Agnes Vol. 2 — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

AGHES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEABURR. 164 the late Marchioness that he had surreptitiously the pictures which Ramorino surreptitiously ob- and dishonestly obtained possession of certain | tained from the Mirano mansion, was the portrait valuable pictures which were in the Mirano man- | of Lucrezia Borgia !” sion, and that this he did last night ata time when; ‘“ Ah!” ejaculated Ciprina. “I feel a sort of it is proved that he knew there were warrants of superstitious awe when you mention the name of arrest and confiscation in the hands of the autho. that picture: for it always seemed to have an rities for the seizure of the person and the pro- perty of the woman whom he had just privately married. But this ie not all! It is likewise whispered that Ramorino is a defaulter in respect to the Government moneys; and if this be the case, it will assuredly go very hard with bim.” “And no one will pity bim!” interjected Ci- prina, “ But sell me, M. Marcellin——” “Ab! M. Marcellin again?” ejaculated the young Frenchman, in a tone of reproach. “Tell me,” continued Ciprina, taking no heed of the interruption, “ wag any wonder expressed that I did not-go forward to give my evidence before the Judge ?” “ No,” answered Edgar ; “ because in respect to ominous association with the Marchioness. Ah! many, many things do I now recall to my mind, which she said to me on varivus occasions in con- nexion with tbat portrait! But what were you about to tell me? ” “ That it may probably have been one of the last objects on which her eyes glanced in this life; for it must have faced her, so to speak, when she was upon the leade!=—she must have seen it through a win- dow!” ‘And who can tell,” interjected Ciprina, “ but that a sudden horror—a superstitious terror per- hape—may have seized upon the wretched woman ; and —and But Oh, no !” exclaimed the young lady, thus suddenly interrupting berself, and the attempt at poisoning on the part of the Mar: placing her bands before ber eyes; “I cannot chioness, there was the statement to which you had | suffer my imagination to look upon anything sv appended your signature, and which was attested by the British Envoy. As for all the other details that you might have given in evidehce, they were equally well known to me, and my narrative sufficed. Besides, the Judge evidently appreciated the delicacy of your position,—having lived with the Marchioness so long a time as you had done— having been so intimate with her——” “ Well,” interposed Ciprina, “I am glad that { escaped an ordeal which certainly would have been more or less painful for me, But what else have you to relate P” “TI think that I have told you all,” responded Marcellin,—“ unless I ought to add that the Judge summed up all the particulars in the most lucid manner ; and in conclusion he pronounced the late Marchioness di Mirano to have been guilty of an attempt to poison yourself and me, and guilty aleo of the murder of Giulio Paoli. Thus was I myself honourably acquitted—even if it could be said that my own reputation was ever really at stake upon the point; for it is scarcely possible that Ramorino himself could have believed me guilty when he issued the warrant for my arrest.” “And thus the judicial investigation is at an end ?” said Ciprina. “But hae anything been done with Ramorino ?” ) “The Judge had no power to pronounce any sen- tence upon a Minister,” rejoined Marcellin: “ for that Minister is indeed of higher rank than the Judge himeelf. But doubtless the Grand Duke will visit Ramorino with his severest displeasure. Ah! I forgot to mention, Ciprina, that the steward of the Mirano mansion received an order to deliver up to you whatsoever effects may bo yours within the walls of that dwelling.” “ And in reference to the death of the Mar- chioness,” inquired Ciprina, “has any fresh light been shed upon it P” “ Judge for yourself,” exclaimed Edgar, “ when you hear what I am about to tell you! It is be- yond all doubt that she was endeavouring to escape by the roof at the time she met her death ; for some of the agents of the Minister of the Interior who forced their way into Ramorino’s house, discovered a door open leading upon the loads. And what is most singular is that amongst | dreadful ! Let ue epeak of Where is Mr. Do Vere ?” “He is at the Ambassador's,” roplied Mar- cellin. ‘“ But just now you said that you had something to tell me——~”’ “I remember,” ejaculated Ciprina, “I told you that I would explain wherefore I addressod you as MM. Marcellin, and not in the samo familiar terme as heretofore. Do you remember that night when Charles De Vere was to come stealthily to the Mirano mansion—you lay in bed—I was seated by the aide of the couch—and you gave a species of vague, dreamy, and unconscious expression to your thoughtse—and you spoke of Agnes, the Beauty of Sidney Villa—and you said that you had heard of her cousin Floribel ” “Ob!” ejaculated Marcellin, as a sudden sus- picion struck him. “Good heavens! is it possible? You, Ciprina~you ——” ‘Yes, she responded in a tremulous voice; “TI am Floribel Lister! Oh, you must have sooner or later learnt it from the Hardress family; for doubtless you are now acquainted with them !” “And you are Floribel Lister!” said Marcellin, still under the effect of the sudden amazement which had seized upon him. “Oh! Corinna said- ~ But he stopped suddenly short, and a scarlet glow mantied upon his cheeks. It was row Flori- bel’s turn to start; and she gazed earnestly upon his countenance, the colour at the same time coming and going in rapid transitions upon her own cheeks. “That name of Corinna!” she said, at length breaking silence, and speaking in a low tremulous voice, —“ it is not the first time you have mentional, it with emotion! No! on that very same occasion to which I just now referred—when you were un- consciously giving a dreamy expression to the ideo that wero vaguely hovering in your mind,—you spoke of Corinna! you said that she was begutifufi Ab, now I comprehend it all! You love her! you love her!” “ Listen to me, Floribel!—for by this ngs I must now call you,” said Edgar Marcollia ; i let there be the completest frankyess and cando between us.” something elao. GOHMG OOO OY <S ©