Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

276 Milazzo,” was the response. Thera was a pause: and then the lady went on to say, “ When our husbands thus perished, my sister and I vowed that we would dovote ourselves to the cause of Italian freedom. Thenceforth we bade farewell to love and pleasure ; and we swore that the good cause should become the idol of our worship. Ab! think not, signor, that because floods of roseate light are now pouring forth from the casements of the Spartivento palace, and that the sounds of music, the sopg, and the dance, are floating upon the air,—think not, I say, that my sister thus re- ceives her friends for pleasure’s sake} No !—that magnificent entertainment scrves as a veil and as a blind! Little will the police-authorities con- ceive that while the upper part of the palace wears the appearance of joyous revelry, the subterra- neans are occupied by gallant patriote devising means for tho liberation of their country |’ “And might I ask, signora,” inquired Charles, “for what purpose those waxen effigies are placed thereP—and why your noble sister and yourself thus retain the images of your departed hus- bands P” “Can you not divine the purpose P” asked the Countess di Milazzo, with a look of reproachful- ness: “can you not comprehend how my sister and I feel the assurance that so long as we havo it in our power thus to remind ourselves of the perished patriots, we nover can fail in the perform- ance of our duty? If I saw that my sister was bestowing -too much thought upon worldly plea- sures, or listening with too willing an ear to the tender language breathed from masculine lips, I should take her by the hand—I should bring her hither—-I should bid her gaze upon the effigy of her husband as he appeared when he fell on the fatal field of Novara—and I should adjure her to remember her oath! And she would do the same by me if on my own side I were to show that my feelings were becoming lukewarm on behalf of the grand and glorious cause.” * And might I ask your ladyship,” inquired our hero, “what was your object in introducing me hither.” * “That you might fully understand the stern seriousness of the purpose cherished by my sister and myself—that you might see how resolute we are—and that you might judge of the spirit which animates all the mewhbers of the secret Society, when you find how two poor weak wo- men are inspired by this glorious cause! Yes, Signor De Vere—my sister and 1 pride ourselves upon being heroines in the cause;—and I now ask whether you can any longer hesitate to em- bark with us in the samo enterprise ?” At thie moment a knock was heard at tho door of the apartment ; and the Countess di Milazzo hastened to answer the summons. A whispered communication was made by some man—a member, of course, of the secret brother- hood—to the Countess di Milazzo, who looked surprised aud perplexed for a moment. “Signor De Vere,” she said, at length turning towards our hero, “have you any reason to suspect that you are under the espial of the police autho- rities P” - “May I ask why your ladyship puts the query P” said our hero, The Countess reflected for a few instants ; and AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. then she replied, “ There is a police-agent inquir- ing for you at this moment.” ‘Indeed P” ejaculated Charles. ‘ Yos, signora it is by no means surprising that this circam- stance should have occurred. Nearly three houre have elapsed,’ he continued, glancing at his watch, “‘since I set foot within the Spartivento palace; and long ere this I ought to have been boyond the walls of Turin. Indeed, I pledged myself to depart within an hour-—-” ‘What offence had you committed ?” demanded the Countess quickly. “I was about to fight a duel with another Eug- lish gentleman,” responded Charles; “and by some means or another information was given to the Sardinian authorities———” “Enough! I comprehend your exact position,’ said the Countess. “ Follow me.” Thoy issued forth from the chamber where the waxen effigies lay; and the Countess conducted our hero into an opposite room—the one from which he had ere now beheld the armed men ap- pear. It was dimly lighted with 4 lamp: and there were about a dozen individuals there, all armed to the teeth. “Remain here until my return,” eaid tho Countess: and she accordingly left our hero in the mids¢ of thé armed posse. Her manner towards him had been full of Jady- like urbanity, blended however with the most per- fect modesty of look and propriety of deportment ; and the armed men, evidently taking her ladyship as their example, displayed every possible polite- ness towards De Vere, They offered him refresh- ments, of which there was a varied assortment on a side-table ; some of them wero smoking—thoy offered bim cigars: but though he declined all their civilities, it was nevertheless with a proper and well-bred courtesy. In about ten minutes the Countess di Milazzo returned; and she beckoned Charles De Vere to follow her into the passage. “Are you willing,” she inquired, “to pur- chase your life as the resilt of a compromise ?” “JT do not understand your ladyship,” responded our hero. “A compromise is seldom consistent with tho strictest principles of rectitude and ho. pour “‘{ could propose nothing dishonourable to Sig- nor Do Vere !” interjected the Countess, with an air of dignity. “ Proceed, signora,”’ said Charles, with a bow. * Name thg terms of this compromise.” “Your life shall be spared on condition that you take temporary service beneath our banner. ‘I'he oath which you ere now read, shall not be exacted from you; bué an oath couched in terms more general, and pledging you not to the precise poli- tics of our party, shall be substituted. When you land at Leghorn, you shall be at liberty to raise whatever cry you think fit; and from that moment likewise you shall also be the master of your own actions.” “¥ understand,” said De Vere. “You seek to compromise me as much as possible, in the hope that I must of necessity end by joining you alto- gether P” “That is not our only aim,” replied the Coun- tess. ‘I frankly confess that your presence here has embarrassed us in a variety of ways. But one word!—do you accept the terms? I entreat ada conniclooolks on CO