Agnes Vol. 2 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

110 eyes. I likewise was exhausted, and I sank into slumber agnin. Again I woke up to miss him from my side! It was then that he must have found bis way to your room. Subsequently,” aaded the quadroon, thus bringing her narrative to an abrupt conclusion, “ I found the unfortunate being seated at the table down stairs where you hud supped: be had lighted a lamp, and he was pouring bumpers of wine down his tbroat.” De Vere comprehended full well why the qua- droon burried so abruptly over that portion of her narrative: i¢ was whon seeking ber husband on the occasion tv which she had just referred, that ehe had encountered Charles in the darkness of the staircase, and fancying him to be Gustavus, had thrown her arms around him. “You will scarcely require to be told, Mr. De Vere,” said Emily, “that Gustavus was in a state utterly unfit to bo informed of your arrival last night; and thus J was compelled tu take upon myself that whole task of huspitality which he ought to have shared with me. Laving passed a lung evening in the heated atmosphere of this apartment, whilo Gustavus sat imbibing the juice of the grape until he could drink no longer, I went forth to breathe the fresh air. You may imagine, therefore, how surprised I was on beholding a police-uflicial—as I took you tu be—posted in front of tbe house. But I think you will give me credit for having accosted you with a certain degree of AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, Charles glanced towards the window, and he beheld a couple of sdirri in the act of alighting from a chaise which had stupped at a little dis. tance from the house. The quadroon eprang to- wards a door which opened into an adjoining apartment; and hastily beckoning for our hero to enter thither, sho said with rapid utterance, “ Feer nothing !—trust to my wit to deceive them! “ucro is more than one door, as you perceive, in this room; and if they insist on searching the house, you shall glido from one apartment into anuther, 30 that they shall not set eyes upon you at all. Lock that further door—and be sure tu open it only when you hear three geutle taps givon uv the panel !” ! Emily Barrington hastily withdrew into the room which she had just compelled Charles Do Vere to quit: she locked the dour of cummuni- ration between the two apartments, and secured the key about hor person. Scarcely had sho dune this, when sho beheld three, persons—two in uni- furm and one in plain clothes—approaching the front door of the house. CIAPTER ALA. THE Vie taAGE MAGISTEAT:: presence of mind; and therefure you muat not} WirnovurT giving these persuns time tu ring the cuncelve it to be avy idle vaunt on wy part when bell of the front door, the quadroun quickly opened I repeat that if the Tuscan sbirrs dared attempt to | one of the casements, and stepped forth with an enter this house, I would resist them unto the, air as if she had only at that vory moment set cys vory lust.” “Let us hope,” said Charles, “ that my pre- sence will not bring so much ill-fortune to your habitation; and that as for Mr. Barrington ‘“ "© Tt ia useless to express a bupe on this point interjected the quadroun quickly. “ Gustavus is inveterate in his habit! Indeed I believe he would die if by avy chance he were compelled te abandon it sudzenly !’ Might Tinquire how long you bave been a ro- pidentin this Apennine valley P”’ said Charles. “Only a month or five weeks,” responded the quadroun. “We were travelling frou Florence to Ravenna with the intention of embarking for Venice: we halted in this valley—the house where we now dwell, was to let-— Gustavus, by some cx- traurdinary freak, touk an immediate fancy to the spot—and I can assure you, Mr. De Vere, that I was only tuo glad to be enabled to settlo myaclt with Lim in this seclusion. You see that he is mad! There ere times when he is completely deranged—when I even dread his violence a “Mrs, Barrington,” said Charles gravely, “it is impossible such a state of things can be per- witted to continue. You have already honoured mo by expressing a sentiment of friendship: let ine then speak to you as a friend—the friend uf your husband andggpureelf!” “Ob, if you mean to advise me to havo recourse to barsh and severe measures,” ejaculated the qua- drvon,—“if you mean that 1 sbould place him under restraint No! no! 1 will do nvthing of the kind! But, Ab!” exclaimed Ewily, thus sud- denly interrupting herself, and at the same time starting up from her seat, “bide yourself! Quick! quick! The police!” y39 FY upon them. “What is your business, signors?” she in- quired. The individual in plain clothes stepped forward, and with a very courteous bow, said, “I am the Mayor of the village. E believe I bave tho honuvur of addressing myself to the Sigavra Larrington, wife of the Hnglish gentleman who upwards of a wonth past bired this habitation P” The quadroon inclined her head in signification ; of an aflirmative. : “TI have a mission to execute,” procecded the Mayor- “it is a delicate one, and in sumo sense painful—though I hope that the resulta will be must beneficial, and lead to the consvlidation of your happiness, signora, and that of your hus band ” The quadroon was at first at a loss to conceive why the Mayor should assume so marvellously civil a demeanour, and even wear an aspect in hesitation and diffidence, if he cane to search the premises for Charles De Vere: but as he went on speaking, Emily began to comprehend that tho object of this official visit would most probably turn out to be different from that which she had at first expected. We may as well at once observe in this place that Charles De Vere could catch every word that was spoken in the front garden, As well ag in the adjacent ruum tu which Mrs. Bar- ringtun invited the Mayor and the two ebérrs to follow her. We way likewise add that the Mayor was a retired miller whv had made a little fortune at the water-mill in the neighbourhood: ‘ne was polite in bis macnere—hedid not possess a bud heart—but he was resolute and firm im the exooa- tion of the duties of his office. ECORNIEOO (C SS