Agnes Vol. 2 — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

179 CHAPTER XAXIX. THE APPOINTMENT AT NOON. \/ @ must now carry back tho reader's attention to the metropolis of Great Lritain. We must return to London, where the scene of so large # portion of our narrativo has beon previously laid. We are about to bid farewell for the present to that beau- ful Italian clime where so many dark deeds have been perpetrated: wo are about to leave for upaco all those characters who have been moving with such strange rapidity upon tho stage of our drama throughout so many consecutivo chapters. And this docs indeed appear to be the most figting point whereat to take leave of them—the most suitable crisis of our story for breaking the thread of events, to resume it in another part of the world. For the episode which relates the mis- fortunes and the crimes of the beautiful Luerezia di Mirano, is now terminated: hor destiny -has been fulfilled—and she has loft behind her a namo as wfamous as that of her prototype Lucrezin Borgia, And Ciprina has gone nobody knows whither-—and Count Kamorino is in the hands of justive—and J"ather Falconara is on his way back to the Castle of Bagno, to rolicve the mind of Captain Bolluno and relate te him all the startling incidents which have just occurred in Florence. Aud Edger Marcellin is now free to think tenderly of Curinna: and Signor Paoli is ready to accom- pany him back to England; and Charles De Vore, | having nothing furthor to detain him in Florence, is only waiting to sce whether the quadroon and her husband aro likely to make their appearance in that capital ere he shall retrace his way to Naples, This, then, as we have said, is a most favourable conjuncture to enable us to redirect the attention of our roaders to the British metropolis; and of that opportunity we at once purpuso to aveil our- selves. . The progress of our narrative has brought us down to the date of the 4th of November; and it is on this very same day that we purpose to luok into the ofli-e of Mr. Timporley, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. It was verging towards the hour of noon ; and the lawyer was alono in his own sanctum. Ile appeared to have given more than usual care to his toilet; and his writing-table, instead of being confusedly strown with letters and docu- mcnts, presented an aspect of exceeding ncatness. Three or four bundles of papers, tied round with red tapo—all endorsed with the samo name, and placed together in a row—Wwero now occupying the attontion of the old lawyer. We thereby mean that as he sat in his arm-chair, his gaze was fixed seriously upon those bundles of papers; and pre- sently‘be murmured to himself, “ Well, after all, tho presentiment that made me preservo them is about to receive its fulfilment! They are to be claimed! they will be taken possession of !” viguon Mr, Timperley experienced a certain de- gree of uneasiness, and he was seized with a certain restlessness against which ho vainly strove to wrestle. “ What does this mean?” he asked himself, as ho nop, yy from his seat an _walked to and ure.. the office. “Is this dat: to bo uw vory AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. memorable one for me? is it to mark an era of good or evil? Let me seo. Can that man do me any harro P is it his interest to do it P” Mr. Timperley resumed his seat at his desk— buried his faco in bis bands, while his olbows rested upon tho table—and gave way to his re- flections. From these he was startled by the sud- deu striking of a timepiece on the mantel: and he ejaculated to himself, “’Tis noon!—the hour at which he was to be here ?” Just as the last stroke of the clock was vibrating through the office, the door was thrown open, and a clerk announced Mr. Ilargrave. “ Walk in, Mr. Hargrave,” said Mr. Timperley, while the door remained open: but the instant the clerk had retired and closed it behind him, tho lawyor’s demeanour became profoundly respectful —and with a low bow he said, “ Bo pleased, my lord, to be seated.” The manner of Lord Ormsby—as wo may now all him—was cold, reserved, and distant, as ho took the chair that was plac.d for his accommoda- tion. Ile was dressed in black, as when we last introduced him to our readers; and it was in a deep-toned voice that he said, “ Mr. Timperley, have you obeyed my instructions P” “IT have, my lord,” replied the attorney. Here are all the papers relating to your lord- ship’s case, with the oxception of the one little but important document—— ” “ Which I havo hero,” intorjected Lord Ormsby, aking out bis pocket-book and producing a amall slip. “Mr. Timperley,” he continued, “ you will om | put this baptismal certificate in the place where it properly belongs amongst those files of papers. Let the wholo chain of legal proofs be made com- pleto: let every link tako its proper fitting.” Ihe lawyer took up one of the bundles of papers which lay before him; and he inserted the certi- ficate in the place to which it properly belonged. “Now, my lord,” he said; “the whole legal narrative, as I may denominate it, is complete; the one link that was wanting is restored !—tho certificate which connects your grandsire Andrew Kvelyn with the Evelyns of the Ormsby race ! At any moment your lordship’s claims can be made good.” “ Mr. Timperley,” aaid Lord Ormsby, “I am thus far satisfied with you. It was on the 16th of October that I presented myself before you and your wife in Regent Street ; and on that sume day you promised to havo every deed and docu- ment in readiness for me by the hour of noon thig day, November the 4th—and you have fulfilled your pledge.” Mr. Timperley bowed ; and for a momont he suffered himself to be betrayed into an expressior of satisfaction—for he rubbed his bands as he thought to himself, “ The business is not going to be taken from me!” “ You see that I have become precise as a man of business,” continued Lord Ormsby. “ I specity dates—yes, even to the very hour! The expe- rience of the past,” he added, bitterly, and riveting his luminous black eyes significantly upon the lawyer, “has taught me lessona which cannot be easily forgotten.” . “ No doubt, my lord! no doubt !’’ said Mr. Timperley. “ ‘Your lordship must have gained a great deal of e::perience. Let me seoP It WOO AUG CO <S