Agnes Vol. 2 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. if! Tha quadroon requested the Mayor to be seated : ‘loping hia horse madly—his throat sending fort! but she suffered the sbirri to remain standing near the casement by which these visitors had entered. wii And now, signor,”’ she said to the Mayor, “perhaps you will have the kindness to explain to ne more fully the object of your presence here P” The Mayor bowed,—and procceded to say, “ I am iti, signora, at the outset, that you will give me credit for the best and must conscientious mo- tives. I should bo the last to invade the domestic peace of a family, or to interfere in thoso matters which ought to bo settled between husband and wife 7 “Tam afraid, signor,” said Hmily, “ that this preface heralds something terrible—or at least very painful? At the samo time I thank you for the dolicate way in which you are evidently dis- posed tu perform your duty, whatever it may be.” Tho Mayor again bowed—-and went on to ob- serve, “1 nood scarcely aay, signora, that all per- song seeking an asylam in a foreign country, have wright to tho protection of the laws of that cuuntry. But on the other head, they themeelves aro Lound to adhere to those laws —” “ Would you have m:. understand, signor,” in- quired the qguadroou, with a most amiable smile, “that we have violated the laws of your country ?” The Mosor tuok # pinch of snuff; and then, with ashect cough, he said ins firmer teno than he had hitherto adopted, and with a more business- ike roapnace, ‘ Yes, signora—the lawa of Tus- sany have been violated—certainly not by your- solf -bat by sume one residing benvath this roof. You know that I allude to your Lusband Signor Barrington 2” “The lawa violated by him ?” ejaculated Emily, with an air of surprise, though at the same time, iho bont a luvk of most deferential humility upon he village magistrate. “I do not know how, jignor. Our passports are in due order—we con- ‘tact no debts—we pay with punctuality——” “Truc, true, signora !” interjected tho Mayor: ‘but perbaps it would bo better if I came to the ;wvint ab once. The truth is, then, your busband yas become a source of alarm, if not of terror, to ‘he whole neighbourhood---—” “Indeed, signor?’ cxclaimed the qguadroon. ‘Have you seen him misconducting himself ?— ave these cvflicers seen him “In goud sooth, signora,” interjected the Mayor, * [ have scarcely ever seen your husband it all: for be, it appears, is seldom out in the day- ime—and I, thank heaven! am seldom out at Nght.” “Aud we scarcely know the gentleman,” re- marked one of tho sbirri, “beyond this much,— hat he is sender and well made—quite young— vith hair cither dark brown or else black id “ Well, woll,” interrupted tho magistrate, fling- nga glance of stern rebuke upon the garrulous Zerro ; “ wo do not want you to run through the lecails of the porsonal description in his paseport. ineak when you are spoken to. Signora,” he con- anued, turning again towards the quadroun, “ the inbite of your husband are sipgular: but with their dtigu arity wo should have yothing to do, were it vot that Signur Barrington’s\conduct becomes an | ntvlerable nuisance to thd wnilre ucighbourhood. | de raises the must fearful Varme by night—zal- | the wildest and most startling cries—be bimsel! being only half-dressed ” “ And pray, signor,” asked the quadroon, “how often have these adventures happened during the four or five weeks that we have been resident in this house? Nota dozen timrs———” “ Blessed saints, signora !” cried the magistrate: “and is not this number enough? If the first month of Signor Barrington’s residence in this neighbourhood must be taken as a specimen of his usual habits, there will be——let me see P—twelve times twolve Well, there will be a hundred and forty-four nights in every year that tho whole village is to be startled by the froaks and ravings of a madman !” “Depend upon it, signor,” responded the qua- droon, “my husband’s unfortunate temperament will grow calmer. In fact, I have already con- sulted your village doctor—I have administered modicine to my busband—unkpnown tv him—in his food ee “* But last night,” interrupted the magistrate, ‘the nuisance was preater than ever, Your hua- band rode through the gardens of somo dozen poor villagers, trampling duwn overything ——” “We will pay for the damage, signor,” said Emily, taking out her purse. ‘* This 18 an after-question,” replied the Mayor: ‘and indeed, the villagera will be gind onough to waive every other consideration, if they can only get rid of your husband, and sv put an end to ao intolerable a nuisance.” “Woll, signor,” said the quadroon, “I promise you that I will revove with my husband into anothor neighbourhood ag soon as [ can.” “That will not do, signora,” said the mayistrate: “matters have come to that pass at which it ia absolutely necessary the law should bo pat in furce—though in the most humane and merciful manner. I will not keep you any longer in sus- pense; for I have come with tho fixed deter- mination of sending Signor Barrington, your hus- band, under an escort to the care of the British Ambassador in Florence, to be dealt with as may be deemed moat expedient by his Hxcellency.” An idea struck the quadroon; and sho felt that it imparted such a sudden joyous expression to her countenance sho was compelled to turn asido and raise her kerchiof to her face, for fear that she should betray hersolf. ‘Poor creature!” mutterod the magistrate; “T foresaw 1t would give her groat pain:—but what am I to do? the law is paramount abovo overything !""—and now, having by this stupen- dous reflection brought back his feelings from compassionate sympathy into official self-com- placency, he took another pinch of snuff. “No, signor,” cjaculated the quadroon, sud- deuly starting up frum her seat: “you would not do this!—it would be infamous and abominab'e. Do you know the effect it would have? It would be consigning my unfortunate busband to 4 lunatic-asylum Tho Mayor bowed, from the furce of a habit which had become a sort of instinct with him: and then lovking hard at Emily, he said, “ And upon my word, signora, the very best thing that could be done with your husband—only I did not exactly like to suggest it just now.” ae COLMUG () \OOOLKS (C@