Agnes Vol. 2 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

36 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUER. secret but not the less virulent pest to the society river ; and inasmuch as at tho foot of this bridge of the Tuscan capital. there was a little chapel where pious wayfarera Having thus far accomplished his measures, might pay their adoration to the Madonna, Charles Idgar Marcellin enclosed in an envelope the key at once recollected it; and he was now no longer of the outer door belonging to the suite of apart- in doubt with regard to the accuracy of the route ments in which he had left the Marchioness. He he was taking. It was therefore with a joyous addressed the packet to the housekeeper of the exhiluration of the spirite that he pursued his Mirano establishment; and despatched it to its way; and as the moon acquired greater power, destination by a porter, who was instructed to and myriads of stars came forth from their super- depart hurriedly immediately after Jeaving it. At nal mansions to bear her chaste company, our hero the same time a couple of the French Ambassador's was enabled to survey the features of the district domestics, purpusely disguised in mean apparel, through which he was passing. The scenery was were sent to keep watch upon that same mansion, all wild and mountainous: but the road was oread with orders to lose no time in reporting whatso- and cven; and as Charics listened ever and anon ever movements they might observe on the part | with suspended breath, ho could hear no sounds of the Marchioness. Edgar then sent a note to/ indicative of pursuit coming from behind. Thus the hotel at which Charles De Vere had put up; | more and more cheered, he pursued bis way, until ao that it might be delivered to him, in case by | he deemed it again expedient to draw in the bridle any possibility be should happen to return before | and afford the good steed a little breathing-time. measures wero taken for his deliveranco from {| Our hero was now approaching a hamlet, which whatsoever captivity he had been plunged into. possessed a church with a spire of so curious a construction that it was impossible not to remem- ber it if the eye had evs. before happened to glance upon that object. And Charles did recol-. CHAPTER XVII. lect it; so that he now acquired another provf that he was undeviatingly pursuing the road which THE HOUSE IN THE APENNINES. led to Flomence. He thought that it would be ad. visable to procure some refreshmont for his steed Wer wust teturn to Charles De Vere, whom we withvut much farther delay; and he resulved to left at the moment when he succeeded in effecting accomplish this purpuse in the hawlet, provided his escape from the fortress of Bagno. It will be he saw no sbirré or other suspicious persous lurk- remembered that he was clad in the unifurm ot ing about. Acvordingly, on entering tho village, the Governor of that castle ; and he was mounted ! and observing that it aeemed well-nigh deserted, upon a steed tu the excellence of which he could ; our hero rode up to the wretched little iun which confidently truat for the outstripping of all pur- stood in the middle of the place, and which indeed suit. It was nine o'clock in the evening as he was the only house in the hamlet where a light was gallopped jike a whirlwind through the principal to be seen through the windows: but it was now streets of Bagno; and a distance of forty miles past ten o'clock, and therefore the rural dwellers in lay between himself and the city of Florence, to those districts were for the « ost part locked in the which be was resolved to retura forthwith in arms of slumber. order to seek the protection and intervention of The moment the traveller stopped at the little the British Ambassador. tavern the landlord came out, accompanied by a He had a well-filled purse in hia pocket, thanks slatternly looking girl who seemed to be his to the nobla generosity of Father Falconara; and dauglter; and when they caugbt sight of the the military uniform scemed favourable to his | uniform which Charles wore, the man doffed bis progress rather than otherwise~—for he thoughts} cap—the girl made a low curtsey and hastene.l that if he happened to fall in with any of the | back into the house, no doubt for the purpose of ebirri who patrolled the mountain districte, he | communicating the circuwstance of an officer of would assuredly be allowed to pass without even | rank having just halted at the dvor. Charles eo much as a question being put. Fur the present, leapt down from the saddle; and the landlord, still however, the pight wae as black as pitch ; but he cap in hand, said, “ Will your Excellency walk in knew there was every chance of the stars and the and take sume refreshment ?” ra00n presently peeping forth, inasmuch as a Our hero spoke but a monvosyllable by way of peculiar atate of the atmosphere indicated that frmative, and pointed significantly to bis horse, the clouds would clear away upun the face of But at that very moment the heavy tread of heaven. military boote and the jingling of spurs reached He rode on for upwards of half-an-hour at the his ears: the sounds were evidently emanating utmost speed to which the animal could be urged; | from the interior of the tavern itself; and for a and this was great—for he was fieet and of high moment Charles stood utterly irresolute how to apirit. At length, when perfectly convinced that act. Another instant, and three sbirri appeared he had outstripped pursuit—at least fur the pre- upon the threshold of the ino. Carrying their sent— Charles reined in his steed ; and now, as he hands to their hats, they made the usual wilitary had foreseen, the gabon was beginning tu appear. salute—which our hero acknowledged with the He had no certitude that he had hitherto followed well affected nonchalance of a superior offizer. the righ§ road—though on the other hand he had Then, drawing a piece of money from his pocket, not muéh misgiving on the point; for it was a he tossed it to the ebirri, making a motion with wide open route which he had pursued, and he his hand to intimate that they might return into knew that on starting from Bagno it was the the house from which they had just issued, Again correct one to bear him to the T'uscau capital. In was there a military salute in acknowiedgment of a shurt time he reached a stone bridge over a our hero’s generosity: but he noticed that the EOMICHOOOKS