Agnes Vol. 2 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. that therefore i¢ was a task which her mistress had performed for herself. This was another strongthening proof on the one hand; but on the other it had effaced the very evidences which in the first instance had raised Lisetta’s suspicions. She was however more than at first convinced that the Marchioness was the authoress of the unfortu- uate Giulio’s death, But how could he have wfended her? Lisetta began to obtain a glim- mering clue to the mystery. She had some time previously fathomed the fact that the Marchioness had conceived a passion for me “For youP” cjaculated Ciprina. “ Yes——for me,” responded Marcellin. “ Ah! doubtless the Marchioness played ‘the hypocrita with us both at the time !—for an adept is she in every species of dissimulation, It was Giulio who instructed me how to repair to the villa, tu seek Lisetta, and inquire of her for the Marchioness ; while it was to you yourself, Ciprina, that I was introduced !” * And what did all this mean?” asked Ciprina, in astonishment. “I]t meant that Giulio himself was playing an &) Lucrezia Borgia. And then, under the influ- ence of some terribly agitated feeling, the Mar- chioness apostrophized that portrait in some such terms as these:—‘ Ob! is it fated to be that onc Lucrezia proves to be the prototype of the other? Is Lucrezia Borgia to be regarded by the world as not more exquisite in beauty nor more diabolical in heart than Lucrezia Mirano? Are the two Lucrezias to become equally infamous in the annals of crime? Ob! the destiny of one bas been long ago fulfilled : that of the other is yot to receive its accomplishment !’ -—~It was in such a strain as this that the con- science-stricken, the trembling, and afzighted Marchioness spoke audibly, in wild accents of anguish, while Lisetta remained an unseen listener in the gallery.” “This is dreadful! absolutely dreadful!” said Ciprina, with a strong shudder. “ Lisetta,” continued Edgar Marcellin, “was more than ever convinced, | repeat, of the guilt of her taistress : but still were the proofs insuffi. clont to satisfy a tribunal of justice. The girl was at first bewildered how to act,—unutil she be- underhand game,” continued Edgar, “and throw- | thought herself’ of making known everything to ing me into your arms. And why should he do | the murdered Ciulio’s family, whom she knew to this? Did he not passionately love the Marchio- ; be in England. ness? Yes !—Lisetta assures mo that he did; and thus his object was evident, Tt was to frus- trate the passion which the Marchioness had con: celved tor me !” “Ah! now I comprepend,” exclaimed Ci- prina ; “and the web is disentangling itsolf !” * Cunjecture only can fill up the remainder of the narrative,” continued Edgar, —“ unless the guilty Marchioness should ever be led to contess its details, We must suppose that Giulio’s strata- gein became by sume incans known to the Mar- cbioness—that her vindictive feelings were excited when she found how Giulio had disposed of me, his rival in her ladysbip’s love, by throwing me into the arms of you, hee rival in my love! Yes —these are the details which conjecture supplies; aud if is thus that Lisctta’s ingenuity fathomed the whole intricacy of the plot and gave shape and form to the reasons which must have so powerlully induced Lucrezia di Mirano to avenge herself so terribly upon Giulio.” “Just heaven!” murmured Ciprina; “ i¢ must be indeed as Lisetta conjectured it, and as you have now explained it to me !” * But I have more to teil you,” resumed Edgar Marcellin. ‘ Lisetta, after having for some three or four years been a loving and affectionate adhe- rent of the Marchioness di Mirano, conceived a deadly hatred for her, and vowed in the depths of her suul to avenge, if possible, poor Giuliv’s death. Xet she knew not how to act; fur though she entertained the firm conviction that her mistross was the ussassin, yet she had the good sonse to perceive that the proofs would be held insignifi- cant in the extreme by any magistrato who mizht be appealed tu. She kept a watch upon her mis- tress : she fullowed her unperceived into tho pic- ture-yallery ; aud then she beheld a scene which siveted the conviction that was in her wind, if indeed any further proof were wanting sv far as her own opinion was concerned. She saw the ‘ieschioness contemplate, with ghastliest louks bud with eyes full of horror, the portrait of She accordingly withdrew on some plausible pretext froma the Marchionessa di Mirano’s service : she proceeded to London—but she failed to discover the Paoli family tor many long, long months. In short, it was only the other day that she obtained the slirhtest clue to that which she had so long been secking. At the same time accident throw her in my way, as L have already told you . “And then from her lips you learnt all these things ?” said Ciprina gy‘ And what was your plan ot proceeding ?” “T myself saw once,” returned Edgar Mar- cellin, “that thef#proofs were inefficient fur the condemnation of the guilty woman before a tri- bunal of justice—cspecially in a country where wealth and rank have so many chances and oppor- tunities of securing impuuity fur crime. | there- fore determined to adopt a course which should enable me to work upon the wrrors of the Mar- chioness, and extort from her a confession of ber guilt. Aided by the information which on all requisito points I received from Lisetta, I last evening penetrated within the walls of this man. sion, «From the dressing-chamber of the Mar- chioness I procured the suit of male apparel which she nu doubt wore at the time when the :nurder was perpetrated ; I procured likewise the pistol which discharged the winged messenger of death, and which is easily distinguishable by the mark which Lisetta made upon the handle. These ob- jects I took with mo to the pivture-gallery: a note which I left on the boudoir brought the Mar- chioness ” “Which note I havo‘een,” interjected (iprina. “J picked it up in the boudoir; and it was the cause of my proceeding to the gallery in time to rescue you from another attack which the mur- dereas would have assuredly made upon you at the slightest sign of: life.” Yes—that note brought the Marchioness to the gallery,” continued Edgar; “and then, im a vuico sulumnly disguised, 1 repeated from the neighbourhvod of the portrait of Lucrezia Borgia, ECOMIC MOOG 7 SS CO