Agnes Vol. 2 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

134, AGNES: OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASTRE. holy father: the ceremony shall take place at proper service in a low but impressive tone. We | need not dwell upon the prooeeding: suffice it to ihlneet, qe tay The priest bowed, and followed the Count of Kamorino from the apartment. The reader can easily understand how Father Falconara was Jeeply anxious to shield the Governor of Bagno against the ire of the Minister of Police on ae- count of the escape of the prisoners: because the young priest himself had aided one of those cap- tives to regain the fresh air of freedom. It would say that the wish previously entertained by the Count of Ramorino, was gratified: and within the hour then passing the Marchioness became his wife. No legal intervention had given security to her fortune—no marriage-settlement had invested her with the exclusive control of her great wealth : but all was now at the mercy of a gambler and a spendthrift. This she knew: but, on the other hand, have weighed upon Falconara’s conscience as a | it was her very life which had been at etake—and huge crime, if Captain Belluno should suffer on | now she experienced a sudden sense of security, that acoount. Thus, when Falconara found that | such as for some time past she had not known ! instead of having to deal with a atern functionary | They rose from their knees—that couple—man. who bad to be coaxed and cajoled, entreated and , and wife !—and Father Falconara breathed a fow implored, he was treated with the utmost favour | words of congratulation; but thvy fell tamely and friendliness, bis heart leapt within him. The, and languidly from his lips, for he could not blind sort of marriage which he was called upun to! himself to the fact that there was something solemnize, was perfectly legal, and not altogether unusual ; so that there was not the slightest | soruple of conscience on the part of Father Fal- oonara in acceding to Ramorino’s request. “It will be time onough,” thought the young | priest, “ to explain the object of my mission, and | communicate the evil tidings to the ‘linister, | when I shall have rendered him the errvice Le has. ‘demanded, Tbe pardon of Captain Belluno is the | fee that I shall demand!” Tho Minister of Polive led Father Falconara info the apartment where the Marchioness di Miravo had remained. {le deemed it better not to eater befurehand to prepare her four the cere- strange and peouliar in this wedding. te Eman CHAPTER *X XIIL OMINOVS APPEABANCEA. "Yue -it was no wonder that the young pricst should think thers was something atrange in the bridal which he had just consecrated : for though, as we have already suid, there was nothing illegal in it, nor was such a wedding altogether unusual, mony, as he did not wish to stand a chance of | yet 1t natura'ly struck Father Falconara that being compelled to argue the whole question over | nobleman and a lady belonging to the higheat Araln : he thought that by acting thus promptly | | class %f society might well bave spared a little and abruptly, he should be striking « blow which | time to have their espousals celebrated in a would convince Lucrezia of his resolute firmness, | manner more consistent with their rank. and therefore prove irresistible on her part. Aa the priest closed his missal, the Count of The instant tbe door opened, the Marchioness | Raworino imprinted a kiss upon the forehead of flung her looks anxiously towards it ; for her mind was in so perturbed, anxious, and unsettled a étute, that the slightest incident was now full well calculated to be fraught with terror. She beheld : Ramorjno—and she bebeld also the priest follow- ivy him. Sbestarted—and a flush of indignation gluwed for an instant upon her cheeks: but she linnmediately reaigaed berself to ber fate. ‘Dearest Lucrezia,’ Ramorino hastened to | whisper in her ear, “ the opportune arrival of this | young ecclesiastic, who has come to ask me some | secured 1: about his person, | two or three pieces of gold, Ramorino approached +B fuveur “ Enough, my lord!’ returned the Marcbioness. | ‘Ag well now ae to-murrow !”’ ‘“ Permit me, boly father,” said the Minister of | possible. Pulice, with an air of the most perfect courtesy, | “19 present you to the Marehioness di Mirano.” The soung priest bowed: Lucrezia bestowed upon him a cold and distant galutation—for io the Lucrezia, who recoived it with simulated tender- ness: for thougb she looked upon the Minister as the man who was to save and defend her, yet 'ghe detested him in the light of a husband who had forced himsalf upon her. Father Faleonsra took a seat at where there were writing matcrials; aud drew up tha usual certificate of the marriage. Tuis was speedily accomplished; and he handed the docuwent to the Count of Ramorino, who at once Then, drawing forth a side-table, Father Falconara, and hurriedly whispered, ‘Come | to me to morrow —and I will fulfil my promise, if You have some boon to ask — and if it is reasonable, it shall be granted.” The young prieat received not the gold which the Minister endeavoured to thrust into his hand; and he said, “ Pardun me, my lord— but I cannot murbid state of her mind she almost regarded him | accept such a fee ; and the boon which I have to ds an enemy. “A white cloth if you please, my lord,” whis- pered Father Falcongrna, A snowy napkingwas instantaneously procured ; said the Count. from an ndjoining room, withaut the necessity of euintoning epréad the sloth upon the table to make it ropre- nent at altar. Then the ceromony commenced. The Minister of Police and the Marchioness di ‘torano knelt togethcr; apd Father Falvonara, ‘Sng a miseal from beneath bis cassuck, read the entreat of you, is one that can be granted by means of a single word from your lips.” “What mean you? But to-morrow let it be !” “ At present - “Not two minutes shall I detain your lord- a domestic; awd the young priest | ship !” interrupted Hatber Falcunare: “ and be- lieve me, my Mission is an important one.’ * Well, well,” said Ramorino, impatiently, “ pro- ceed. What 18 your business ? Whence do you come P"’ “Tam the chapioin, may it please your F.xe-i WOO OY COLL <S (©