Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

280 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. of listening to a concert or joining in a dance. Besides, on what excellent terms the Princess was with you, siguor, just now when she brought you into the room. Well, well! it is no businces of mine is “But you seem to be making it your business,” said Charles eternly. ‘“ And now what is all this gossip and tittle-tattle to lead to P” “To lead to? Why, to nothing, signor. I said juet now it is no business of mine; but somehow or another the subject has grown on us—and I could only conclude by recommending that you do not suffer the fascinations of the Princess to retain you here beyond midnight.” “T shall depart at midnight,” said our hero, with a stern curtness. “ You can order me a post- chaise, if you will. It may take me up at the gate of the Spartivento palace————” “TI will come with it myself, signor,” said the agent. . “Thank you, I would rather not,” interjected Charles. “Do you think I want every one to know that I am hunted about by the polico? Send me tho chaise, and let my portmanteau be placed inside. Here is money to liquidate my ex- penses at the hotel: the surplus you will keep for yourself. And now depart.” “I bid you farewell, signor. I envy you! You will presently be a happy man in the arms of the Princess “Silence! a truce to this ribald scandal on your part!” exclaimed our hero sternly. ‘‘Ab, well, signor, it is all very gonerous and honourable; but it does not make me your dupe. I tell you these two ladies are visited by more lovers than even that famous Marchioness was —— you know whom I mean——the one who died so horribly the other day at Florence.” Having thus spoken, the official took up his hat, made a bow, and retired. Just as the dvor closed behind him, a large picture, about seven feet high, and standing only about a foot from the floor, opened a a door; and the Princess camo forth from an inner room which was thus diselosed to the view of our hero. **'You ares man of the moat scrupulous honour,” she said to De Vere, as she proffered him her hand. “What! is it possible?” be asked, “you have heard ——” “Everything that has taken place,” replied the Princess; and the blood mantled over her superb countenance, upon her neck, and upon hor bosom. “Ob, signora!” cried Charles, “1 dared not breathe a single syllable in vindication of cha- racters which I knew to be so foully asperaod !” “You said as much as you dared,” answered the Princess, bending upon him a look *full of gratitude, but still with a blush upon her cheeks ; -— and far more than, as strangers to you, I and my sister had any right to expect.” “Tho female character, when wrongfully ao- cused,” rejoined Charles, “always ought to enlist the chivalrous sympathy of a male defender. Bat if I had spoken a syllable more than I did say on your behalf-——-” ° “You would have betrayed everything !” inter- jected the Princess, “Ah, signor, I fully appre- ciate the nuble generosity of your conduct ; and I shall not fail to represent it presently to my sister. Alas, that our fair fame should thus be libelled by a brutal ruffian! But it is one of the penalties which patriotism has to pay for its fervour and its sincerity. Ab! it is better that the police should read the word lovers instead of conspirators ! And not only do I thank you, signor,” pursued the Princess, “for your gemerous conduct in reference to my sister and myself: I may likewise compliment you on the strict honour and integrity with which you have fulfilled your oath. I bad not the slightest hesitation in trusting you alone with the police-agent: I knew you were a man of honour !”——and the handsome dark eyes of the Princess were fixed with admiration upon tho countenance of our hero. “Even though my oath be extorted from me by the force of circumstances,” said Charles, “I can nevertheless respect it. And now, Princess, if my conduct throughout has given you such satisfucé tion—and if you can place such implicit reliance on my integrity—why may I not be saffered to go free? why must I be held to the terms of that oathP One word from you to the secret conclave would ensure my manumission !” ** Not ao, or,” eaid the Princess; and it ap~ peared to he with an expression of mournful rogrot that she shook her head. “It would please mo ‘couch to do aught that lay in my power to serve you: but herein I am powerless. The Society will not part from one whom it hopes to enrol perma- nently in its ranks. It is not the first time that persons have entered those ranks unwillingly, and as the result of circumstances which were acci- dental, or at least involuntary on their part : and they have ended by becoming stanch supporters and advocates of the good causo. ‘This is a cal- culation of which the Society never loses sight ; and it will not depart from its rule in your case. Besides, signor, a point has already been strained to save your life—and you must ask no more!” “1f you assure me that the request is useless,” replied Charles, “it were idle for me to continue to urge it!” “Tt is useless,” said the Princess; and again shoe bent upon him a look that was replete with com- passionate interest: then, as her countenanco sud- denly fired up with an enthusiastic glow, she ex- claimed, “Oh, chivalrous-minded Englishman! I am confident that you will enter with spirit into our cause! You will accompany us to-night with the resolve to play a noble part !” “ What P” ejaculated Charles: “do I under: stand your Highness aright ? Is it the intention of yourself and your sister to accompany tho expe- dition P” The Princess cast upon him for a moment a look asif she were surprised at the query ; and then she said, “Do you think, signur, that we should remain absent when the spark is to be set to that system of trains which are ramified througbout Italy? No, no! we shall not be absent! But come—you may stand in need of refreshments—and then you must return to tho conclave, who will be expecting you.” The Princess again took De Vere’s arm; and they issued forth from the parlour where this conversa- tion had taken place. Instantaneously changing the discourse to light and general topics, tie Princess talked gaily and in a very friendiy manner with De Vere as they crossed the spacivus COnniclboookks CO