Agnes Vol. 2 — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ~— — 261 obtained. But he lodked once more at Carlotta; the staircase of the mansion of the British Em- and then came the one most generous instant | bassy, they met a young gentleman hastily which had ever as ye6 displayed itself in the career ascending. of Sir Alexander Holcroft. . “No!” he exclaimed, “I will not flee! I will not depart! I will not prove less generous than you, Carlotta! Besides, I really love you!—and moreover you have this day shown so many ad. mirable qualities—so much virtue and so much self-denisl—so much true principle and so muck magnanimity—that I feel I should be proud of you as a wife!’ One ery of joy, and the delighted being bounded towards him. Then, as she was strained to his heart, where she sobbed and wept in wild de- light, Holeroft went on to say, “Never should I have yielded to threatsa—no, not even to the dread of a Tuscan fortress. But the goodness of Carlotta has triumphed! Father Falcunara, you may now unite our hands according to the ceremony of the Catholic Church, whereof she is a member: and then we will’away to the British Embassy, where the chaplain shall rivet the bonds according to the forms of the Protestant faith. Captain Belluno, your band before you acknowledge me as your son- in-law !” Lhe hands were clasped accordingly; and the reader may conceive how great was Carlotta’s de. light when she found that not only was her in- tended husband established on a complete friendly footing with her sire, but aiso that Father Fal. conara was preparing to perform the bridal service. The nuptial blessing was soon pronounced ; and the Baronet saluted his young brido as Lady Holcroft. And you will never repent,” she murmured, as she hid her blushing cheeks in the breagt to which he strained her,——“ you will never for a moment think that you were by any means coerced into this union P” “* No—never, deareat !”? was the response given with enthusiastic fervour. “ From this moment forth I feel myself to-be’an altered man !” Captain Belluno, Father Falconara, and Signor Petruccio now took their departure—but it was ouly to proceed to the nearest magistrate’s office, where they were in a short time rejomed by Sir Alexander and Lady Holcroft. A notary was sent Sor ; and the “ civil contract of marriage,” as it is valled in the Sardinian States, was duly sigued. Some two hours were thus disposed of; and from the magisterial office the party proceeded to the British Embassy, where the services of the cbap- lain were soon put into requisition ;—sv that the nuptial ceremony was sanctioned according to the rites of the Protestant Church in order that the “What! De Vere! is it you?” burst from the lips of the Baronet. “Ab, Holcroft!” cried our hero; “who would have thought of meeting with you at Turin? I fancied that you were buried, for the. benefit of your health, amidet the wilds of the Apen- nines P”” ; ‘No, my dearefriend,” responded the Baronet, smiling at his pretty companion. ‘I am here to change my condition. In a word, permit me to introduce you to Lady Holcroft.” Charles started for a moment in astonishment— for he never had fancied the Baronet to be a marrying man: but he made a most courteous salutation to the bride. “Lady Holcroft knows you by name,” con- tinued Sir Alexander; “and you may perhaps have heard of her as the Signoretta Belluno though I believe you did not meet when you were at the Castle of Bagno,” Again was our hero seized with surprise; but being too well bred to betray it for more than an instant, he proffered his congratulations, which were acknowledged with a friendly cordiality on the part of Holcroft and with modest blushes on that of Carlotta. “And now, my dear fellow,’ continued Hol- croft, “what are you doing at Turin? and why are you rushing up these stairs in so desperate a hurry? Besides, you look jaded and care- worn ” ‘I have travelled fast,” replied our hero. “ I come from Florence—l am on my way to Magland | —I am going to get my passport countersigned here, at the Embassy- “T hope nothing unpleasant bas occurred P” in- terjected the Baronet. “ Nothing — nothing particular,’ rejoined our hero quickly. “ But I am in haste——” “J will not detain you. But, Ah!” ejaculated Sir Alexander, “I have something to tell you though 1 do not exactly know whether 1 ought to mention it or not——”’ “What do you mean ?” cried Charles De Vero, “¥loribel Lister " “ Floribol 2” exclaimed our hero. Yes—Floribel Lister is here,in Turin. She is at the Hotel de France. Yet, for heaven’s sake, if am committing any indiscretion in making this announcement——” “T must see her!” interjected Charles: “but I will not tell her that it ie from you I learnt of her union might be perfectly legal and binding in the | being at Turin.” eye of the British law. The whole proceedings ! were thus conducted with that degree of secrecy , remarked Holcroft. which might raise no suspicion at the hotel that Sir Alexander and Carlotta were only just mar- We also are staying at the Hotel de France,” “I will come thither presently,” said our hero ; “and if I meet you there, my conduct shall seem tied; and as they had previously passed there as aa if we had not previously encountered each other man and wife, nothing could now transpire to en- gender the idea in that quarter that the nuptial ceremony had only been solemnized that day. The Baronet invited Captain Belluno, Father Falconara, end Signor Giovanni Petruccio to dine at that hotel in the evening; and in the mean- whiJe those three persons took leave of the newly- married couple. As Sir Alexander was escorting his bride down | | | in this capital.” He bowed and hurried up the staircase—while Sie Alexander and Lady Hoicroft descended to the vehicle which had brought them thither. NOG) .S