Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. he is—neither does St. Didier himself, He has not seen the man since he sent him hither this evening: but he of course expects to receive some infurmation presently, Ah! I recollect!—and the coincidence is singular! This spy of whom we are talking is a Florentine—he was one of Count Ramorino’s most able and trusty agents.” A. sudden light flashed in unto the brain of Charles De Vere; and he could scarcely prevent himeclf from giving vent to an ejaculation. He however succeeded in retaining a profound silence, “ Captain St. Didier told me all this just now,” pursued Floribel. “ For my part—though I know nothing of the Princess and her sistor—I should scarcely think they are engaged in a conspiracy: should be much more inclined to believe that the persons who have been secretly admitted into their mansion are gallants with whom they carry on their awours.” . * Well, doubtless timo will prove,” said Charles, carelessly, as if the matter were one of no parti- cular moment to himself. “And now, Floribel, can I once more venture to entroat v “if you are about to revert te tho old story, Charles,” interrupted the young lady,—‘ and if you mean to read mo a lecture, it is useless, I can assure you! I beseech you therefore go quit the subject at once. My career is ruled by destiny it- self. Let us now separate. I must rejoin St. Didicr. He is not jealous of you,” she added, with a smile; “for I have already told him suff- cient to make bim understand bow you aud I can be intimate together " “And also,” added De Vere, “ why you chose that i should not fight a duel with Hector Hard- reas ?” “Yes. You cannot blame me. Jt was for your own sako and for the sake of your Agnes that I sought to prevent thig ducl. You cannot think that 1 entertained a moment’s conceru on bebulf of Mr. Ifardress. And now, Charles, fare- well,” ° She gave him her hand; and murmuring in an inupassioned tone, “* May you and Agnes be happy !” she hastened away frum him. Charles paced to and fro in the corridor for sume few minutes after Floribel oad left him; and then be returned into the graud hall, where ho beheld the Princess doscending the staircase. “IT need not ask you, signor,” she suid, as she joined him, “ whether you bave adhered to your onth. All the formor tenour of your conuuct has been such asto leave my mind entirely at rest on that score.” “ Tue confidence of your Iighness is not mis- placed,” responded our hero. “1 will give youa proot of it. Llere is a letter which 1 am most anxious should be delivered to the Hou. Hector llardress in the course of to-morrow. I might have given it to Madame Lovel, requesting her to furwerd it, but I considered that by so doing I ehould be violating one uf yoar Suciety’e laws, and consequently breaking to a cortain extent the vath which L havo taken. I will now ask you to take measures that it shall reach its destination You suall read its contents; fur you are acquainted with the English language. 1 must open it, be- | eruse thore is some little alteration which circum. stancus render it necessary J should make in its contents, J have therein tuld Hardress that he is 283 to meet me in a day or two in France: but ] must vow request that he will Jose no time in re- turning to Florence, where be shall next hear of me.” “You speak as if you were determined to desert usat Leghorn?” enid the Princess: and she led tho way into the parlour where the interview with the polico-agent had ere now taken place. “ But I am convinced, on the other hand, you will end by joining us heart and soul.” “We shall see,” said Charles curtly: and he bat down at tho table, on which there were writing matorials. Having altered his letter, 80 as to suit the dif- ferent circumstances in wich he was now placed, he handed it to the Princess,—who said, “ lam bound to make myself acquainted with its con- tents in order that I may report accordingly to the Marquis of Ortona presently.—It is well, Signor De Vere,” sho said, after a brief pause; and she gave him back the letter. “Re-seal it— and I promiso you that it shall reach Mr, Hard. reas to-morrow.” When this matter was concluded, the Princess led the way back to the apartment whero the lamp with the perfumed vil was burning; and she touched a seeret spring, which caused a bell to ring down below. Almost immediately afterwards the table in the contre began to move—the floor opened—and the Countess di Milozzo made her appearance. She beckoned Charles De Vere to descend; and as he followed her down the myste- rious stuircnse, the Prinveas of Spartiventy ro- turned to juin ler guests. CIYAPTER xXLIx ‘Tat Countess asked our hero to explain what had taken place between himself and the police official ; put be simply assured her that everyyhing had progressed in tbat quarter with due regerd to the oath he had taken and the safety of the secret Societv. She conducted him into the guard-room, with the request that he would wait there until the conclave should desire his presence ; and she herself hastened to rejoin that assombly. There wore now only three or four persons in the yuard-room; and amongst them were the two who had held the swords over De Vere’s head when he took the oath in the chamber of the waxen figures. His eyes aattled upoa one of those two men; and he ejaculated to himself, “ Yes—’tis - g ied He was deliberating whother he should address the individual or not, when the man of bis own accord accosted bim; and drawing him aside, said, “1 have uow at length an opportunity of expressing a hope that there is no ill-will between Signor De Vore and myself ?” As tho man thus spoke, Charles noticed that several of his front teeth were missing ; and he failed not to recullect how be had dashed them ousé 1 knocking the tellow down ou the occasion of the gross insult which he levelled against bin at he gate of the British Ismbasey. “Ah, I thought I reeollected you!” said De CO MIGIOOKS CO