Agnes Vol. 2 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

a) =terqraner win - JEeigees esa another escort: but 1 will remain tranquilly where | too, there was another police-official, upon the box; and he was armed with a oarbine and 8 Did Cherles De Vere contemplate any 1am and wsteh my opportunity.” He therefore remained silent; and throwing | sword. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ¢ h lenge Pa aig “eure & himself back in his own corner of the chaise, he | resistance agsinst such fearful odds P—or did he , folded hia arms across bis breast, his head iuelin- ing torward as if be were either giving way to bis reflections or yielding to a sensation of drowsiness. By his side eat Ciprina, also plunged in silence. Tue reader will recollect that she had on a thick vuil and an emple cloak a¢ the moment she was arrested. The instant she regained her conscious- ness she felt assured that the veil had not been re- moved from her face ; and this was an immediate relief to ber wind. But her meditations were still of a vevy painful character. She had no difficulty in surtiising that the Marchionoss of Miranu had suddewly stricken a grand blow, in the hope of crushii,’ the perils which environed Ler and en- suring the safety of her pusition, Ciprina like- wise thought it more than probable thut the wrong person had been arrested as her cumpanien, and that Charles Do Vere was now in the place which it had been intended that Edgar Marcellin should ovcupy—unlesgs indeed, on the other hand, it was actually purposed to deal thue with young De Vere aud to adupt sume other course with refer- ence tu Hidgar. Ciprina knew nut what to think upon these puints; and the longer she reflected upun them the roore bewildering did they bycome. At all evoute—howover the matter might really stand—it was impossible that she cvuld be other- wise than full of apprehension in reference to Marcellin, She remembered bhuw she bad left him wrapped in a profound sleep, under the in- fluonce of La Doilina’s suporific wedicuuont ; and it wae with excruciating feelings she thought within herself, * When he awakes, he may be made tu believe that 1 bave abanduned him, or that I have been guilty of some foul freachery towards hic: , for that vila Lucrezia is capable of telling him «py falsshoed !* While Charles Do Vere on the ono hand re- mamed planged iu profound silenee--aud while Oiprina vp the utbor hund was buoun ing Inore apd more entangled and bewildered by her paintul re- {lectiuns—the pusichaise cuontinucd ite way. To Charles De Vere it was a matter of the completest indifference to study tho route which the equipage wus tnking, because he was utterly upacquaiuted aiike with Flurence and ite enviruns. Ags tur C)- pring, she bud satistied herself by a glance that she was igporanut of the way. that was bung pursued ; and thereture vhe bad bestowed no further atten- tiou on this puiut, As tor the two sbirri, they were buried in a silence as profound us toast in which their prisoners were now wrapped ; but thoir eyes were wide open, and nut tur a single miglent did either of them seem inclined to sullor the keenness of vigilance to be subdued by any acusation of drowsiness. Our young hero was on bis aide muintaining a strict watch upon the men by whom be himself was eo closely watched. Tue uflicer kept bie pistol in bis se the weapun luy across his knees Courles Knew that it was cocked; and he had httic doubt that it was luaded, ‘he offiver bad another pistol abuut bie persun; while bis com- paniun sbirro posseseed « carbine, which he held between bie kuees, with the wuzzle pointing straight up towards the cvet of the chaise. Then, purpose to make any direct attack upon these well-armed menP In short, was be meditating how to secure his escape and that of his female companion P—and was he settling in his mind the best means of carrying such a project into execu- tion? We shall see. Upwards of an hour had elapsed since the post- chaise had rolled out of the city of Florence, and a halt was now made for the purpose of changing horses. This was at a post-huouse which stood completely isolated by the roadside: there was no tavern attached—and the police-oificials did not quit their seats. In a few minutes the pust- chaise was continuing its way; and the muun, now bursting forth, showed Charles, as he glanved from the window, that the road was winding amidst eminences rising into a distant background of lofty heights; so that it now for the first time struck bim that the route which was being pur- sued led into the midst of the Apennine mvuun- tains. [ie knew that the Tuscan Guvernment maintained, amidst these wilds, two or three strung fortresses, to which political ofleudera were con- signed, and which Jikewiso opened their gates to receive avy individuals who might chance tu be- cume obnoxivus to bigh and iniluential personages. A mind so sagacious as that of De Vere, was not therefore long in coming to some such conclusions as the fullowing :— “My fellow-prisoner and myself have been assured that our lives are not in danger. It is therefore vur libertiva which are at stake. Impri- sunment is intended; und it is one of the Apen- nine fortresses to which we are being conducted. As woll be enclosed iu a sepulelre at once! Ah, my poor mother!—Ah, deurust, dearest Ayovs! But by heaven, this shall nut be !” The beloved images which were thus suddenly conjured up in his wiod, nerved hiw with an almost preterhuman fortitude, and with the strongest resolution to attempt the execution of a plan which be had been revolving in his wind. {fe indeod felt that bis position was a desperate one ; and be said tu himeelf, “I must risk every- thing! It is doubtless that detestable woman, tho Marchivness di Mirano, who bas caused me and this unfortuoute lady here, to be thus sad- denly arrested; and in order that Aur safety may be ensured, Our imprisonment must be cterual ! Ob! let me therefore risk everythiug,” ho cao- phatigally repeated within his owu wind, “ rather than once suller the doors of a Tuscan duugeon to cluse upon me!” The chaise was still pursuing its way, and a profound silence reigned within. The moonlight penetrated into the interior, so that everything was plainly visible; and Charles had no fear of being able tu weasure bis vperations with the must perfect keeoness and accuracy of visiun. Prosently he drew furth bis kerelief; and, as af quite accidentally, be let it fall from his hand. Ife stuoped quickly to pick it up: bis hand in- stantanevusly cauybt the luck of the carbine which the suburdinate sbirro held bet weeu his knees, the butt resting on the fluer of the chaise. All ina muuvol there was an explusivu; the carbine Wd fd COMNMUG AOC SS (CO