Agnes Vol. 2 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

ACES: Of, NMRATITY AND TRLRASURE, 1H and Paoli, on hearing that the warrané was actually (now: but he shall not repeat if on tho present snued for her arrest, clasped his hands fervidly, exclaiming, “ My poor boy will yet be avenged !” Marcellin and De Vero acquainted Paoli with all that they themselves, as well as Ciprina, had respectively undergone at the instigation of the Marchioness; and the Neapolitan listened with the deepest interest to these narratives. He poured forth his gratitude to both the young men for the ‘interest they had displayed on behalf of the cause wherein ho himself was so greatly in- terested ; and he begged them to convey the as- eee of a similar sentiment to Ciprina. occupied a long time; and nearly two hours passed away in this manner, Charles De Vore totally for- Father Falconara. At length, when it only wanted an few minutes of midnight, he suddenly recollected was in readiness to accompany him: but ere taking Jeave of Paoli, they enjoined him to remain per- fectly quict at Pefroro’s house, asauring him that he should be made acquainted with overything of Importance that might occur in the course of the proceedings wherein they were all so much in- terested. ° On leaving Petroro’s house, the two young the British Nmbassy, that being Marcellin’s route, as wel} as De Vere’s, for a certain distance. On reaching the gate ot the Jtmbassy, just as the midnight, they were abauking lands in order to bid | each other farowell until the morrow, whon all in a moment thoy were surrounded by a posse of shirri who seemed suddenly to concentrate them- solvus there from different directions. “Separate them! gag them!” ejaculated the Wicer in command of the party, and whom Charles De Vere at once receagnised to be tha same who had superintended the expedition when he and Ciprina were hurried away from Florence to Bayno. do thig !” “of your own Guvernment !”’ “(Giag them!” ejaculated tho officer im a com. manding tone, “Then let us act in self-defeneo!”’ cried De Vere : and with one desperate effort he cleared hitnself from the grasp which two of the shirri ' had fixed upon him. ploit was at the same moment performed by Mar- cellin; and then De Vere exclaimed, “ Wo are the Interior !” The officer of the sbirri, who was furious at be- holding his men so rudely treated, had drawn his sword and was rushing on with tho rest of his party to recapture the two young gentlemen, when the term safe-conduct seemed to paralyze him. He stopped shurt: his men did the same; and Mar- cellin said, “ Depart at once, or it will be the worse for you as ‘It is a trick! a stratagem!” oxclaimed the officer. “The Englishman there’*—and he pointed to De Vero— played me a double game before occasion! Seize him?” While the officer was yet speaking, both our hero and Marcellin had drawn forth their safo- conducts ; and they held them up in the light of the lamp over the gate of the British Embassy. “Halt, my men !” exclaimed the oflicer, as tho shirrt were about tu precipitate themselves onco “If this if so, the signature of his I¢xcellency the Minister of tbe more upon Charles and Tidgar. Interior must be respected.” | ““ Behold that signature!” said De Vere. “B | beware how you make any attempt to snatch the She narratives, explanations, and discussions | paper from my hand: for, by heaven! if you | do ' at | “ Do you think, signor,’ demanded the officer getting the appointment which he had made with | indignantly, “that 1 am capable of such a base dishonest action ?” “In good sooth,” answered Do Vere, “ I think it; and he rose to take his departure. Marcellin you are capablo of anything : for a more unmiti- gated sot of cut-throat scousdrela than you Tuscan police-oflicers, I never in all my life had the mis. fortune to encounter !” 1t was almost a howl of rage which burst from ; the hips of the officer of the sbirré, while kindreci ejaculations denoted the fury of his adherents. Bat they dared not pruceed tu farthor Wiolerite : there was a talismanic influence in the siguature gentlemen walked together in the direction of | of the Minister of the Interior. “ Well,” growled the officer, “ you are quit, young men, on the present occasion: but I dare say it will not be long before L shall catch both clocks of Florence were proclaiming the hour of tripping in some rascally fashion=-_ But hero the fellow’s insolence was sudden short; for De Voro dealt him a blow w knocked him down as if he had been stricke: _ a flash of jightning. ‘The blood gushed from his mouth, for half-a-dozen of his teeth had been dashed out, ut “ Ruffian!” said our young hero; “if ever a man You have brought this punishment upon yourself entirely -by your wore rightly served, 1t 18 you! !own impertincnce.” nee ee ee The officer spcke not another word. He rose “Stop!” exclaimed Marcellin: “at your peril slowly from tho ground, wiping his mouth with his kerchief; while his men, armed though they were, “ We aro under the protection,” cried De Vere, | retreated a pace or two, evidently atraid lest the same species of chastisement should overtake themn- selves, They departed with their discomfited olll- | cer at their head; and when they were beyond tho | view of tho young gentlomen, these two took leave ‘ot cach other. On ontering tho mansion of tho British Em- | bassy, Charies was informed that a priest had been They were hurled to the ground: a similar ex- | waiting for upwards of an hour, to see him; he | was accordingly hastening in the direction of his ! own apartment, when he met one of the afiqchés, provided with safe-conducts from the Minister of | who gaid to him, “ Ramorino has been here !”’ “ Indeed !” ejaculated Charles. said he P” & “And what “Qh! I received him on behalf of his Excol- lency,” replied the atéaché, thus alluding to the Am- a PE a ‘bassador; “and I mystified him completely. You may think it a dificult thing to myatify a Minister of Pulice; and yet jet me assure you that I did it! He evidently suspects that a storm of some kind is brewing: there was a certain uneasiness in his manner, despite all his efforts to conceal it; but he went away without obtaining the slightest in- tclligence from me.” (CO e ~ (C JOO SS COLUM