Agnes Vol. 2 — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

262 me acquainted with the fact that he was charged with cortain letters and tidings of importance for Captuin Belluno at the Castle of Bagno. It was then his turn to beoume the querist ; and glancing at the upset chariot in the road, he expressed a hope that no one had been injured. It suddenly struck me that his name had been in some way or another mixed up with those tragical affairs at Naplea which regarded the Count of Camerino’s wife and son ; and I hastened to explain that the Count himself was tho traveller in the chariot to which the accident had occurred, and that be had been conveyed in a very precarious state into the little wayside inn. On hearing this intelligence, Father Falconara gave vent to an ejaculation of wild grief—and he flew to the chamber where the Count lay. I also proceeded thither. The me- dical man had by that time ascertained the state of the injury: and he informed us that the skull was severely fractured at its base, and that reco- very was therefore next to impossible. Father Fal- donara displayed the deepest sorrow, declaring that nuthivg should induce him to abandon his bene- favtor, except the sense of duty which compelled him to bear esfely to Bagno the letters with which he was charged. It appeared from what I gleaned from Falconara’s lips, that the Count of Cawerinu bad supplied unto him the place of a perished father. it ocoured to me at the moment that by becomiog the bearer of those deapatches to Capiain Belluno at the Castle, I might by some accident or another be enabled to forward my own views in reference to Carlotta. I therefore repre- sented to Fatber Falconara my willingness to un- dertake the task; and I bade him reflect that so lung as be obtained a trusty messenger in respect tu those ducumentes, he need not entertain the purctilhoua notion that he was neglecting a sacred duty which had been confided to him. He thank- fully accepted my proposal: he placed the letters io wy Lund—and he gave me certain explanations which he requested me to repeat tu Captain Bel- luno. It appeared that when the storm burot above tho head of the Count of Ramorino, a new Minister of Police was appointed in the course of a few hours. Father Falconara had waited upon him toexplain for what purpose he had como to Flo- reucv ; and the new Minister had questioned him very clusely in referonve to the discipline observed in the fortress of Baguo, the number of prisoners who were confined there, their offences, and so forth, From all that Father Falconura said to the new Minister, the Jutter had expressed his resolution to send, with the least possible delay, an Inspector or Commissioner to visit the castle, and draw up @ report of the state of the estab- hehwent, with a view to its complete reformation, It was this pioce of intelligence which Father Fal- conara desired mo to communicate to Captain Bel- luuo, eo that ho might not be taken unawares by the appearance of the Inspectur or Commis- sioner.” “And so you undertook the task P” said Flo- ribe ; “and by those means you obtained an in- truduction into the Castle of Bagno ?” “Suttly, softly, myf dear Mrs. Lovel!” intor- jected the Barunet: /' the ravivess uf the etory is now to come; fur L4beo that yor have been impa- tient over those-Ory details wife: formed the in- disponsabl- preface. Yoo—xA wafertouk the tgakiy' AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLBASUER. and with the despatches in my pocket and tho message in my memory, I resumed my soat in my postchaise to retrace my way to Bagns ~~ But it was not plainly as Sir Alesander Holcroft that I returned thither; I was completely metamorpbused! In the first place I travelled considerably out of my way to reach a town where I knew that I could purchase certain little articles that I required———~” he And what were those articles?’ asked Flo- “A black wig—a fine pairof moustaches, much larger than my natural ones—and a beard. These were for my own special behoof——” “Good heaverts!” ejaculated Fioribel: “ for what purpose did you require euch masquerading accessories P”’ “Tam sow about to explain my purpose and the mode in which I carried it out. Ah! I was going on to observe that I slso procured a similar disguise for my valet; and I finally became tho purchaser of a third pair of false whiskers, with the acoompan)ing moustaches.” “Three pairs altogether!” cried Floribel, “Yes. One disguise for myself—one for my valet—and the third to keep in reserve for a special purpose. There wi likewise a very protty little suié of male apparef’.which I bought; and that was also to be kept in regerve.” “Ah! I think I begin to understand,” said Floribel, glancing at Carlotta, who smiled signifi- cantly and at the same time blushed with modest confusion. “ Bat pray proceed with your narra» tive, Sir Alexander.” You will say,” returned the Baronet, “ that the scheme which I concucted was one of the boldest and most impudent ever devised, and that it was a perfect wonder it resulted in success. But I must remind you that I speak the Italian language with the fluency and accuracy of o native; and this circumetasce constituted the main element of that success. Add to which, I am by no means deficient in brazen hardihvod; and you will coase to be su very much surprised that the stratagem should have ended so triumphantly. And now four the explanation. Cuwpletecly disguised, and ate tended by my valot, who was cqually well dis- guised, I presented myself at the gate of the Castlo af Bagno, desiring to be inmediatoly iatru- duced to the presence of Captain Belluno. The sentinela asked who [ wus. I showed thew tly seals of tho official despatches whereof I was the bearer. In a fow minutes I was in the presence of Captain Belluno. Then I boldly announced myself as an Inspecter sent by the new Minister of Pulice to draw up a report of the atate of Bagno Caatle. Captain Belluno became all civility and politeness ; for it doubtless at once struck him that the tenure of his cituatiog depended upon the nature of the report that I should make. I gave him the de. epatches from the new Minister of Police; and inaswuch as they ordered certain emexdations to be accomplished in the discipline of the place, pre- peratory to the introduction of otber and still more sweeping reforms, they seemed to gerroborate me in the atory that I had framed, agd to confirm my representation that I was an Idspector ap- puinted for this particular business; Cagtuin Belluno at vnve offered to introduce me to his wife and daughter; and I expressed myself delizhted at the pruposed honour. IJ wae conducted intu au EORAIC OO® SS (CO