Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

204 AGNES; OF, BNAUTY AND PLEASURE. much my prayers, representations, and remon- atrances may fail to divett your footsteps from the path of error, ycé surely you will not prove equally indiffercné to tho entreatics and the counsels which will no doubt be addressed to you by him who is perhaps sceking you in Italy-——” “ What on earth do you mean, Charles ?” eja- culated Floribel: “to whom can you possibly allude ?” “The long lost is found—tho dead has come to life! ‘Your uncle—the father of Agnes———” “Oh! is this possible?” murmured Floribel, as o faintness came over her. “ Guod heavens ! aro you telling mo the truthP or is it mercly a strata- fom on your part—well meant, yet based on mis- represcntation,.for the purpose of wielding an in- fluenco over my mind—inducing me perhaps to return to ingland-—” ‘‘ Floribel, I am incapable of deceiving you on 60 serious a subject! 1 take heaven to witnoss that Jam tolling you the truth. Morton Evelyn is alive!—he has proclaimed himself to me———it matters not how nor why ho is rich and he 18 noble—ho is the veritable heir of the Ormsby race aftor all!” “Good heavens! is thia truoP or is ita dream ?” murmured Floribel. ‘The doad alive! the lost found! Oh, what marvols! what wonders! Leave me now, Charles—I beseech youu, leavo me to reflect .on all that you have been saying !"’ “Yos—I will leave you, Floribel,” responded our hero,—“ on condition that you faithfully and sacredly promise me that you will not flee from Turin as suddenly as you Lied from Florence—but that you will soe mo again.” “JT promise you faithfully, Charles, I will not depart from Turin as abruptly as I departed from Hlorence.” “1 will return in tha evening,” said our hero; “end then, Floribel—ihcn, you will suffer mao to have the most serious conversation with you P” With these words Charles De Vere touk his leave of Mioribel, and retraced bis steps towards the Hotel de ’Europe,—-there to await any message which Hector Llardress might thiuk fit tu send him. Tho billct which I loribel ad entrusted to An- tenia, was quickly consigned to the hands of a porter, and by this functicnary conveyed to the apartments of Captain St. Didier in the royal psiace, The handsome young aildo-do-camp was at hume at the moment: ho perused the letter with o feeling of deligkt, and immediately sot off to pay a visit to Signor Giovanni Petruccio, Deputy-Inspector of the Central Bureau of Police, With this gentleman the business was quickly ar- ranged; and three police-agents in plain clothes, wero st once despatched to the ILutel de France. On arriving there, two of the agents remained in the street, while the third entcred the cstablish- ment and inquired for the ion. Ilvctor Hardress. The waiter at vunce conducted the official to Mector’s apartment, Barely an hour had elapsed since the occurrence in Fioribel’s room; but MWector was still pacing to and tro in the vaiu endeavour tu compose his foel- ings sumewhat, that he ought cciberate how ho wag fo proceed in order fo ainke the requisite ar- rangomonia for a duc} with De Vere. Uho waiter enieree, sosine, “Tf you piecase, signor, a geatle- mun wishes to speak to you.” “Ah!” ejaculated Tlardress —for it immediately struck him that Charles bimself must .have taken tho initiative in the conduct of tho proceedings, “ Admit the gentleman, by all means!” The police-agent in plain clothes was ushered into the apartment; and he at once announced himeelf as an officer of the law,—adding, “It is exceedingly disagreeable, signor—but I muat re- quest you to fullow me.” “ Follow you?” ejaculated Hector. “ And where the devil am I to follow you to?” “Why, signor, if the truth must be told, I am charged to conduct you to prison.” “© Prison P” echoed the young I:nglishman: and ho laughed scornfully. “D.» you know who I am? Lam tho son of an English nobleman! Besides, there must be some mistake !—for I have done no- thing that could warrant you in arresting me.” “TI beg your Excellency’s pardon,” rejoined the police ayant; “you are charged with meditating 8 duel-—~”’ “Is it possible,” ejaculated Hardross, “ that Do Vere could have turned coward and poltroon— traitor and sneak—and that be has given infor- mation——” “So far from this boing tho case, signor,” inter- rupted tho gficial “JT have received orders to adopt partien ar measures a¢ainst him alsv, hese T shall execute so svon as I have conveyed you to a place of security.” “But what sre those measures P”’ domanded Hector. “ To seo that Signor De Vere quits Turin within six hours,” was the response. “Aud if be do,” ejaculated lector, “ then may I presume thut my own term of imprison- ment ” “Tt will not be necessary to rotain you, signor, another hour in custody,” was tho reply, dolivered with an oxceeding courtesy. “Thon be if as you say,” aid Lardross; “for it is but a question of o few kuurs’ delay—and if we are not permitiod to fight tae ducl in Sardinia, I may follow De Vere iute France, whore they are less particular,” “Tn that respect, signer, you can do as you think fit,” rejoined the ailiccr, with a polite bow. “At! LI should observe that imasmuch as this arrest of your’s has been accomplished so quietly, no one need know anything about it in the hotel. You can put a few little necessaries in your pocket—'tis but tho inatter of a few hours—and perhaps you will nut even bo condomned to pass tho night in gaol.” * Heaven furbid !” ejaculated Mardress, His preparatiuns were soon made; and in a few minutes he accompanied the polico.officer from the hotel. About half-an-hour later, as Charles De Vero was seated in his apartment at his own hotel, the waiter entered and annuunced a gentleman who wishod to have some little discourso. Our hero naturally thought that it was a mossenger on be- half of JLector Hardress; and he was therefore startled aud amazed when the persunage, on entering, at once said, “Signor, I am an agent of the police.” Charles, being somewhat moro kcen-witted than, Tiector, quickly began tu suspect that the object of the official visit was tu preveub the duel: bué CoOnnicloookks.€O inn