Agnes Vol. 2 — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

144 few days afterwards she was arrested on a charge of murdering her illegitimate child—and the tri- bunal held that all her property was forfeited from the very moment that she had committed the crime. I appealed against a sentence which seemed to be iniquitous: but it was useless ” “In this present case, Furlo,” interrupted the Minister of Police, “you have me to protect the lady !-—- me also to hold as a security !”’ “Your Excellency could not possibly protect the lady,’’ replied the old man, “if the French Em. bassy took up the cause against her. And with regard to your lordship’s security, I think you must admit that I already hold a sufficiency of documents with your name—bills, bonds, mort- gages, and so forth.” “Then you positively refuse,” exclaimed the Minister of Police, “to advance mo this sum of money ?” “It grieves me, my lord—it grieves me sorely,” answered the old man, “to give a negative reply ; but——” “ Knough !” interrupted Ramorino. “TI must seek the amount elsewhere. But beware how you mention aught which La Dolfina may havo told ou ! 498 ’ “T am not accustomed to speak on such subjects, my ford; and I ehould not have alluded to the one vier we bave touched, if it had not been ne- cessery to give your Excellency certain oxplana- tions.” “Knough!"” again exclaimed Ramorino; and slouching bis hat over his face, and pulling up the collar of bis cloak, he issued forth from the miser’s abode. What was he now todoP It was past eleven o’clock—the Minister of Finance would be waiting for him at the Prefecture: and how was ho to satiefe that functionary? Ramorino felt almost hike a madman: at one moment he cursed himself for having married Lucrezia, inasmuch as it seemed that by adopting her troubles be had in- creased his own a thousandfold ; at another mo- meift he endeavoured to hug the hope that all would yet be-well, that he should by some means or another conquer all difficulties alike for himself and Lucrezia, and that he should consequontly enjoy the vast fortune which she had brought him. If he could but get over this one grand embar- rassment !—if he could but arrange matters with the Finance Minister! Bat how was this to be done? It was not until tho very instant that the Count of Ramorino was crossing the threshold of the Prefecture, that he perceived a means ;—and nuw he wondered that it had not struck him before. ‘ Lucrezia has so much in the hands of her vDanker—and that banker would willingly suffer her to overdraw her account for double or treble the sum. ‘Towards that banker I now represent Lucrezia ;—therefore ay draft will be as available saber own. Oroif there were any doubt as to the banker's advancing the money, I could but cull ppon him the first thing in the morning, and arrange for such an advance by giving a mortgage of the Mirano mansion.” [t was thus that the Count of Ramorino ar- rauged the matter within his own mind, as he entered the Prefecture. He at once inquired if the Minister of Finance were waiting ¢ -and be AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE. was answered in the affirmative. He next asked if any arrests had been reported at the Prefectur within the last half-hour? To this query a reply was given in the negative. The Count ascended to the apartment where the Minister of Finance was seated ; and bowing with a cold courtesy to that nobleman, he said, “ I have to apologize to your lordsbip for being half-an- hour behind my time: but the duties of my de- partment detained me elsewhere.” “ No apology is necessary, my lord,” replied tha Minister of Finance. “ And now I need not keep your Excellency waiting many minutes " * Assuredly not,’ said Ramorino: “we will finish tho business in a moment.” 0! Thus speaking the Count sas-cown at a table, and wrote out a cheque. ‘ Here, my lord,” he said; “ you will perhaps do me the honour to send and draw thie amount the first thing to-morrow morning; and you can remit to me hither, as on the receipt thereof I will liquidate the salaries according to my promise and intention,” The Minister of Finance took the cheque; and his first impression was that he had really mia- judged Ramorino and had been misled concerning bim: but when he saw the names of the bavkers, he gave vent to a faint ejaculation of surprise, say- ing, “ But surely vour Excellency bas no credit at this house P’ Ramorino’s countenance flushed with indigna- tion; and he exclaimed, “ Step by step, my lord, do you scem determined to insult, mistrust, and provoke me! I havea credit there—that cheque will be acknowledged.” “It is most singular,’ said the Minister cf Finance, ‘that my own nephew should be head cashier in this very bank: he dined with me thia evening—we happened to be speaking about your lordship—and my nephew chanced tu mention that your Excellency had never had any avalings at that bank.” ‘“] have only to say,” rejoined Ramorino, “ that this cheyue represonts the sum which I received four days ago frum tho Treasury. Of this you may convince yourself to-wurrow morning when the bank opens ;—and bitterly Lostile as your lord- ship is to me, you can in common fairness aud honesty do no more until you shall have put my words to the (est by the presentation of the draft.” “Wera it not for the pusitive conviction I have that your Excellency has no funds in this bank,” responded the Minister of Kinauce, “I should as matter of course be well pleased with the arranve- ment as it stands. But under present circum- stances I decline tou become the holder of the draft; and 1 shall deem it my duty to make a full report to the Prime Minister on the inorrow.” The Count of Ramorino stamped his foot with rago for a mument; and be exclaimed, “ What if the money belonged to another ? —what it I have this day espoused a lady whvse immense fortune becomes my own and whu has ample funds in that bank? What matters it to you where my re- sources a10 or in what they consist, so long as [ am enabled to meet all my engagements faithfully? In one word, my lord, you huve done as much as accuse me of malversntion in respect to the rooncys of wy department; and I, flinging the lie EORNICLOOO () S