Agnes Vol. 2 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

1392 AGNES; OL, BEAUTY AND PLEASURR. tereste you would comprehend that a man will do | the assumption of a demeanour which would hare more for his wife than he would for his mistress, ' staggered any other person. He therefore only If a mistress become endangered or dishonoured, , shook his head, in the hope that Lucrezia would he can cast her off: but the danger and dis- retreat from a defence-work which she ought to honour of a wife affect the husband! Her in- tereats aro his intereats: there is an identity of position, 60 to speak !” “What mean you?” asked Lucrezia, gazing with a species of affright and bewilderment on Ramorino; for she thought that there was some- thing covert!y significant in his language. “1 mean,” he replied, fixing his regards stead- fastly upon her, “that if you well studied your own interests, you would rejoice to have the. feel to be utterly untenable. But she mistook Ramorino’s meaning: she thought that he was indeed staggered—and she hastened to follow up the advantage which she fancied herself to have gained. “You have touched upon a tender subject to- wards me, my dear Ramorino,” she said ; “and you will now permit mein my turn to approach one which is delicate in reference to yourself. [ love you—and I am grateful for your kindness, Minister of Police as your husband. Ah, Lu- It would please me well to be enabled to afford cregia! let us not dissemble any longer! I have | you a proof alike of my love apd my gratitude. penctrated your seerct. Tecome my wife—and 1 Come! why should there be any want of confi- will protect and shield and defend you, with all dence between usP Rumour bas wafted to my thore moans go powerful and so comprehensive, so ears the fact that you have been a little extrava- insidious and so subtle, which enable me to prove | gant it happens that I have at my banker's the most valuable of friends or the most dangerous | a considerable sum for which 1 have no immediate of enemics!” i use I beseech you to take it——", Vie Marchioness of Mirano sat gazing uponthe; ‘“ Lucrezia,”’ interruptet the Minister of Pulice, Minister of Police with borror and consternation | “ there ought indeed to be no want of confidence in her looks. Whispers relative to his pecuniary , between us! You bave indignantly denied the enabarrassments had reached her ears; and she . accusation which I tbrew out ; and I am bound to saw ino moment that if she gave him her band receive such an assurance frum the lips of a in marriage, she would at the same instant be: lady.” making him the master of her entire fortune. | There was a scarcely perceptible sneer on the “You understand me, Luerezia?” he said.’ Minister’s lips for a moment. Slight though it “Te there any ueed for me to speak out more; were, Lucrezia perceived it—for all her senses and plainly 7” ‘faculties had now a horrible clearnoss and keen- “Nu, Ramorino- no!” she ejaculated. “I will noss; and she trembled. be your ‘mistresa—-1 will »0f be your wife! Ij “ But just suppose, for argument’s sake,” con- will love you—I wiil provo your sincerest friend— ; tinued Ramorino, “ that other voices proclaimed 1 will display wy gratitude- the same charge—that other tongues sent forth Useless words, Lucrezia!” exclaimed the the same accusation!—what course could I Count vehemently. “You shall become my wife pursue? There are certain cases in which even within twelve hours ; or else i those who are the most highly placed, dare not ‘Or else what ?” she demanded, starting up trifle with justice 7 aud pazing with the most feverish auxiety upon “Oh !” interrupted Lucrezia, bitterly, “ there is him; fur she now determined to know the a repetition of the cruel accusation boneath all the worst, cold composure of this language of your's! What “Cr else,” he answered, in a stcra implacable do you mean? Tell me once for all—will you tone, “ J abandon you to your fate—and you will succour me? or rather I should say, will you do be arrested as the rourderess of the young page : all that I just now asked for both our sakes?” Criulio !? | “ Lucregia,’ interrupted the Count; “let this A fearful moan came forth from tho lips of the farce have on ending! Be my wife—or resign | miserable Luerezia, as she staggerod back and , yoursolf to the doom of a murderess!"' would have fallen if she had not suddenly sup. ported herself against a pieco of furniture. In. iceeribable horror was in her looks ; and Ramorino felt that the triumph was his own. But it was only fora single instant that he betrayed this sense of success: it wue no subject for him to gloat malig- “What! again P” shrieked forth the wretched woman: “again this terrible accusation —this fearful threat ?” “* Yes—again and again !”’ ejaculated Ramorino, « Listen! Why was Paoli obnoxious to you? Because he was Giulio’s father. Why has Mar- wantly upon — nor had he any desire to prolong cellin become obnoxious to you? Because he the mental tortures of the miserable Marchioness. | can mcst probably reveal something which you And on Lucrezia’s own part, & rapid revulsion of ; would fain stifle in his throat. Why did Ciprina feeling took place. She mentally ejaculated, “It | become obnoxious to you? Because, as 1 now is only a random arrow which he has shot !”-—-and gather from the different things you have told me, then advancing towards the Minister, she said | she was Marcellin’s paramour—in his secrets—~and with cold haughty dignity, “You are faleely ac- | doubtiess sympathizing with him. And why did cusing mé—ang*you know it! But you have rendered me too many services to permit wy in- | dignation to flame up against you. Therefore I fdéegive you for the cruel injury involved in such & suspicion.” The Minister of Police was too much accus- Lomed, by the very nature of his office, to read ieeply txto the buman heart, to be deceived by you deceive moe in reference to Marcellin? Why tell me his name was Bourdon? Why refuse a personal description of himP Because you were afraid of affurding me a clue—of exciting suspi- clon—of making me think that certain things ap- peared strange, and thereby setting my refections in a particular strain! Yes—it is all apparent now |” ElOOO <S