Agnes Vol. 2 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

- 148 cautiously and circumspectly in the matter. Be- cause, after all, 1am a prisoner escaped from Bagno —he has only wy bare word fur the injustice of my arrest—and though he of course believes me and knows that what | have stated is truo, yet this is only as between gentleman and gentleman ; whereas in his oficial capacity he ought at once to communicate with the Tuscan Government, de- mand explanations with reference to my arrest, and notify his readiness to give me up provided the grounds of that arrest shall be proved to be valid and sufficient.” “Well thon,” remarked Ciprina, “it is clear that the two Ambassadors have every pussible reason for proceeding cautiously and with duv cir- cumspection.” “They are now consulting together,’ said Mar- cellin : “ we also shall proceed with our discussion— we may presently compare notes with them, and we shall be enabled to determine upon a specific course of action. Wesides, it would be imprudent to take any step until we have Signor Paoli with us. The French Atwnbassador conceives ib highly important in the making out of a caso against Loucrezia di Mirano, that tho tather of the mur- dered youth should give his testunony.”’ * And such is precisely tho view entertained by the British Ambassador,” anid de Vere. “Thort can be no doubt that the Marchioness is strouply protected by the Count of Raworino; and she has therefore a towor of strength on her side. Wo have the two ‘Ambassadors: but then it must be remembered that the Ambassadors can only wield on our behalf such weapous as diplomatic privilege legitimately places in ¢heir hands,—whereas, on the other band, there is an unscrupulous Minister of Police, all-powerful in) his own department, and able to set ip motivn a variety of tremendous engines of defence and protection tur the guilty Lucrezia.” “Tam glad,” said Ciprina, “ that we are look- ing the whole matter thus rationally in the face, and considering it logically, At what time is Signor Paoli expected in Fiorence ?” * Antonia is nut quite sure,” replied Marcellin. * She first of all tuld me at cight o'clock: but she subsequently reflected that she must have made a mistake, and that Petgory told ber between nine and ten, I have not taken any step to ascertain the puint correctly from Petrvuro ; for I thought that the Jess communicativy there might be with his house the better, as Ramorinu’s spies are doubt- less everywhere. herctore, at about nine o'clock we will go to Potroro’s and moet Paoli—unless any other plan of proceeding 1n respect to this par- ticular point shall be resolved upon.” ‘And you have tho substantial materials of evidence P’ said Ciprina tou Marcellin. “Yes—the pistol and suit of male apparel, which I brought away with me from the Mirano mavsien, fod then, too, I have the proom Ber- nado at the Fronch M#mbassy—and his evidence will be mor? or less important. And there is Antonia likewice; and presently we shall have Paoli.” “Hut now,” said Pe Vere, “to touch upon an- other puint. There is tho poisoning affair ” “Za Dulfine’s confess m and the phial contain- » responded Marcellin, ‘Care in the jug the poison, hunde of the French Luvoy, Now that Ciprina AGNIES;.OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURR. is with us, it can be proved that the Marchioness di Mirano did mako use of that poison in the hopo of ridding herself alike of Ciprina and of mo; and the French Ambassador knows those particulars of the ontire history as well as all the rest; so that this puint will not be omitted from the discussion which he is now holding with the British represen- tative.” “And lastly,” said Da Vere, “you have that letter which you found in Lucrezia’s writing- desk.” “ Thatalso is inthe hands of the French EKavoy,”’ responded Kdyar. “It proves bow unscrupulous Kamorino is in usiog his power on behalf of his mistress.” ‘1 think you just now said,” obsorved Ciprina, “ that it is a letter written by Count Ramorino to the Marchioness at the villa in the Vale of Arno to the effect that I and the person who was found with me at the time had been arrested during the past night.” “And this letter,” rejained Edgar Marcellin, “ will hereafter serve as the ground of complaint ty» be made by the two Ambassadors to the Tuscan Government against Ramerino, inasmuch as it is thereby proved that to satisfy the de- mands of his mistress he thinks nothing of plunging French or English subjects into captivity. In reference to the Marchioness, I would add,” continued Edgar, “that there are a couple of spies watching all her movements.” “ Ah! this was well thought of,” ejaculated De Vere. “ And thuse spies?” “Two domestics of the French Ambassador,” answered Marcellin: ‘ they are dressed in mean apparel—and depend upun it, they know how to perform their part.” The two young men and Ciprina continued in deliberation for some time upon the various fea- tures of the case in which they were engaged. At lenyth, when it was verging towards eight o'clock, the British Iuavuy returned to the room where the trio had been holding their discussion. The great diplomatic functionary’s countenance wore that expression of mingled firmness and gravity which showed that sume important step had been resolved upon, if not already taken. “ Madam,” he said, at once addressing himself tu Ciprina, and handing her a paper, “ I believe that the statemont embodied in this document com- prises the evidenco which you are enabled to give in reference to an attempt made by Lucrerm di Mirano to poison yourself and M. Marcellin, You were in your chamber—you affected to he asleep—you watched the proceedings of the Mar. chioness———"” “Yos,” said Ciprina, having glanced her eyes over the paper: “ every statement in this doou- ment is perfectly correct.” “ It is according to the report which I myself gave to the French Ambassador,” interjected Mar- collin, who likewise glanced at the document ae {s lay befure Ciprina on the table. “Then have the goodness to sign it, madatu,” said the British Envoy: and when the young ludy had aflixed her signature, he added his own a9 that of the attesting witness. Lis Excellency placed the document in an ef velupo ; ‘and poing tu the dour of the apartment, he gave the packet to a servant who was waititig, GOHMGoOO O) SS ceo