner was in preparation, they pro-! ceeded to make some change in their toilets after . along day’s travelling. St. Didier retired to a dressing-room, while Fioribel was attended by An- tonia in the bed-chamber. “Excuse me, dear signora,” said Antonia, whom circumstances as well as her tried and provod fidelity placed upon a somewhat familiar footing with her mistress, “ but methinks you have been low-spirited to-day ?” “Indeed !” ejaculated Fioribel. “ Yos, signora—and [ could not help noticing it this morning, when assisting in the performance, of your tuilet. Ah! there you sigh, signora!” , ‘Nonsense, Antonia!” interjected Filoribs , somewhat petulantly. we “Pardon me, signora, if I offended you,” an; the young abigail, a cloud coming over her preti,.. features: “you know that I would not for the’ world————”” “ My dear Antonia,” cried Floribel, “ do not... vexed or grieved I did not mean to epeak harshly to you. You have served me too faith , fully to be treated uokindly. Yes, my dear gir., you are right. Iam out of spirits! But 1 dar’, say I shall rally presently. Yet that dream 1” Oo <S) CO CoOMmiclboo