Agnes Vol. 2 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. opened the door—and as the light of day streamed 91 easter apprehend that some treachery was impending ? fully into the cellar-like place from which the Why—— spiral staircase led up, she found herself con- fronted by Edgar Marcellin! CHAPTER XVI. EDGAB AND LUCREZIA. Nes recognition was instantaneous; and a shriek ofNerror as well as of wild amazement was about to butst forth from the lips of Lucrezia di Mi. rano, mies Edgar, dropping the little iron in. strument ‘zith which he had been on the ver: point of forcfng off either the lock or the staple, when he heard a key grating in that look, scised the Marchioness by the throat. He dragged her into the place; and ashe released his bold upon her beautiful white neck, he said in a stern threatening voice, “ Dare ¢o raise an alarm, and I will mercilessly stgangle you !” ‘That wretch Antonia!” muttered Lucrezia, in accents which though low, were fiercely enraged and bitterly vindictive. Hdgar’s keen ear caught the words: but he at the moment was occupied in taking a very neces- sary precaution. He was extricating the key from the lock on the outer side of the door, so that he might fasten it inside: and thie be did in two or three instante. Total darkness again prevailed in that place. ‘Now, signora,” said Marcellin, quickly turn- ing round, seizing upon Lucrezia again, and speaking in stern menacing accents as before, ‘let me repeat my warning. Dare cry out — Jare attempt to raiso an alarm—and I will throttle you !” The Marchioness was almost annihilated, so to speak. She had fancied that Marcellin was by shis time far away in some Apennine fortress: but xere she had not only met him face to face, but the was now completely in his power! What, then, hud happened during the past night ’—how was it that Count Ramorino, the Minister of Police, had sont her a letter at an early hour in ‘he morning, containing, the assurance that his oromise bad been fulfilled, and that Ciprina and ier lover, having been arrested according to the 1uderstanding with the Marchioness, had been ent off into a secure captivity? That Ramorino oad not wilfully deceived her, the Marchioness ‘ol6 assured: but yet Edgar Marcellin was here / All was mystery and bewilderment; and as Lu- ‘regia endeavoured to collect her remembrances “Ob! it is not for you to ask questions!” ex. claimed Edgar, with an accent of rage in bis voice as he thought of how nearly he had been sent down to the grave by the assassin hand of that woman. “Rather let me ask why you have plunged so deeply into the vorter of crime-—why you murdered the unfortunate Giulio——«” “Tis false!” oxclaimed the Marchioness ve- hemently: “I did not do it! Your's was the crime !” “Ah, this is too much!” ejaculated the young Frenchman, his hand tightening upon the arm which it had grasped the moment after he had locked the duor and secured the key about his person. “Dare to repeat the accusation, and by heaven! [ will not wait for the operation of the law !—but I will inflict a condign punishment here!” ‘‘ Mercy, M. Marcellin!” implored the affrighted Lucrezia: “would you murder me? Oh, unhand me! Your fingers tighten like an iron vice upon my arm! Let us go forth into the light! It is horrible to be here together in the dark—~and you hating me as bitterly as you do!” “ No—we will not go forth into the light,” re. sponded Edgar, in a stern voice. “I know what you would do—I fathom your aims! You would give me into custody on this false charge which you infamously devised against me! But thie shall not be! It is I who am to conquer now— and the hour of that triumph as well as of retri- ution is not far distant! You ask me to release my hold upon your arm? There!’ I now grasp your wrist. But beware how yon attempt the lightest treachery for if I do but bear a eus- ‘icloug movement on your part, I will strike you own with an iron instrument that I had pro- ided for the breaking open of this door !”’ “Tg it not possible,” asked Lucresia, driven ‘to desperation and goaded almost to madness,—“ is it not possible that we can arrive at some under- tanding P Oh let it be so!” ‘Do you confess, then,’ dqmanded Edgar, ‘that it was really you who assassinated the un- ‘ortunate Giulio Paoli 2?” ‘No! no! ten thousand times nu!” exclaimed he Marchioneas. _Spoak not so loud!” said Edgar sternly; and is grasp tightsned upon her wrist. “ What! vile roman! do yor) dare deny that through the dark- ees which her) prevails, you behold the form of he murdered fiulioP or do you deny that the conviction is deep in your own heart that you are lready as infamous as your prototype Lucrezia ind arrange her confused ideas, eahe could find no' Borgia? or again, dare you deny that you deal possible mode of accounting for the incident that | with the subtle poison as well as with the sharp- was now #0 wildly perplexing her. »0inted dagger? Ah, vile woman! I know more “You here, M. Marcellin?” she ejaculated.| han you think! -Yes—I know that you pene- *Do not grasp me thus tightly !—do not ill-treat | trated into the room above, one night, when nme! What do you require of me?—why do we oem to be enemies P” “Woman! vile woman!” exclaimed Edgar; ‘am | not still suffering from the wound produced 2y your murderous weapon P””” “ But why did you seek me at the timo under sircumstances so suspicious P” asked Luorezia: “wh§ send for me to the picture-gallery in a way that was only too well calculated to make me | ~ slept and you thought that Ciprina was sleep- ng” | “Ab, Ciprina P'" ejaculated the Marchioness. “You have lost her—have you not?” “TY do not ask you'to tell me what has become of er,” rejoined Edgar; “for I know that you rould deceive me. But I have full faith ia the progress of justice; and I know that retribution will overtake you— while, on the other hana, COUMIC NOG) SS