Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BUAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Qh, then there és hope!” ejaculated the hand- some young soldier with enthusiastic accents «and faljjr 7 ion one kuee, he svized Floribelds hand and preased it to his lips, She suffered that hand to linger in his pressure for a few moments; and then gontly withdrawing it, she said in a subdued voice, with a blush upon her cheeks, and with languishing looks, “I think that I could accept such love as your’s. But rise! rise! Some one may enter the apartment !” St. Didier rose accordingly; and as he resumed his seat, he said, “ It is but right and proper that TI should acquaint you with my exact position. I am by no means rich: nevertheless I am not very poor. I can maintain you in comfort—but not in Juxury. I can keep for you a modest equipage-— but not a train of gaudily-apparelied domestics. A beautiful little villa in the suburbs—a gar- den } “Say no more, Captain St. Didier!” interrupted Floribel : ‘‘ you have in delicate terms told moe as much as if you had presented to my view a com- plete balance-sheet of your resources, Leave me now—and to-morrow you shall hear from me.” The handsome young aide-de-camp again pressed Floribel’s hand to his lips; and bendieg upce her 8 look of manly love and tenderness, he quitted the apartment. When he was gone she sat think- ing upon al! that had passed between them, until at the expiration of about a quarter of an hour,— when the waiter again entered the room, bearing another card upon a salver. It bore the name of the Baron von Friedburgh, Attaché to the Austrian Embassy. Floribel hesitated for a few moments; and then she said, “Let this gentleman be ad- mitted.” Tbe Baron made his appearance. He was about five-and-thirty years of age—tall, and some- what corpulent-— with sandy red hair—a rather puffy face—no whiskers—but a very thick mous- tache, and a long imperial on his chin. He was elegantly dressed ; but his apparel could not con- ceal the partial ungainliness of his form ;-—and truth compels us to add that as he crossed the threshold, Floribel experienced a sensation of mingled perfume and cigars. ‘I bavo the honour to salute you most humbly, madame,” began the visitor; and yet there was mcre bauteur and self-sufficiency than humility and courtesy in hie address. ‘4And pray, sir,” inquired Floribel, rising from the sofa, and without asking the Baron to be seated, “what may be your business with moe ?” “Tama man of a few words, madame,” re- sponded the Baron von Friedburgh; “and I shall therefore come to the point at once. I saw you last night at the theatre—and I admired you. I am married—but my wife has a lover, and I am accustomed to have a mistress. Three days ago I quarelled with the lady who had lived with me for two yoars—and we separated. I allowed her a fine house—a handsome equfpage—and a good income. Sho was therefore ungrateful, as you will allow.” “And pray, sit,” asked Floribel, who still re- mained atanding aud did not offer the Baron a sagt, “may I beg to be informed of the reason which ha& induced you to think that I can be in any way interested in your affairs of love and gallantry ?” 266 “‘ Madame, you are an English widow,” replied the Austrian, “and your name is Lovel. You are alone in this city; and I do not think that you can wish to continue alone. You may begin, to understand the purpose of my visit: but if you do not, you are less shrewd than I took you to be. I will explain myself more fully. Pray be not under any ceremony in my presence:”—and he coolly sat down. “Oh, I can assure you that I am not!” an- swered Fioribel: and she likewise sat down. “ Now, sir, I am all attention.” “In one word, madame,” continued the Aus- trian, “I offer to place you in the position which was occupied until within three days ago by the lady to whom I havo referred. There is a house handsomely furnished—there is a very fine equi- page—there are eervants in the establishment— the cellar is well filled—and in less than en hour theze shall be rich plate upon the sideboard and a casket of jewels upon the toilet-table. Of all those elements of happiness you may go and make your- self the mistress.” I thank you, sir, for your proposal,” responded Floribel: “but I cannot give you any answer until to-morrow.” “ Be it so, madame,” said the Austrian attaché. *T will keep the situation open for you for exactly four-and-twenty hours. I have the honour, madame, to salute you most humbly :”—and thus speaking, he bowed and took his departure, with- out even attempting to snatch a kies af tho fair hand of the beauteous Floribe). Half-an-hour elapsed, and the waiter again en- tered the room, bearing another card, with the in- timation that “ his lordship solicited an interview, but that if Madame Lovel was engaged he would call again at any hour she might think fit to ap- point.” The card bore the name of the Marquis of Crescentino; and Floribel desired that he might be admitted. She knew nothing of him; and she was wondering what kind of a person ho might be, end whether she had happened to notice bim on the preceding evening at the theatre, when he was announced. The Marquis of Crescentino was a man whose age in reality exceeded sixty, though he veritably looked quite twenty years younger. As he entered the apartment with a rapid and elastic step, with an air alike jaunty and elegant, and with an ap- pearance that was both pleasing and distinguished, ha struck Floribel to be in the very prime of life. He was somewbat above the medium stature— perfectly upright—and with a figure which seemed to combine lightness and atrength. Ie was ele- gantly dressed, but with the most perfect good taste; and there was altogether a polish about him which indicated the well-bred man. Carrying in hie hand a beautifully arranged nosegay of the choicest flowers, which diffused a delicious perfume through the apartment, he made a low bow; and placing the bouquet on the table, he said, “ Permit mo to present my little offering. They are from my own garden: I ga- thered them myself ere coming hither ;—-and even ‘in this genial clime, such flowers as these at the close of November are no: always to be obtained. Sweets for the aweet and heauties for the beauti- ful !"—he added, taking up \.» nosegay again and presenting it to Floribel. Comiclooo SS CO