Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 83: what you’re looking at

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268 our hero: but the next moment he banished it— and ho continued to follow tho footsteps of the guide. This individual presently stopped at a low door in the high garden-wall to which we ere now alluded; he gave three raps in a peculiar manner —the door opened—and the man, clutching Charles by the wrist, said curtly, “ This way !” Our hero crossed the threshold : he was dragged ovor it, as it were, by the suddenness of the jerk- ing clutch made at him; and the door instanta- neously olosed behind him. He was inside a garden and another man was at the door: but the one who had guided him thither, at once led the way along an avenue formed by tall trees with over-arching boughs. An almost total obscurity prevailed: but at the ex- tremity of the long vista lights were discerned. These rapidly grew brighter and brighter ; and on emerging from the avenue, our hero found that he was in the immediate vicinage of a spacious mansion brilliantly lighted, while the sounds of soft music came floating upon his ear. “One word !” he said to the man who was act- ing as his guide: “one word, I insist !” “* Not a syllable, signor !” cried the other. “ In anotbor minute you will see her Highness !” Charles was amazed; and ho would have put another question despite the injunction given to the contrary, only that at this moment a side door of the mansion was reached—~and the man opened it. A lamp burnt inside a little vestibule with which this door communicated: but the man at once led the way up a staircase. A landing was reached; it was of a size corresponding with the vestibule below : but all that Charles had as yet seon of the place, little though if were, gave him the idea of an elegantly-furnished dwelling. is guide threw open the door of a room lighted by a lamp fed with perfumed oil, and where tho ap- pointments were all of the most costly description. Curtly bidding him wait thore, the man suddenly disappeared. Charles ‘was left by himself for about a couple of minutes, to wonder whether he were about to see the Count of Camerino, and why the proceed- ing had been conducted with so much mystery,— when the door opened, and a lady of grand and striking beauty, and apparelled in an elegant evening toilet, entered the room. CHAPTER XLVI. THE PRINCESS AND THE COUNTESS. TB lady who thus entered the apartment, was tall and of commanding presence. She was splen- didly formed; and her apparel was characterized by mingled richness and elegance. Hor age wight be about six-and-twenty. Her hair was dark— her eyes, not large, but very handsome, wero bril- liantly expressive. They shone with the light of intelligence; and they shed their beams as it were upon a countenance of the noblest beauty. So distinguished was the mien of this lady, and so exquisitely did the feminine graces blend with a certain air of dignity and self-possession, that her very looks would serve as weapons to beat down any libertine regards that might be levelled at her. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, Indeed, it was impossible to survey lier otherwise than with mingled admiration and respect. As she made her appearance in the room, Charles Do Vero saluted her with the profoundest respect ; and sho, at once proffering him her hand, said with a significant look, and with all the emphasis of which the golden accents of an Italian tongue are capablo, “ Welcome thou as one of us!” These words, striking ominously upon the ears of Charles, tended to confirm the suspicion which had previously floated in his mind to the effect that some fresh political conspiracy was on tho tapis ; and he hastened to say, “I hopo there is no mistake, signora, in the causes that have led me to be conducted hither? But I came only ia the expectation of meeting——” “The Princess of Spartivento #” added the lady. * Well, she is before you.” I am proud and flattered to be pormitted to form the acquaintance of your Highness,” re- sponded Charles with another profound bow, “ bué I must candidly confess that I had no conception this honour was in store for me. I know not to whose mansion I was being brought—lI fancied only that I was to see my friend tho Count of Camezino.’” The Princess looked astonished: then an ex- pression of incredulity passed over hor coun- tonance; and this was almost instantaneously succeeded by a smile, as she said, “1 understand, Signor De Vere! Circumstances havo rendered you cautious. I cannot do othorwise than ap- prove of your conduct. Havo the goodness to remain here for a few minutes.” “But may I entreat your Highness——’ * Hnough, signor !"’ interrupted the Princess of Spartivento, with an air alike commanding and rracious : and she immediately quitted the aparte ment. “Surely there must be a misspprchension some- where !” thought Charles to himeelf, tho instant he was again alone. “Is it possible that to add to all my other difficulties and causos of vexation, Iam now to be plunged into some political in- trigue or conspiracy, just bocause I happened once to possess the acquaintance of the Count of Came-~ rino?P Ah! there would indecd bo but little real friendship on his part if he wore thoughtlessly and rashly to involve me in such a dilemma! Le. sides, many long months have now elapsed since ho and I parted in Naples———Yes, nearly a year and during that interval I have had no com- munication with him.” Charles knew how terribly dangerous a thing ié was to become involved in an Italian conspiracy ; and brave though he naturally were, he trembled at the idea. Besides, he had his own pressing affairs to attend to : he was anxious to reach Eng- land with the least possible delay and have an in- terview with Agnes. But cven if he were com- pletely free and unoccupied in all other respects, he was not prepared to mix himeelf up with the politics of a foreign country—and all the less so, inasmuch as these politics were of a clase calcu- lated to plunge their disciples into a vortex of dangers. It is not therefore surprising if Charles suddenly thought of beating an immediate rety1t.. from the Spartivento palace: he was ve 1 advano- ing towards the dvor with the intention of carry ing this purpose into effect, when it suddenly oO comicboo S CO