Agnes Vol. 2 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 45 ad oa Yes—you know not how J love you! I feel,| as if sunk a thousand fathoms below the surface of Lucrezia, that I shall be unhappy and discon. | the sea—how every voice which might give vent tented ” to an accusation against any great ono at the timo, + “You unhappy and discontented ?” she ejacu- | was thore stifled—how every tongue which threat- lated, surveying the Count with an air of surprise | ened to proclaim truths that were unpleasant to the blended with a show of tegderest anxiety. Court or its favourites, was there gageed ” “Yes—until [ can do something to prove how “ Yos, yea,” said Lucrezia,—* I have read ofall ardently I love you—to show how grateful Iam for | this. But what has that to‘do, my dear Count, the happiness which you are now conferring upon | with tho circumstances of the presené day—and "me in a word, to convince you that I hold my- | those circumstances applying thomselves to Tus- sel{to be your slave! Ah, the idea that you should | cany ?” be molested by any wretched Neapolitan refugee! “It means, dearest Lucrezia,—it means,” re- Why, if you possessed enemics the greatest and | poatod Ramorino, with a smile that was peculiar most powerful in the land, I would find means to ' and sinister in its significancy,—“it means that sweep them all from the face of the earth !” | Tuscany has its Lastilles which yawn to receive “Ab, my doar Count,” said the Marchioness, at | the enemies of tho Court or of the high dignitaries tho same time bestowing another caress: “ you | of the State. And when I add, Lucrozia, that it are very kind: but——” you happen to possess enemies, they become my “But what, Luerezia!” interjected Ramorino. | enemies also—you know what I mean !” “Jo you doubt my powerP—for I am sure that! ‘“ Ah, this isindeed a strong proof of love which you cannot suspect the sincerity of my inclination | you are giving me!” exclaimed the ALarchioncss, to do all £ have promised ifat any time you should ‘ winding her warm white arms about the Minister's put mo to the test ?” ‘neck and covering his cheeks with kisses. “ But “No, no, dear Count-—I do not suspoct your in- _ do you mean me to understand that prisoners who clination! heaven forbid! after all tho assurances , are carried off in this manner, remain altogether you have given mo! But your power—is it in- | lost to the world, and that the world is lost to deed 80 very great ?”’ ' them—that henceforth no communication can take “ Greater than that of the Grang Duke him- , place ——”’ self,” responded Ramorino, a cortain look of pride} “Between them and the world? No—none!” now mingling with the gazo of brimful passion ' replied Ramerino. “ Lt is aspecics of death—with which he was fixing upon the upturned counte- this differonee, that tho aid of the Leadsman or nance of the Marchioncse: “ yes, greater than that the hangman has not been called in.” of the Sovereign bimself! I will tell you why. | “Still IT scarcely understand you,” said tho It the Grand Dake sought to plunge an enemy! Marchicness. “ Supposc now for instance that 1 into a dungeon, he must procure my counter- had an onemy—vr Ict us say a couple of ene- Signature to the warrant; and that counter: ! mies ” signature would not be given without sufficient; “ Well,” interjected. the Count; “and lot us reasons. But on the other hand, if I sought to; suppose that theso tw: enemies had obtained pos- immure a foe in a fortalice till the end of his days , session of some secy.t which threatened the loss of -—to wall him up as it were in a living tomb—I your reputation--r your fortune—or your liverty have but to present the warrant to his Highness | —or your life—g-” and demand bis asscot, qvithout the necessity of | “Well, woll,”’. said the Marchionoss hastily ; affording a single syllable of explanation.” ' “Jet us suppose something of this sort,—of course “Oh, then, the power you wield is indeed. I should be glad to silence such enemios for great!” murmured the Marchioness, now appear- | ever ‘a ing to gaze with mingled pride and fondness upon; Naturally so,” interrupted the Count,—“ whil> the countenance of the Minister. “ It is sweet to | you would not precisely like to go tosucaa length have you as a friend : it would be terrible to havo | as to take their lives. And then too, dis«ppear- you as an enemy !” ance and murder are vary different! The tormer “ And remember well, Lucrezis,” rejoined tha | leaves naught brbind to tell a tale, but at once Count, “ that whatsocver terror there may be in |involves everything in a stupendous and awful the power which 1 wield, shall bo felt by your ' mystery; whereas, on the other hand, tho latter: enemies !” ‘leaves its bloodmarks and its sanguineous “Ab! if I dared!” ejaculated the Marchionoss | traces ” me" Ob, if I,dared!”—and then she atopped *Truo! true! said the Marchioness, with a short. strung inward excitement—though as ber form “Wat mean you P” inquired the Count hastily. | quivered to the pressure of the Count’s arms, ho “There is something in your mind? Ob, if I | fancied that it was palpitating with a softer and could render you a service ” | more scusuous passion. And this disappearance “Did you not say,” inquired Lucrezia, evi- ‘means immurement in a dungeon?” dently reflecting decply with an under-current of 1 © Jt monne incarceration in a fortress,” rejoined thought, at tho same time that sho put the ques- | tho Ministor, “tho walls of which aro so thick tion,—“ did you not say that you had the power— | that they beat back every sound from witbin and the fearful power—of immuring a foe in a dun- | intercept every sound from without,—a fortress geon—walling him up in a living tomb 7 where the gaciers and the seutinels have so cars “ Yes, all that powcr,” responded the Count of | and no eyes for aught beyond the ordevs which Bamoriuo. © You have read history, my dear | they receive from their superiors —whero hupe dies Litcrezia—you know what the Bastille of former upon the threshold the instant if is crussed by the timgs was in Paris,—how men were plunged into | foot of the in-going captive—aud whence there 18 ita silent depths, and as much lost to the world! no out-coming sv long as the cause for which hn le a, — A (C@ GORMGOOOKXS