Agnes Vol. 2 — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, GHAUTY AND PLHABURR. adjoiniiy room; and then I confess I trembled for a momeng through fear that Carlotta might betray offihiny in the surprise of a sudden recog- nition.” “Ah! you knew full well,” exclaimed Floribel, with an arch look, “that though your disguise of faleo beard, whiskers, and moustache might de- ceive the eyes of the parents, yet the truth would be quickly penetrated by the loving regards of the daughter !”” “You may conceive, my dear Madame Lovel,” said Carlotta, “ how great was my astonishment when at the first glance which I threw apon the guest whom my father was introducing, it struck me that the features were those which were weil impressed upon my mind. A second glance, and there was no longer a doubt! How it was that I did not give vent to an qjaculation io the wild- ness of my surprise, I can now scarcely tell. But you may be sure that my heart beat with the most violent palpitations.” “I need not dwell at very great length upon the rest of the narrative,” resumed Sir Alexander Holcroft. “In my capacity of Inspecting Com- missioner on behaif of his Excellency the new Minister of Police, 16 was casy for me to create so much bustle, activity, and even confasion, that while Captain Beliluno was hastening in one direc- tion and his wife was speeding in another, my faithful and cunning valet found an opportunity to furnish Carlotta with the articles which we had brought for her own special use. Then, in order to prepare the way for the final carrying-out of. my project, I desired that all the soldiers of the garrison should be marshalled before me in the court-yard,—well knowing that when the inspec- tion was over, the sentinele who had previously been stationed at the gates would not be sent back to mount guard, but would be succeeded by others, In a little while I receivad from my valet a hint that everything was all right in respect t6 the Signora Carlotta. The moment for striking the graud blow was therofore approaching. 1 sought Captain Belluno; and I said to him, ‘As it is my purpose to remain here for the present, I will thunk you to write me a pass to enable my two dependants to go in ond out of the fortress at their discretion.’—-The Captain had only seen me with one attendant ; be did not however know but that I might have been followed by a couple—and he was too cringingly polite to ask any questions. So the pass was quickly made out, and in a very few minutes it was in the hands of my valet. Thon I got the Captain away toa distant compartment of the fortress—while hie wife, the Signora Bel- luno, was busying berself in the store-roums, col- lecting certain atatistical detaila for which | bad specially inquired. In the meanwhile Carlotta bad put on the disguise furnished for her uso—that elegant littlo suit of male raiment to which 1 have alluded: her cheeks were embellished with a sweet pair of auburn whiskers—and Ler upper lip was graced with a moustache about a abade darker. Thus prepared for the venture, she joined my valet, who was anxiously awaiting her on the landing just outside the Governor's suite of apartments. Th@y descended the staircase ; but as they entered the vestibule, they found themselves fave to face with the female turnkey, Gudulla.” *T might have been stricken down with a 263 straw,” interjected Carlotta; “for I knew that tho woman possessed the eyes of a lynx, and thet ever since the mysterious escape of yourself, dear madame, the faculties of all her senses had bées more keen than ever. Sir Alexander's walet at once displayed the written order to the nearest sentinel ; and by this presence of mind on his part, he diverted Gudulla’s attention from me. I passed on: Gudulla was avidently satisfiicd—and the noxé instant the valet was again by my side. Without any farther cause of alarm we passed out of the fortress; for the sentinels who were then at the gates did not know that the pretended Inspector bad only arrived with ono valot.” ‘‘f was not long in joining them,” added Sir Alexander Holcroft: “ the postchaise was waiting in the very same spot where it recently served your purpose, Mra. Loveland we were soun across the frontier into the Roman territory. And now you have learnt the entire history of that series of adventures which I just now represented as a worthy sequence to the romantic circum. etances of your own escape,” “You certainly doserve immense credit,” re- joined Floribel, “ for the ingenuity of the scheme, as well as for the boldness with whioh it was executed.” She then took leave of Sir Alexander Houlcroft and Carlotta, and retired to her vwn chawber, where the faithful Antonia was waiting to assist in the night-toilet of her mistress. CHAPTER XLII. PLOBIBBL AND UER VISITORS, FLORIBEL slept till a late hour in the morning, for 1¢ was past two o’clock when she bad retired to rest. When she awoke, she reviewed all the incidents of the preceding evening,—the immense sensation her presence had created at the theatre being the principal subject un which her thoughte dwelt. She had not fuiled to notice how one of the royal aides-de-cataps had beon particularly smitten by her beauty; and as he was an ex- ceedingly handsome young man, with an appear- ance at once distinguished and clegant, she felt that she should bo by no means displeased to re- coive some overture from that quarter. She was reclining in her couch, abandoning her- self to these reflections,—-tho expression of her features catching a tinge of voluptuousness from the nature of the reflections themselves, and her anowy busom softly palpitating,—-when the door gently opened She thought that it was Antonia who was entering the chamber; and she did not even turn her eyes in that direction. But at the expiration of nearly a minute she began tu think it strange that Antonia did not give utterance to @ word, nor yet move away from the vicinage of the door; and she accordingly looked round. Then an ejaculation buret from her lips; fur a nan had penetrated into her apartmwent—and there ho etuod, devouring ¢\ith his eyes the buau- teous spectacle which was indeed vuly tov well calculated to rivet hig regordg! This dariug in- truder was none other than Heottn Lardress; aud Fluribel immediately recognised bim>. GOHMGIO@ CS CO