Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

: 274 eee ena ee regard to everything the revelation of which might | endangor the existence of the Society or the safety : Aud I likewise swear that | if at any moment my opinions should change and | of any of its members, J should repent of the course which I have taken, so that I feel I cannot conscientiously continue to be a member of the Society and an advocate of its objects, I will give due notice to the president of the section to which’ I may belong, or to the chief authority in the district where I may be re- siding ; and I will hold myself bound to submit to whatsoever may be ordained or decreed accord- ing to the circumstances in which I shall thus be placed. And if I should violate any of these solemn obligations, I hereby declara that I shall hold myself as having become gyilty of the highest crime which it is possible for mag to commit; and that therefore my life will be the rightcous forfeit, and whosoever shall take it will only be snitably and properly avenging the outrage offered to this patriotic brotherhood.” “TI cannot take that oath,” said Charles, after having carefully read the formula. “I will tell you frankly why I ere now hesitated, and why I asked to be made acquainted with the nature of the oath whereby every member is bound. It was because I thought that the terms of that oath would possibly permit me to accompany you on your intended expedition to Leghorn—but that when once we Janded upon the Tuscan shore J might raiso a cry to the cilcct that we came to givo such complete freedom to the Italians as to es- tablish the sovereignty of the people. But I see that the oath binds the members of the Suciety to specific objects ; and it would be only an equivo- cation on my part to take that oath with the! ulterior purpose which J have just avowed.” | “You are at least frank and candid, Signor De ' Vere,” said the Marquis of Ortona. “It is pity that one whose principles are so lofty and whose motives of honour are so delicate, cannot be won | over to the cause which we espouse.” “My lord,” said Father Faicopara, rising from his seat, €‘] beg to propose that the prisoner—for in such a light must we consider Signor De Vere —~be ordered to withdraw, while we discuss the painful circumstance which has thus arisen.” “Be i¢ so,” observed the Marquie, readily adopting the priest’s proposition ; for in his heart he was as anxious as Father Falconara bimeelf to find some pretext for sparing the life of De Vero. ‘Come with me,” said the Countess di Milazzo: and she conducted Charlies out of that large vaulted apartment where the conclavo was asscm- bled. Traversing the little vestibule, they continued their way along the passage loading towards the stairs: but the Countess stopping short, opencd a door on the rigbt band, and which our bero had not noticed when previously passing that way. ‘‘ Be so good ag to enter first,” said the Countess, All in a moment Charles asked himeelf, “ Why should I not overpower this woman, stifle her cries with a gag, and make my escape? Need I stand upon punctilios towards one who is leagued with a set of desperadoes: who have just been menacing me with deatia ?” dfe turned his eyes upon the Countess: but al) might make. AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE, her left band, he now perceived that she held a long naked dagger in her right; and as if sho had divined his intention—or at Jeast had penetrated the thoughts which had been flashing through his brain—she held the weapon in such a position as to prove that she was completely on her guard. “You must not be offended, Signor De Vere,” she said, with that calm self-poseession mingled with modest affability, which seemed to be habitual to her: “ but these are times and circumstances which render it important that those who embark in daring or desperate enterpriscs should be fully on their guard. You cannot therefore wonder that I should take precautions. I belicve you are too courteous,” she continued, with a smile, “to attempé to ill-treat a lady: but if it should happen to be otherwise, and you should by any possibility take it into your head to mako a sudden attack upon me, you see that I am quite prepared to meet it. Not all your strength would avail against. oa thrust from this poniard, the point of which is sharp asa needio! But this is not all. Look !” The Countess gave a slight cough, but in a peculiar manner; and ao door instantaneously opened opposite the one which she had previsusly opened, and on tho threshold of which they were both standing. Then from some obscuro placo four men, armed with drawn swords, and having Pistols in their belts, stepped torward. ‘hey spoke not a word: but their looks for a moment flashed fiercely on Charles; and then they were bent inquiringly upon the Cuuntees di Milazzo, as if in readiness to obey the slightest signal she She waved her hand slightly ; and they inetantaneously disappeared, the door clozing upon them-~while the Countess bent a half smilo of significange upon our hero,—a smile which dis- played her beautiful teeth, though it was with no studied coquetry on her part. * Now will you have the kindness to pass on ?” ‘she seid : and the dagge: was immodiately hidden beneath the folds of hor garments. Every fresh circumstanco tended to show Charles how completely he was in the power of the conspiraturs, and how ramified were all {he precautions which they took for the ensurance of their own safety as well as the secrecy of their proceedings in tho subterraneans of the Srarti- vento paluce. Ho therefore perceived how abso- lutely useless it would be for to refusu any mandate which might be given, and which might be so easily cnfureed upon him. Ho however turned again towards tho Countess, saying, “ Your ladyship has complimented me by expressing the belief that courtesy would prevent me from in- juring a lady ; and I cannot now do better than in the spirit of reciprocity express my conviction that a lady of your rank and principles will not now doal trcacherously with me.” “ No—I am incapable of treachery,” answered the Countess di Milazzo, with frankness and fer- vour. “ Whatever may happen to you will be the result of 8 calm deliberation on the part of the conclave, and will be duly imparted.” Charles bowed an acknowledgment of the as- surance ; tnd he entered the place with which the dvor communicated: but it was so completely ina moment the colour mantied upon his ecbeeks; ' invulved in obscurity that he had been unable'v ™ for by the light of the lamp which she cerricd in ; observe whether it Wero a passage, or a roum, ord [DOO