Agnes Vol. 2 — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

“What!” ejaculated Ormeby: “do you mean } | held the picces of gold hesitatingly in her hand— Signor De Vere ?” “+ The same!” answered the steward. ‘Is he not a most interesting-looking young gentle- man P” But without giving any reply, Ormaby hastened away; for De Vere at that instant turned round a corner, and, the nobleman was determined to follow him. It was not however with any definite intention thet Ormsby thus got upon his track ; he had not made up his mind whether he should introduce bimeelf to our hero and reproach him for his per- fidy towards Apnes—or whether he should adopt some other course to leé him know that he must think no more of that beauteous, innocent, and artless creature. And as he thus followed him— as he thus for the first time beheld Charles De Vere—Lord Ormsby could not be otherwise than struck by hie handsome, genteel, and elegant the nobleman. appearanco; and he mentally exclaimed, “So far as the external aspect is concerned, he is the very husband whom I should have selected for my daughter! Alas, that the inward man corresponds not with the outer!” Charles continued bis way along two or three streets, Lord Ormsby following him. At length our hero stopped et a small but neat-looking house, which he entered. Ifo remained there for upwards of two hours; and during the whole time Lord Ormsby kept such a watch upon the house that he never once lost sight of the front door. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Ah, true, signor!” said the woman, who atill anxious to consign them to her pooket, and yet not liking to do so ere she learnt the precise motive for which so liberal a bribe was given. ‘And porhaps,” added Ormsby, “you have some other person beneath that ruof who is not an Italian P” “ Well, signor—and if it were so, what then?” demanded the female. ‘A dark-complexioned lady [*™bjaculated the nobleman, fixing bis eyes keenly on her counte- “T hope, signor, that you are not going to make any trouble about it,” said Catrina Petroro —for she the woman was: “but if you mean these coins as a reward for my speaking the truth——”’ “That is precisely what I do mean,” rejoined “So now wo understand each other. Keep the money. I shall ask you to say nothing that will in any way compromise yourself.” . Good, signor !”—and now the coins were con- signed to the pocket. “You have admitted the point at which I was aiming,’ resumed Ormsby,—“ that is to say, a lady with a Gusky complezion—very handsome— with a fino figuro—is living beneath your roof.” “Yes, signor: I have already admitted it,” an- swered Catrina. “And she is visited by the young Englishman At the expiration of that interval Charles issued | whom I just now followod to your house, and whom forth; and with slow footsteps, as well as in an / 1 saw go forth again after tarrying there precisely evidently thoughtful mood, he continued his way. “Tie regrets the fatal connexion that he has formed!’ thought the nobleman to himself. “ But, two hours?” ** This also is truo, signor,”’ said the woman, “Did that geutloman introduce the lady to your Ah! would it not perhaps be as well that I should | house ?” inquired Ormsby. obtain a corroboration of the terrible Mtelligence | ‘“ Yes, signuura. We had some trifling know- I have heard concerning bim? Although, alas! | ledgo of the gentleman, becauso he was mixed up it is scarcely possible to doubt the statoments|in the recent affairs connected with the Mar- made by Mrs. Lardress, yet so serious is the | chioness di Miranu—and wo had Signor Paoli roatter--so completely is the happiness of Agnes | staying at our house——~* at stake—that it is my bounden duty to avvid; “Ab!” cjaculatod the nobleman: “then your forming a judgment on slight grounds! Yes—I 1 name must bo Petroro ?” will investigate this mattor farther; and then if, “That is my name, signor the worst should be confirmed—as I foar it will | at your service.” and must—I shall at least have tho consolation of, “ Siguor Paoli arrived safe in England a week knowing that I did not decide too rapidly !” |ago—ard J saw him. But let us revert to the By the time that Lord Ormsby had reached the | tupic in which I aw most interested. You say end of his reflections, Charles De Vore was out of | thuat——” sight; and now, as the nobleman was on the; “I was about to tell you, signor,” interrupted point of crossing the street in order to knock at | Catrina, “that as we know the young English gen- the door of the bouse, that door itself opencd and | tleman De Vere, we of course took his recommen~ a respectably clad female camo furth. She pro- ; dation when he came one morning and said that cecded along the street with a basket in her hand: | he could send usa iady as a lodger. My brother she was evidently on her way to make purchases | did not for a moment think if necessary to ask Catrina Petroro for the uso of the housebold. Lord Ormsby fol- | about her respectability : but to tell you the, truth,” lowed her to a little distanco; and when she had signor, I thought she was a little touched here :” turned into another street, he accosted her, My good woman,” he at once said, slipping | “What made you think so?” asked Ormsby, as four or five pieces of gold into her hand, “1 wish | he walked slowly along the street by Catrina Pe- for some information which you can give me.” | troro’s side. J, signor ?” and she locked at him with asto- | Because Signor De Vere,” she responded, nishment. “You aro a stranger to me—you are |“ told me so particularly to keep the strictest not an Italian——” watch upon the lady’s actions—to follow her when * But it is not only with Italian people that | she went out—and especially to take note whether you have to do,” interrupted Lord Ormaby ; “for: sho followed him when be left her.” it is not many minutes since an English gentle: | “Ab!” said Ormsby: “these were strange, in- man issued from your house.” | Junctions—were they not?” and Catrina significantiy tapped hor own forehead. @ GOL NOOKS COLUM