Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES: OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 279 sion. There numerous lacqueys were lounging about on all sides, and some of the company were moving up and down the grand marble staircase, —some having visited the refreshment-rooms, and others repairing thither. The Princess conducted De Vere to a small sitting-room, where our hero at once recognised the agent of police who had waited upon him at the Hotel de l'Europe. “JT was determined to satisfy myself,” said the Princess, affecting to laugh gaily, “ whether my frieud Signor De Vere could possibly be under the surveillance of the police—and whether he is so wickedly disposed,” she added, now flinging an arch smile upon Charlies, “as to contemplate a duel.” “Then Signor De Vero must himsclf have given your Highnese these particulars,” said the police-agent, with a low bow, “for I assuredly did nut betray them.” “Oh, yes,” exclaimed the Princess, laughing. “Signor De Vere made no secret of the matter— though he ‘might naturally fecl indignant at having been the object of espial on your part ” “It isa habit we have in this city,” said the police-agent, with a dry cough. “No douht, Signor De Vere knows that well @ough; for he is intimately acquainted with Italimn customs, Wken once the police authorities have ordered any one to do a particular thing, they keep a vigilant eye over him until he does it. And now, Signor De Vere, with your permission I should like to speak a few words with you alone.” “What! am I in the way ?” said tho Princess, smiling. “If so,1 am sure I would not for the world intrudo another moment.” With these words, spoken with an air of cheer- ful good-nature and indifference, the Princess left the apartment, without so muck as thinking it worth while to cast a significant Jook upun our hero. Charles remained alone with the police-agent, who at once said, * Yolk have not fulfilled your word, signor, At seven o’cluck you wore to have left Turin: it is now past nine, and you are still here.” “My good fellow,” replied our hero, “ can you not make allowances for one who when calling to take his leave of a beautiful lady, finds that she is entertaining company and is inveigled into joining the guests?” “Very good, signor,” replied the agent; “1 will make all allowances—for the Princoss is very beautitul—and so is her sister the Cuuntess di Milazzo. Besides, I] do not want to spoil sport ; only 1 thought it highly necessary just to call and remind you of your promise; because the other Englishman—Signor Mardress—cannot be libe- rated till you Jeave Turin, and he is getting ex- ceedingly impatient. I know what these syrens are—this Princess and this Countess; and I thought that if they had once got you within the ranye of their fascinations, you would forget all about your pledge to depart and your fullow- countryman who is in prison,” “I have forgotten nothing of cll this,” replied De Vere: “ I will loave exactly at midnight. Will that suffice ?” . jf 16 must suffice, since you so wish it,” re- sponded the official; “and after all, it is only a matter of a few hours in respect to the rolease ot your fellow countryman. But you must not think you are making a dupo of me, Signor De Vere,” continued the agent, with a sly smile, “when you tell me that you purposely set out frum your hotel to pay a forewell visit to the Spartivento pnlace.” “What moan you?” inquired De Vere, steadily and unflinchingly moeting the keen scrutinizing gaze of the official. “T simply mean this, signor,” pursued the latter,—“ that I saw it all—1 was watching you from a distance—you were invited to come here. Of course it is no business of mine—but I know the goings on at the Spartivento palace.” “Ah!” thought Charles within himeelf : “then the whole conspiracy is discovered, and perhaps I shall be arrested along with the others !”—but his countenance betrayed naught of the internal agitation which he thus experienced; yet it was with an indescribable suspense that he waited for what the man might next sav. “Of course,” continued this individual, “I am not a member of the police without knowing a thing or two more than ordinary people.” “What do you mean?” demanded Charles. “ ‘You spoke of theso ladies as syrens - © ‘Well, signor, and have you not found them to be such ?” said the agent, with a aly look. “ You admit that they have kept you here for hours beyond the time when you promised tu leave Turin—and that now you do not purpose to depart until midnight ” “These ladios render their hospital'ties very agreeable,” said Charles, “No doubt of it!” rejuined tho agent, with another sly look. “Perhaps you flatter yourself that you are the first lover the Princess has had since the deatb of her busband ?” “Ah!” thought Charles; “ perhaps, after all, thore is nothing to be frightened at, and this fellow is altogether on a wrong scent !” It now occurred to our hero that the police offl- cial had been drinking, and that though not parti- cularly intoxicated, he was assuredly not quite sober—~and hence the tittle-tuttling stral? in which he was talking. “Tne truth is,” pursued the man, nuw winking his eyes in a knowing fashion, “these two sisters are in reality the most profligate women in all Turin.” No--I cannot bolieve it!” exclaimed Charles, a flush of generuus indignation glowing upon his countenance. “But I tell you, signor, it is the fact! The police know better than the world in general, The world in general believes those ladies to be vir- tuous: tho police knows to the contrary. But the police keops its own secrot. It has nothing to do with the private pursuits or pleasures of indivi- duals; and therefore the police tells no tales, but leaves the world in genoral to think just what it likes.” “Are you sure that you aro not libolling the characters of two virtuous ladies?’ asked Charles sternly. Tam certain that I am doing nothing of the sort. J have seon handapme young men intros duced stealthily over and over again iuto tio Spar tivenio palaco—just as you, signor, were intro. duced here this evening; and you best can tell whether you were invited here for the mere sake nn <S) CO COMmiclo®