Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, am not selfish —heaven knows that I am not greedy nor grasping !—but I have little doubt that my deceased friend bas named mo his heir. Long were weas brothers to each other; and besides, the mero fact of his entrusting his last will and testa- ment to my keeping, sufliciently indicates the generosity of his design towards me. But why do I at present mako allusion to the subject? I will tell you,” continued the Marquis, raising his voice so as to be heard by every one within that vaulted apartmont. “It is because if my conjecture should prove true, and if the Camerino estates should be bequeathed unto me, I swoar that all their revenues shall be devoted to the furtherance of the good cause—the emancipation of Italy from the sway of a number of petty tyrants, and the recognition of its homogencousness a8 a na- tion !” . Theso words were received with indications of applause, but of a cautiously subdued nature. Scarcely had they subsided, whon the threo pecu- liar knocks were, given outside the door; and the Countess di Milazzo herself hastened to open it. She gave admittanco to a man whose garments were travel-aviled, but whose countenance instan- tancously gluwed with enthusiasm as his cyes wore swept around upon the conclave ; and with a hasty but respectful salutation to the Marquis ofOrtona, ho oxclaimed, ‘* Givrious news, brethren! thing is mpe at Leghorn for the revolt—and dhcre you will be received with open armsby the popu- Jaco !” Again wero tho indications of applause mani- fested, but still in a subdued and cautious manner, — though throughout the apartment every oye flashed with enthusiasm ; and as Charles De Vere 272 . “This is tov much!” exclaimed our hero, alrngst ‘indignantly. “I did not seek to come amongst _you—-[ courted not the welcome which you gave— | Iam hore through an orror, which even yet has | not been cleared up or cxplainod by the man Ig- natio who served as my guide——” | “Enough!” interrupted the Marquis of Ortona, | Spoaking with a sevority that might even be deno- minated sternness. “ We havo our rules and our regulations—and we are bound by our oaths to carry them out. You must join us!” | “And if I rofuse?” domanded our boro. | You will abide by the ponalty,” responded the Marquis in a tone of significant warning, “And that penalty?” asked Charles. “ Death !” was tho solemn rejoinder. CHAPTER XLVIL THE SPAKRTIVENTO PALACE. For @ moment a paleness appeared upon tho ! countenance of Charles De Vere—but it was only | for a moment; and in a firm self-possessed voice, | he said, “Before God and man, I protest against the horrible iniquity of your conduct !” * At all evonts,” said Fathor Falconara, rising from his seat, “ let the cause of the error—if crror it be—unodergo the nicest scrutiny. We owe it to ourselves to ascertain by what means persons who have nu business hore can bo introauved amongst us.” “ Yes,” said our hero, “lot the matter be sifted to the very bottom; for with the present happened to fling his looks upon the Countess dij; comploxion that it wears, I feel ag if I had been Milazzo, he was literally amazed by the spectacle | inveigled hither under a moro pretext to be ren- of patriotic ardour which sho presented to the dered tho victim of a celd-bloodod murder.” view. ler eyes were maguilicent in their lumi- ‘You must not speak in this strain, signor,” nousness—her cheeks gluowed—her lips wore parted | said the Marquis of Ortona. “ But tho matter shall with a triumphant smiley-and cho waved her | be investigated. IRgnatio, ’tis for you to give the kerchief in her beautifully formed hand. All of a sudden a mombeor of the conclave rose from hia seat, and said to the Marquis of Ortona, “ My lord, our enthusiasia has hurried us beyond the bounds of caution.” There was a sudden sensation, as if everybody now all in a moment reculleetcd something which an instant before had been forgotten ; and all oyes were fixed yon @barlos De Vere. ‘Whatever mistake may have been made,” i firet explanation.” Am I to speak out frecly,” asked Ignatio, “in the presence of one”—and he glanced tuwarda Do Vere— who is now proved to be a stranger amongst us,” “ Yes—-apeak out,” replied the Marquis of Or- tona; “ for either he will presently become one of us or ho will die!” * My lord,” resumed Ignatio: “I may as well state for the information of any members present continued the previous speaker, “in respect to the | whodo not know mo, that Iam one of the numer- mode whereby this Lnglish gentleman obtained | ous travelling brethren whoso duty it isto bear admission amongst ua, there can be now no mis: | verbal information trom placo to place, so that the take as to the way in which wo must deal with him,” | initiated mey maintain a correspundenco amongst “This is true,” said the Muarqais of Ortona. | themselves. Nearly a your has elapsed since I “Signor De Vere, whatever tho mistake may have | learnt, from Nino Corso in Naples, that this young beon, you are now compromised beyund the possi- | gentleman ”—pointing to Do Vero—-“ was an in- bility of recall; and you must swear according to | timate friend of the Count ot Camerino. | the prescribed forms, to join us with hoart and | permit me, my lord, to ask whether I did not re- And now - hand—fo succour our Objects with all your re- | ceive from your hand certain papers 39 sources, mental, physical, aud pecuniary “Stop, my lord!” ejaculated our horo: “ you are askin of me impossibilities! I will bind myself by oath never to reveal what 1 have either heard or scen in this plece " “ft is not sufficient 1” ejaculated several voices, speMing menacingly. © Xou must join us! You must be one of us!” 39 “I know what you mean, Ignatio,” interjected | tho Marquis. “Tha other day, when our beloved | and respected leader died, I found amongst other ‘papers in his pocket-book three or four lists of | nates; and raturally concluding that theso wero the designatiyns of persons devuted to var cause, I gave tho papers to Ignatio that ho .aigi:6 use them at his discretion.” ElDOO S CO