Agnes Vol. 2 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

ize eibly think,” asked the old woman, quivering and tremblinz, ‘that she could have made her escape P”’ “Ob, no! impossible !”’ ejaculated Carlotta, al- most indignantly. “She would not! Besides, where was the opportunity — no dours were opened ——”’ “Only when the bakers came, signora,”’ re- joined the sextonese. “ But then the warders, and turnkeys, and sentinels ” “The bakers ?” echoed Carlotta, with a sulden tightening sensation at the heart, “ No! no!— they bave nut come yet !” “| beg your pardon, signora. They came— and they are gone. I looked out for a moment, and saw the basket in the yard 7 Lhe unfurtunate young lady could scarcely pre- vent a shiick from pealing forth fron her tips : but by a wuighty effort she so far restrained herself -—~—though she became white as a shect and leat against tho wall for support. “ Ah, signora!” cried the sextoncss ; “ you are now alarme !, I seo!” “Yes, yoo! IT am alarmed!” moaned the poor girl; fur she comprohended it all. The sextoness hastened to summon Gudulla: inquiries were promptly instituted —the alarm epread—no Ciprina waa to be found! Bat not fur a single instant did it seem to be suspected that Carlotta Bulluno had taken any part in tho beautiful captive’s escape: nor did any conjecture point to the meaus by which that escapé was ac- complished. Tbe poor young lady experienced the most poiguaut affliction; and indoed she would have bean overwhelmed by it if the very desperation of her position had not compelled ber to exeraise all ber powers of self-command. Was i¢ possible that the friend to whom sbe had sv implicitly trusted, had so shamefully abused her confi ‘ence ? —whut would the Baronet think? In short, what wus tu bo the end of all these complications ? Such were the questions which Carlotta asked herself over and over again, a thousand times in the briof space of ‘about balf-a-dozen minutes: but she wis soon overwhelmed by questions from other quarters. Her father was furious —her mother was .o a stute bordering on despair—Father Faleonara was bewildered. But Curlotta’s tale was apparently Nupla enough; and it was borne out by all cir- sumstantial ovidence. She bad entored the chapel with Number Thirty. The sextoness had seen them both, Father Falconara had noticed them both—one in her mantilla, the other in her veil. Carlotta had entered the confessional, leaving Number Thirty kneeling at the altar. This als» was corroborated by the sextuness. Afterwards Number Thirty was missing. Now, if sas im- pussible to blame Carlotta. . Father Falconara himself interfered on her behalf,—representing that it was clear no fault attached to the young lady; and Signora Bolluno, quickly following on the sume sido as the young prieat, touk her daugbter’s part. ThgdGuvernor ceased to upbraid Carlotta: and turning round upon Gudulla, accused ber of some complicity in an-escapo which could not be otherwise accounted for. Gudulla, how- bver, proved where she wae during the special period in question; and thus the general bewilder- menk was increased, The bakers wero thought of AGNES; C2, BFAUTY AND PLEASURE. —but only in respect to the opening of the gates to afford them ingress or egress: the sentinels and warders however satisfactorily showed that no one had accompanied the bakers out of the fortreas. The circumstance was astounding: 1t was equally grave and serious—and the Governor trembled lest he should be displaced from his post. Hoe first of all thought of proceeding in person to Florence to explain everything to the Minister of Police:. but on maturer reflection he determined to remain at [agno in order to prosecute his inquiries into the mysterious occurrence. Bat some one ought to repair to the Tuscan capital to see the Minister : a mere written report would not suffice under such circumstances. Scarc-ly had the Governor expressed the wish when father laleonara volun. teered to undertake the mission.“ The proposal was thankfully accepted ; and at about four o'clock n the afternoon ~—a vouple of hours after Ciprina’s (ight—the young priest set off for Floreace. CHAPTER XXII. THE COUNT OF RAMORING, Ws must noW introduce our readers into the man- sion inhabited by Count Ramorino, tho Munister of Pohtce. This high functionary bad his official residence and his private one: but it is at the lutter where wo stall now find bim. It was betwovon six and seven o'clock in the evening of that same day on which Charles De Vers had arrived in Florence in company with the village magistrate, and Cipriua in the society of the Hardress family, that we shall find the Count of Ramorino pacing to and fro in an apart- ment at his own abude. Tho reader will re- inember that we have in g previous chapter de- scribed him as a fine tall man, in his fortieth year —with dark hair and eyes.-with features which in their profile were handsome, bat with something sinister in tho expression of his countenance. Hig hair curled naturally; he woro a beard carefully trimmed, and shining with that gloss which is seon on the raven’s wiog. He always dressed elogantly; his manners wero most affable; and in the saloons of fashion ho was a polished gentle- man. But on the darker side of his character the reader has already seen that he was a libertine ia morals, and that he made use of his official power ina manner the moat selfish, unscrupulous, and tyrannical. As we havo already said, we find the Count o Ramorino pacing tu and fro in an apartment a‘ his private residence. He was considurably agi- tated: his steps were uneven—hbis countenance frequently grow distorted with the strong feeling: that wore raging in his brain—and ever and anon he clenched his fists or worked his arms up and down spasmodically ; so that the entire demeanour and conduct of the Minister of Police were indi- cative of mingled rage, affliction, and despair. What was the cause of these powerful emotions on Ramorino’s part? An explanation can speedily be given, He was a gambler, as most of the Italian noblemen are; anid he had recently lost very large sums. His finances were cruelly $m~ barrassed—bis private estates were mortgazed to JOO () GOLMLG SS COLUM