Agnes Vol. 2 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND YLRASURE. * No, signor,” reapunded Vetroro. longer here.” “ Ah! then he has removed,” ojaculated Charlies; “but you can doubtless indicate his new abode ?” * Signor Paoli is no longer in Florence—nor yet in Tuscany,” rejoined Petroro; and all the time he was steadily surveying the youth through the large circular glasses of his spectaclos. “No longer in Tuscany? But tell me “The short and the long of it is, signor,” inter- rupted Petroro, “Signor Paoli was expelled by tho police in the morning of the 20th of October: ho was escorted to tho outskirts of Floreuce—I ac- companied the pour man—and I beard the sbirri givo bim the most positive orders to leave the ‘Tuscan territory with the least possible delay.” “ Gvuod heavens!” cried Charlos. “ And whither, then, has he gone P” “YT should say into the Duchy of Lucca—for that is the nearest : but I do not know.” “And has anything been done?” inquired Charles,—“ 1 mean in reference to the business which specially brought him to Fiurence ?” “TI know nothin more than this, signor,” an- swered Petroro,—* that Paoli came to I torence to investigate the mysterinus assassination of bis son Giulio; bat beyoud that fact 1 am unacquainted with overy detail. IIe was a morqlodzer hero— le paid me hovourably ” “Now look you!” interrupted Charles: “I am not surprised that you speak pguardedly, and that you even appear wmistrusttul: for such terrible things are dove in Italy that make the blood of ugtivheen run celd or else fire it with indigna- tion {” “Ah, then you are an Englishman?” exclaimed Petroro, his countenanco brightening up. * Yes: and in order to prove that I am dealing “ Paoli is no F with all possible frankness, I will tell you who 1! am. Ifere is my card. IJ have journeyed all the way from Naples to render whatsvever assistance I might be able to Sigur Paoli a ‘Ah, signor, how kind of you!” exclaimed Petroro, his manner now undergoing the must completo change, and becoming all urbanity and kindness instead of colduess and resorve. “ De- pond upon it there are sume persons who do not want this affair of the murder to be investizated, and who therefure have sot in mouvement the machinery of the police.” Perhaps, thon,” said Charles, “ you have your suspicion P” ‘Porhaps I bave, signor,” replicd Petroro: “but without entertaining any farther mistrust towards yourself, I may just as well observe that it would bo orly a waste of time fur you and mo to discuss éhe busiuess—because I om go situated that I cannot offer to rondur auy asaistance in it. I have a wife and children to support, and dare not get at loggerheads with the police.” “And I will not for a moment do aught that may compromise you,” rejuvincd Charles. ‘ But tell me—has thore been a French gentleman here to see Paoli P” “ Yes,” replied Petroro;—a French geatleman called the very cveniug before Paoli was arrested by the police. Pavli was out at the time: he returnec home greatly agitated, cxolaiming some- thing abuut a purse and a certain Marchiv- ness ———="” Ele Aa EE SS nll mR TY PA 9G rity eet GO Y & $ Ee “Yos—I understand,” interyectod Cuarles: “tuo Marchioness of Mirano P” “Well, it is you who say it, signor,” obsorvo:l Petroro, but with a significant amile. “ Paoli, as I was telling you, came home in this almost fren-' ziod state: I told him a French gentloman had called—hoe said ho knew it, and that he had aeeu the gontleman, who would call again presently— and that I was at once to admit him. YPaolt sat up the whole night; but the Frenchman returned not—and then in the morning, between eight and nine o'clock, the police came and arrested the ua- furtunate Neapolitan.” “And what did he say?” inquired Charles, “Did he not protest ——” “Tur a single moment—and then he held his tongue,” rejoined Petroro; “for this very good reason-——that g couple of carbiues wore polated at his bead, with the threat that his brains would bo biown out if ho dared speak a word. Sv, like a wise man, bo held his peace. I accompanied him —or rather I should say I followed the party to the outskirts of Florence: but the sbirri would not suffer mo to exchange a single word with Paoli, and he was ‘sent off in some vehicle hired at the moment for the purpose.” “And this young I'renchman,” said Charles inquiringly,—“ have you not sven him since ?”’ “No, siguor,’ responded Potruro: “but I have heard of him,” : * Ah, indeed P And where is he?” “Softly, signor,” interjected Petroro, “I mye solf know very little on the subject. I am too prudent to ask many questions-—I only give an- swers to the questions which aro put tv me: Lut what little I know shall bea cheerfully imparted to you—for the longer I gaze upon your frank open countenance, the more am I convinced that you are an honest good young man. 1 must tell you, therefore, that in the afternvon or evening of the very samc daywon which Paoli was arrested and carried off, a young girl called upon me. She hid the air of being handmaiden or cameriste of sume lady, for she was very genteel and well dressed. Sho told me sho came on the part of thé French gon- tloman who had called’ the qvening before; and then the girl inquired fur Signor Paoli. 1 told her what had happened in respeet to Paoli’s arrest and expulsion; and the girl went away.” “And have you not seven her since P” inquired Charics., “Yes,” answerod Petroro,— in the foroaoon uf this very day.” “Ab! and the French gentleman ?” “1 know nothing about him beyond this—that ho 18 most anxious to learn where Signor Paoli now is: aad he believed that Paoli cannot fuil shortly to communicate hia address to me. To bo brief, signor, | bave tuld the young girl that sho may call every morning and evening, under cir- cumstances of due cautivp, to inquire whether [ have received any communication from Signor Paoli. But Ido not know who the girl is—nor whence she comes—nor who the young Irenca- man is—nor where Le is—nor why he does not come himself: and to tell you the truth, signor, [ do not want to have muro to do with the matter than Ican possibly help; for when the police meddle in euch affuirs, they are apt tu becume awkward and ombarrassing.” COMME HOG SS (C@