Agnes Vol. 2 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

ventures, and all of a certain description! But your name, madam—you have forgotten to men. tion it ?”’ “First let me tell your Excollency that I am very uneasy in reforence to an Enghish gontleman. I have just called at his hotel—he is not there— the landlord looked suspicious and would answer no questions ” “Is it possible, madam,” ejaculated the Am- bassador, “that you can bo tho lady of whom i havo heard a great deal within the fast two or ‘three hours? In a word, madam, pray mention ‘your name; and perhaps [ muy be enabled to give you some information ” ‘It matters not,” intersected the lady, “* what ‘my proper tinglish namo may be. Suffice 16 for your Eseclleney to learn that for some timo past, while resident in Florenec, 1 have borne the name vf Cipring, “ “T thought so!” eried the representative of the iouplish Guvernment. heaven is it that you are here ¢ you from Bapno rr” “Then *Mr. De Vere must havo arrived in salety!” exalaimed Ciprina exultingly, “or else your Excellencyteould know nothing of all these matters!” ‘“Vege- Air. De Vere is safe,” rejoined the Kovey; “and rest assured, madam, that he was not unmindful of your interests; fur a requisition has already been drawn un by me, addressed to the ‘“uscan Minister of the Interior, demanding your liberation from Bagno—or in detnult thereof, a declaration of the reasons for which you might be detained, In another half-hour that document would have been in the Muinister’a hand, it) you had not thus unexpectedly mado your appearance. But how 18 it-——” ‘T have escaped,” answered Ciprina. tell me--where is Mr. De Vere 2” Follow me, madam,”’ said the Envoy; and he Jed the way to anothor apartment. As the door of this apartment was opened, (i- prina at once beheld Charles De Verc, who wa. seated at a table where he had been engaged ip writing, but who instantaneously started up with a ery of delight and astonishment on beholding the young lady whom he fancied tu be afar off m the fortress of the Apennines. “Al. you may indeed give vent to your amize- ment, Mr. Do Vere,” said the Iuvoy; “for the esenpo of 8 Jady from a castle tnust bo even more eurprising than that of » gentleman.” At this moment there was a krock at the door which the Ambassador had just closed: he himself turned to answer the summens—and Julpar Alar- cella made his appearance. fie was personuily unknown alike to tho British Ambassador and -tharles de Vere; but his name was announced by the confidential lacquey who had been instructed tv intruduce him thithor immediately upon his arrival. Ciprina spoke not a word: she experi- enced an almost overpowering feeling on finding herself again in the presence of that man on whose necaunt she had endured and suffered ao much, aud whom she had begun to Jove with a chaster and purer pagsion than she liad ever previously known, at the timo when they were so suddenly and rudely reparated. Pid they iberate “ But “ But bow m the nume of ig EE wee See cellin ; “is it possible that you alao are here 2? and advancing towards the young lady he pressed her hand with all the fervid cordiality of that grateful friendship which he experiened towards her. ‘I shall Jeave you all three to your own explana- fions,” said the British Envoy; “for it is now time that I should go and consult his Excellency the French Ambasaador, in respect tu the plan of proceedings which we are tu adopt.” Thus speaking, tho representative of the British Government loft the apartment, where Charles de Vere, Ciprinoa, and Marcellin remained together. “ [itherto we have persunally been strangers to each other,” said Marcellin, thus uddressing him- self to our young hero; “but circumstances ought to make us frienda in a mument—fur we are row. Ing as if were in the same boat.” “Wo are leayued together in the same cause,” cyneulated De Vere, “and we wall conquer!’ The two young men then shook hunds with all’ the ardour of alhance and friendsbip; and the con. versation quickly became most deeply interesting alike to themselves and Cipriua. Marcellin now learnt, how they had both been carried off from the Mirano mansion on the night of the Lst of November—how they had been conveyed to Bagno —how Charles bad escaped from the fortress in: the evening of the 2nd of November—-and Low he had arrived that day (November 3rd) in Florence, in company with the villago magistrate. Then Ciprina told her tale — how on this same day (uamely, November 3rd) she had oJected her own escape in the baker's basket—and low she had arzived scarcely an hour back at HF lorence in com- pany with the Hardresa family. Jidyar Marcollin spake last: and when lis turn came, he acquainted Da Vere and Ciprina with everything which had vcenrred tu himweelf after he had awakened in the mornic of the previous day (November 2nd) and found bimself alone in his chamber at tho Mirauoe InANsion. “Now,” said Charles, “let us all threo sit down al this table and hold a consultation: for though our course is tolerably clear, yet must wo pursue it with due carcfulness and cireumspection.” The three sat down accordingly; and Ciprina ohserved with a emie, ’ [t appears, therefore, that while we are deliberating ghere, the two Ambag- sadors are holding a consultation elsewhere.” Yeo,” smd Charles; “becuase they themselves feel that the affuir is somewhat a deheate one, and mist be cundueted with caution and prudence, At least such is the opinion of the British Ambas- SI) Oy eer «And such,” interject t Marcellin, “is the view which the French Huvoy hkewise takes of it. In respect to mysclf, there is no disguising the (act that the Marchioness di Miruno raay at any moment proclaim abroad the datamouas accusation | whieh she privately and socretly hurled in wy fave? in February last; and if so, a warrant mist be | It would then be difficult for, issued Ayrainst me. the French Ambassadcr to save me fro. temporary arrest— although he has given me the assurance that he is quite prepared to stretch bis authority me Case Bo aingular sud peentar as thal ia which - We aro mow engaged.’ “And the British Ambansador, sult Ov Vere, »ttuud heavens, Ciprina!’ ejaculated Mar [has hkewise his own good reasens tor advancing: if ECORNICELOOO© SS COLUM