Agnes Vol. 2 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

what summarily, the reader may rest assured tha it wes by no process more violent than that o the application of the handsome Frenchman’s lips 4 few rapid explanations were exchanged, — Antonia stating what had lest happened betwix herself and the Marchioness—and Edgar, on th other hand, informing the astonished damsel how Lucreszia had become his prisoner. “You must now go with me, Antonia,” said Marcollin. “Go with you, signor!” exclaimed the girl, her countenance lighting up with pleasure. “Yes, I cannot think of leaving you to the malignity and vindictiveness of this vile woman Besides, ber knell will soon ring now: for it is clear as heaven’s own bicased sun iteelf, that each successive circumstance drawe the web of her ov iniguities more closely in around her. Yes! you must come with me, Antonia. Be quick—put together what necessaries you may choose to take———’’ “Oh, I will not be many minutes, signor ! she ejaculated: and she was already tripping with her dainty feet towards the door, when bethinking herself of something, she turned back to aek, ** Where am I to rejoin you ?” “In the’ Signora Ciprina’s apartments,” re- sponded Marcellin: “for we will issue forth by the secret passage. But Ah! a thought has struck me! “You shall rejoin me bere. As well wait in poe place as another!—and during the delay I may possibly make some good use of the time.” Antonia flitted forth from the boudoir, while Edgar Marcellin instantaneously appeared to be intent on a general search or “rummage.” He »pened drawers wherever he could find them; and then he faid his hands upom an elegant writing- jeak which stood upon a side-table. The desk was locked; but. he unbevitatingly wrenched it spen,—imuttering to himselfs “ I feel as if I were an officer of justice, having #right to search sverything and everywhere! Who knows what may turu up?’ Who can tell what additional xvidence may transpire? Ah! whatisthat? A sbial ? Yes!—wrapped in a piece of paper! 4b, and writing on that paper! Aname! Well, [ shall not forget it! But better still-~i will iake both phial and wrapper with me! And now, imongat all these notes and billets, may thers not Je something to serve as a link-—something of a ‘ompromising character? No! fie upon thee, Zdgar Marcellin! Those are naught but love- villete — and the amatory secrets even of such | wretch as Lucrezia di Mirano ought to be iacred !’? The young Frenchman was thus checked in the nidet of bis search by as chivalrous feeling which vas natural enough for one of his peculiarly lofcy- minded nation. He had enatched up a handful of notes that laf in the desk—hbo was just on the 20int of thrusting them back again, when his eye ‘aught sight uf a name at the buttom of one of ‘bose lettera, ‘** Ab! Hp@borino !” be said: “ this may be im- wrtant! By. beaveng there shall be no scruple sur falso delicacy hese !”" He accordingly ran his eyes over the letter, the ont nts vf which were brief—but they were evi- ently of a certain degree of consequence, far Marcellin at once consigned tbo docuruent to the AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. same pocket to which he had already convey the phial and the piece of paper that enveloped it Scarcely was this proceeding fiuished, when An- tonia reappeared, now dressed in walking-costum«¢ and carrying a package under her mantle. . “Ob, signor,” sbe ejaculated, as she beheld th drawers gaping wide open, and the deek seeming to indicate that its mysteries had been violated ; “you have indeed made the best use of your time!” F “ And perhapa not altogether without effect.” rejvined Marcellin quickly. “ But come ! vi depart !”’ ‘“T am ready,” said Antonia ; and ther kocord- ingly issued forth from the boudoir. Equally fortunate as he was while coming thither, Edger Marcellin encountered no one on his way back to the suite of apartments where he had left the Marchioness of Mirano. On enter- ing the ante-room by aid of the key which be had taken with him, he relocked the door, and again secured the key about his person. -- “Where is the Marchioness ?” asked Antonia, not without a slight apprehension lest that formi- dable lady should suddenly make her appearance, free from her bonds, and ready as well as powerful for fresh mischief. ‘In the room which your mistress used to oceupy since J] came here,” responded Maroollin. “ And why do you take that key, signor?” was Antonia’s next question. “Oh, you shall kitow hereafter, my dear girl!” rejoined Edgar. “But, by the bye, as I have a particular aversion to the chance of being banded aver to the police before all my combinations are made and my plans ripe, we will just assure our- aclves that the Marchionesg is atill tightly bound. Besides, I have my portmanteau to fetch !” “Oh, do permit me, signor, to remain here in ihe meantime !” said Antonia entreatingly : “for do not know how it is, but since I have learnt all the wickedness of this Marchioness, I expe. ‘tence a horrible dread of her, just for all the world if she had thrown off a beautiful mask and dis- ‘layed the head of a snake with the forked tongae laying between ite livid jaws.” ‘“ Remain you here then, Antonia,” said Mar- cellin: and as he proceeded towards the inner hamber, he muttered to himself, “ By heaven! the girl has, without any studied flourish of ‘hetoric, afforded a most admirable simile in re- ipect to this vile woman |” He entered the chamber where he had left her; and a glance showed him that she was atill se- ‘urely bound. I¢ was not now a look replete with oischief nor full of demoniac passion, which jucrezia cast up towards the young Frenchman : ‘ut 1t was one in which all the dissimulation of er nature puured itself forth, as it were, in an xpression of anguished entreaty. But that she iad struggled desperately to relense herself during ‘ho time she hed been left alone, was evident from ihe disordered state uf her toilet. Her bodice bad urst opeo—her superb bosom was all exposed— od the traces of tears were vo her cheeks, as if n her rage she‘had wept at the impotency of her ndeavours to free herself from the bonds. “ Ob, Edgar!" she murmured, “ can you be so ruel? What can [ do to move youd Release Sav that there shall be neave between us— COMIC OOO O) SS