Agnes Vol. 2 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

14) he were losing his head in the midst of the distracting circumstances that now environed him. But let us resume tho thread of our narrative. We have said that 1¢ was not long before the Yount uf Ramorino was again called away from Lucrezia. ‘T'he door opened—a domestic appeared --and while Lucrezia turned aside to conceal her emotions, the Count muttered impatiently, “ What, again? Frosh visitors P” ° “If you please, my lord,” said the lacquey, “ two gentlemen desire to see your Excellency.” “Two gentleman? Who are they P” demanded Ramorino. “They say that it is unnecessary to give their names, my lord: and they bade me state that one comes from the English Embassy and one from the French.” “Ab!” ejaculated the Count: and Lucrezia at the same moment quickly turned her bead towards the domestic, for the same suspicion bad simul- taneously smitten herself and her husband. “Two young gentlemen—both slender and handsome,” continuod the servant, who thought afurther description was needed. “ Dark hair and eyes ”? “ Enough ! I will come,” said Ramorino: and the domestic withdrew. ‘Marcellin and De Vere!” said Lucrezia ; “there can be no doubt of it! What does this mean P Docs it bode good ? or does it bode evil ? Oh! is the crisis coming ?”—and she shivered from head to foot, ““It may be something more favourable than we suppose,” ssid the Count; “or else why | should they come hither ? see,” ‘For heaven's sake return soon! come back speedily, I conjure you!” cried Lucrezia. But I will go and in the meantime ! about to happen !” A thought struck Ramorino. He knew that tho Minister of the Interior would be willing to show all possible courtesy towards a colleague, and that it would only be as a last resource or under very urgent circumstances that the arrest of any one would be ordered to take place in his (Ramorino’s) house, It therefore occurred to him that the visit of De Vere and Marcellin might be for the actual purpose of bringing matters to a prompt, yet quiet and noiseless issuo. Ina word, he pene- trated the real truth on the point. “ Now, this may mean something of import- What if the very worst be “ Oh, | my God! what agonies of suspense shall 1 endure AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Watch it well! If there be danger I wii Then do you instantancously take tke move. pull it. alarm- “Yes, yes! But whither shall I goP and whai shall I do P” asked Lucrezia. “Listen to me. Hasten to the end of the pas- sage——open the door to the right—it will bring you upon the landing of a private staircase. Ase cend that staircase—and on reaching the top yy will see the means of passing out on the roof Wf the house. Keep along the roof as if you were\ seeking the lower end of the street ; and enter one of the attic windows in the fourth house from hence. Mind, the fourth house! It belongs to g faithful officer of mine; and he will at least keup you concealed and in safety until measures can be adopted to ensure your secret departure from Florence. Now, will you do this in case of need P will you follow all my instructions P”’ “Oh, yes! yes!” exclaimed Lucrezia. “ Good heavens! what would 1 not do to avoid the other fate that may possibly be in store for me P” ‘Then watch woll the wire,” said Kamorino ; “and for heaven’s sake sustain your presence of mind!—for on that everything may now possibly depend !” Having thus spoken, the Minister of Police has- toned out of the apartment ; and as he descended to the waiting-room, he composed his looks into a demeanour of sedate and reserved courtesy, which may be denominated the “ official air’ hoe was wont to assume on most occasions. On entering the waiting-room, he bowed to the two young gentlemen; and appearing to be struck by the visage of one of them, he said in a somewhat severe voice, “Surely you must be M. Marcellin, whom I met occasionally last winter in the saloons of Florentine society ?” “T am that same M. Marcellin, my lord,” re- plied Edgar, with a tone and look of calm dig- nity,—‘‘ that same M. Marcellin against whom you have dared to issue @ warrant for a crime which makes my blood curdle to think of it, and then boil to be accused of it !” ‘“ And J, my lord,” said Charles Do Vore, now stepping forward in his turn, while Marcellin retreated a pace or two, “am that Ioplish gon. tleman who was carried off to Bagno by your Excellency’s police-agents,—the same concerning whom your lordship was this evening inquiring so very earnestly, and with every appearance of anx- iety, at the hotel and likewise at the British Em- bassy.” “And to what circumstance, gentlemen,” in- anco—or it may mean nothing of any conse-| quired Ramorino, who lost not his presence of quence,” said Namorino hastily: “and yet it is not ; mind, but who remained coldly calm, “am 1 in- likely to be the latter !” “Suppose then it is the former,” cried the wretched Lucreziu,—“ suppose .that the crisis is come,—can you not arrest them P” ‘No, nu—I dare not under existing circum- stances!” replied the Count impatiently. “ But | I must tako measures for your | Look! you see the wire of this bell ? 1t | luston to me ! safety! passes up the angle of the room——”’ “eos, yes. with feverish impatience. What then?’ demanded Lucrezia, - | Minister: but instantaneously recollecting hir- debted for the visit that you now pay me at one o'clock in the morning P” “Our object will be soon explained,” said Charles De Vere, who now acted as spokesman. ‘A warrant has been issued for tho arrest of a lady lately bearing the name of the Marchioness di Mirano, but who, I presume, must now be known as the Marchioness or Countess of KRamo- rino.” ‘A warrant againet that lady, sir !’’ said the “ It communicates from the room below with a | self, he saw that it was ridiculous to affect igno- chamber at the top of the house. You could not | rance of the circumstance—and he therefore wont bear the bell ring; but you might see the wire on to observe in the same cold tone as at firet, COLUM ElDOOKKS