Agnes Vol. 2 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. lency,” continued the priest, “at the Castle o Bagno in the Apennines.” The Marchioness di Mirano, who after thi marriage-coremony had thrown herself upon seat in a corner of the room, indifferent to wha! was passing betwixt her husband and the priest, now gave » sudden start ; for she know that it was to the Apennine fortress just named that Ciprina ' and her companion (whoever he were) had been conveyed. Ramorino himself now aeemed inspired with a sudden interest in the discourse; and he said, “Ab! you are the chaplain at Bagno?P What tidings have you for me ?” “The boon that I would crave at the hands of your ene ee proceeded Falconara, “ is your pardon on Behalf of the Governor Captain Bel- luno, on account of the escape of two prisoners.” The Marchioness shivered from head to foot for sho was at once snitten with a presentiment which made her think within herself, ‘“ Every: thing will yes go wrong! Heaven ie warring against me!” “The cscape of two prisoners?” cried Ramo- rino. “But whor? — “Numbers Twenty-nine and Thirty,” answered the young priest, * But their names? their names?” oried Lucrezia, springing forward ; for she was unable to restrain ber feverish impatience a moment longer. “Hust, dearest!” said the Minister, thus hastily speaking aside to bis wife: “no names are known at the Castle of Bagno! Holy father,” he continued, turning again towards the priest, “ per: haps you have brought some written report from his Excellency Captain Belluno P” No, wy lord,” returned Falconara : “ Captain Belluno considered the matter to be so grave that ho begged me to become the bearer of verbal ex- plavations. I therefore set out at once from Bagno: it was at four o’cluck in tho afternuoon— and immediately on my arrival in Florence, I waited on your Excellency.” ‘But these prisoners,” exclaimed Ramorino,— “who are they? Not those who were so recently consigned to Bapno ?” “Yes, my lord—those who arrived at Bagno at a very early hour yesterday morning.” “A young lady—very beautiful—tall—with dark hair and eyes?” ejaculated Lucrezia, almost wild with the fears that were racking her: “ about nine- teen years of age—elegantly formed-——" “The young lady,” replied Father Falconara, meekly and diffidently, “ certainly possesses a Jarge share of what the world oalla beauty; and ber de- scription corresponds with that which your lady- ship has just given.” “Then my enemy has escaped!” almost shrieked forth the wretched Lucrezia, forgetting iu her mental agony that ehe might betray something 1a the presence of the priest, or that at all events he would think this excitement on her part very stranpe. , “For beaven’s seke compose yourself!’ said Remorino, again turning aside towards Lucreszia. “What must thie young man think?’ he de- manded, with petulant, and almost with savage avcentg, “True! true!’ murmured Lucrezia: and then le a vuice which waa acarcely audibie, she said, 135. “After a moment’s lull the storm gathers more fearfully around me than ever.” “Oh, my lord! and you also my lady!” ox- claimed Father Falconare, terrifed at the turn which the proceedings appeared to be taking, though everything was so unaccountable to him; ‘“‘T beseech you to believe me—on the sacred word of an ecclesiastic—the Governor of the fortress of Bagno is faultless in respect to the escape of these persons !”” “Good heavens! what will be the result P’ mur- mured Lucrezia, heedless of what the priest was now saying. “ Have courage!” hastily reaponded Ramorino, drawing his wife still further aside: “ you wiil only make matters worse by giving way to this wild excitement! There!—~sit down—be quiet, I be. seech you! Be silent!~—and let me question this priest.” Lucrezia sank upon the seat to which her lus- band conducted her: and the Count again turned towards Father Falconara. “The young lady has escaped, you say? When did this happen ?” he demanded. | “ At about two o'clock in the afternoon of this day,” replied the priest; “and by some meane so mysterious that they utterly defy all conjegture.” “Then she has already had time to 4&rrive in Florence, if such be her purpose!" thought Lu- crezia to herself:—and the same reflection simul- taneously occurred to her husband. _ “And the other prisoner?” asked Ramorino quickly. “The one who arrived with the young lady,” ‘eturned the priest. “It was last evening—at ‘bout this same hour,” he continued, glancing at a jime-pieco which stood upon the mantel, “ thut he young gentleman escaped. The means which he adopted are neither mysterious nor unknown: buf in this cage, as in the other, Captain Belluoo ras utterly davoid of all blame.” “Well, well,” ejaculated Ramorino hastily, “we will hold the Governor acquitted of any fault in connexion with these misadventures,” “A thousand thanks, my lord!” *exclaimed Fal- conara: “this is the most liberal and bounteous fee your Excellency could possibly bestow upon me ‘or the ceremony which [ have had the honour of solemnizing !” ‘But that young gentleman ? for you said that he is a young one, I believe ?” “Yea~his age cannot exceed twenty,” replied he priest. “A mere stripling!” ejxculated the Minister. ‘But bis personal description f”’ « Rather tall of stature—of slender figure-—very ‘enteel in his bearing and mannersa—I should Jso say that the worid would consider him re- oarkably handsome.” “Proceed,” said Ramorino: “there are yet more articular details which you may give His bair?” * Dark hair, clustering in natural curls,” con- ‘inued the priest. “ His eyes aleo dark—laryy, ind clear; and I am bound in truthfulness ts dd, that manly frankness, a lofty spirit, « renerous disposition, as well as a certain firmness f character, are all indicated in the expression of hie countenance.” “Of course you aro iguorant of his name f” laid Ramorino, inquirtogly. . @) GOL NOOKS COLUM