Agnes Vol. 2 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OB, BEANTY AND PLEASURE, morino answered courteously, and passed on. His aim was accomplished: he had discovered that this individual was also a Frenchman—that he was no labourer, though disguised in the garb ofa working man—but that he had all the manners sf a lacquey. “There is not the slightest shadow of a doubt !” said the Count to himself: ‘‘ Lucrezia is watched ! Gh! it is somewhat too strong that the abode of the Minister of Police should be placed under vspial! Marcellin muet be at the bottom of it !— and some decisive blow ought at once to be struck ! But what ? or how?” - This wae the bewildering question: for Ramo- rino kne®. dangerous thifey“to have to deal with the Embas- sies of powerful Governments when protecting the | subjects of their own nations. “What is to be done?” he again asked hin- aeli. ‘Ah! I will confer with Lucrezia for a few minutes, and ascertain the precise details of the fearful position iu which she stands! Kverything is not as yet known te me—and in the absence of this knowledge I am unable to devise those achemes that may be for the best.” The Minister of Police accordingly entered his private abode; and he was about to psecend the siaircaso ion order to return to the apartment where he had left Lucrezia, when @ domestic, ac- costing him, said, “If you please, my lord, his Excellency the Minister of Finance called a few , minutes ago.” “Ah! the Minister of Finance!’ ejaculated Ramourinu—and for an instant a cold shudder passed over him: but the next moment reguining his self-possession, he mentally said, “‘ No matter! | Thank heaven, I shall be enabled to realize to- morrow the funds which will save me, and which will likewise place mo in a position to defy my mortal enemy—my colleague, and yet my rival in the Cabinet!” “ Hig Excellency is waiting,” said the lacquey. “ Waiting?’ echoed KRamorino. “ You mean that the Minister of Finance ” “Ja waiting, wy lord. Hia Excellency said that i was of importance be should see your lord- bhip.”’ The Count of Ramorino experienced anvther sudden access of alarm: but again he quickly re-_ covered his self: possession as be reflected that it. was barely pussible for tho Finances Mimster to drive him complotely to extremities at that unroa- sunable hour in the evening. Ramorino proceeded to the apartment where ry well that if was a difficult and a ' 139 always existed @ great coolness between them: thus there was now no shaking of Lands ~morely the salutations of a distant courtesy; and Ramo. rino, with an air of the most perfect self-posses- sion, asked, “To what am I to attribute the honour of the present visit ?” “To a subject of importance,” replied the Minis. ter of Finance; “or elso 1 should not intrude upon your Excellency at this unseasonable hour.” “And that subject, my lord,” said Ramorino,— “what may it be P’—though he had little diffi- culty in forming a conjecture upon the point. “Four days ago, my lord,” said the Minister of Finance, fixing his small grey eyes steadfastly and searchingly upon Ramorino, “you drew upon the Trersury a cheque for the monthly sum required for the service of your department.” “Yes, my lord,” replied Kamorino. “I am usually punctual in drawing on the last day of every month,” “ And the Treasury is as punctual in honouring sour drafts, my lurd,” interjected the Minister of Finance. “No doubt,” said Ramorino,. “ Whatever imis- understandings there may have been betwixt your lordahip and myself on various subjects, I have never failod to comprehend, as well as to proclaim to all the world, that your loniship’s ezattitucle and punctuality in the affairs of your department render you a model for the contemplation of all financiers.” The Minister of Finance understuod that this was flattery’s sop thrown out for a purpose ; and he smiled scorntully and contemptuoudly—for he was about the last person in existence to be wheedled or cajoled in any such manner. The ame = & oe — — — ee ; smile almost instantaneously passe! away from his lips; and he said with his wonted glacial severity, “On the morning of the 314t of October your lordship’s draft was honoured at the Treasury ; but this is tho evening of the ord of November, ‘and ro portion of that sum hag yet been devoted to ita proper purpose.” “i might os a colleague, standing on equal terms with yourself,” answered Ramorino, assum- ing an air of dignity, “decline to suffer myself to be questioned on the point a *Do eo if you think fit,” interrupted the Minister of Fiuance, with a spiteful expression of countenanes; “aud I will at once addreas myself to the Prime Minister, to whom your Excellency i will zot be enabled to refuse an explanation.” the Minister of Finance was waiting to see him. | The financier was a little, thiv, pale-faced, elderly man—with pointed features, sharp restless grey eyes, and very thin lips, which he was in the con- stant babit of compressing in a manner that indi- cated the firm resoluteness of his character. He use “TT bave not refused you an explanation, my lord,” responded the Coun’. “On the contrary, I am treating you with a cuurtesy which if you do but say the word, shall expand into friendship. For wherefure should there be enmity between Are we not members of the same adminis- ‘tration ? are we not pledged to the same policy ? -are not cur objects identical—namely, to serve our was a strictly honest man—and ho was likewise a: sovereign and the country ?” moral man: he had his suspicions of Ramorine’s ! “ Most assuredly, my lord,” answered tho iategrity—while he was convinced of his profligacy. | Minister of Finance. ‘ Believe me, therefore, that For these reasons he hated Ramorino; and being | it is because I wish this administration of which naturally malignant, spiteful, and vindictive, ho iweare members to be alike respectable and re- had for some time past been watching for an op- spected—because also 1 consider it my dutys to portunity to bring about the downtall of the watch vivilantly over every detail: of my own de- Miniager of Police. partment, even when its finances fluw ivto the Count Remorino entered the apartment where | sphere of another depurtwent,—it is for all these is anlegonist waa awaiting his presence. There Featons that [ come to ask your Exceileavy why ECORNIEOO (C <S ©