Agnes Vol. 2 — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

“Qh, not a syllable on that score! But I must go and rouse that lasy hostler of mine; for, as I told you, signora, we were all up very late-——-”’ Tbe hostess must have concluded her speech in the passage, if she finished i¢-t all; for she was now bustling out of the kitghen and was closing the door behind her. Qiprina was overjoyed to think that everythiog ‘aras tthus «progressing 80 favourably: she was waruned ‘by'bhe'fre and the coffee—she dried her ‘feet, which ‘had been wet with the heavy dew—she was now cheered and her Bpirits were elevated. ‘Ju.a few minutes the land- lady returned, with the tatimation that it was all right, and the vebiolé-would be round at the front door by the time the wigmora had taken another cup of coffee, “But, by the bye,” »#he said, “which road are you going ?” “In which direction does this road lead?” in- quiréd the young lady, who was utterly ignorant ‘on the point, “Why, in one direction to Ficrence,” was the ‘nawer; “end in the other to Bagno.”’ * And how far off is Bagno?” inquired Ci- ‘pring. ee Oh! apwards of thirty miles,” retarmed the “ And from Bagno into the Roman States, how faxP’ waked Ciprina. *“Not above ten miles to the nearest point woress the: frontier,” wae the response. “*Phat.will do,” said the young lady ndfter hav- ing appeared to reflect for a fow moments, ‘in -weality.ber mind was made ap on the inesant. “‘Yesa—I1 will proceed to Bagno.” : The worthy hostess was either completely cre- duleus, or at all events sho chose to seem so; and in w few. minutes the vehicle drove round to the frent of the inn. Ciprina forced a very liberal sam.upon the landlady in ‘payment of her atten- tions, and likewiee for .the-hiso of the equipage ; dnd Be~far as she could judge, the horses seemed fully competent to do its.werk at a quick .rate. The chaise was enoldWiashiened concern ; ‘bat it was comfortable encagh ;:end-Qiprins, taking ber seat, bade the«woman ferewel). On went ‘the equipage ; and for about half-an-hour it pursued its way along the broad even road amidst the argentine splendour which prevailed. All of a sudden, at the expiration of that brief interval, Ciprina’s ear caught the sounds of a galloping steed’s hoofs; anda horseman quickly appeared in sight. He was coming up a lane which diverged at right angles from the road; and he was be- labouring his animal with every sppearance of the most remorseless violence. But what was Ci- prina’s amazement when at a second glance she recognised her late travelling-companion, Charles De Vere! Instantaneously throwing herself back in the vebicle, she pulled the veil over her countenance, and drow hor ample cloak still more closely around her form. Then she was on the very point of orying out to Charles, that she might aseertain the cause, of his furious riding-—-whether danger were at.udid, and if so, of what nature it was— when al] in a moment the animal which our hero bestrode stursbled_and fell. De Vere was thrown off; but he wis instantaneously on his feet again; and without paying any heed ta the passing post- AGNRS; OR, RBAUTY AND PLEASURE. chaise, he endeavoured to make the fallen steed rise up. But the blood was now flowing from the horse’s mouth ; and it was therefore only too plain that its last work was done~and perbaps the closing achievement of its useful career was not the least exciting nor memorable in its brute existence. _, An ejaculation of despair burst from the yuuth’s lips, as he flung anxious glances behind him down the lane. But Ab! did he hear aright ?—wa some one calling him by name? ! “Mr. De Vere! Mr. De Vere!’ said the voice, which though somewhat altered from that in which Ciprina was accustomed to speak—or though, in other words, it was a feigned voice-yet was it full” of soft music. At the same instant the young lady thrust forth her head from the window of the vehicle, and called to the driver to stop, An oxclatiation of. minzled surprise and joy new axpressed ‘he feeling with which Charles was iepired on beh*lding that veiled lady; for a glance showed him that she-was alone -~and he therefere-naturally concluded onthe in- stant that she had-sucoeeded in eséaping aswell as he himself had ere now dom. Torash _ to open the door of the vehicle—to spring wp in- skde—all this was:the werk of a -momest; -and thrusting his head from the window, he ejaculated to the dtiper, ‘‘Qn, on at tho height .of your speed | there.are robbers:blose at:hand ?’ It-only required thic‘intamation to induce the driver to lash the steed-into the fleetest gallop which it was capabie of accomplishing ; end .ss the horse was really a good one, the vehicle aped.along at a tremendous rate. wa Robbers P”’ ejaculated Ciprina, “you do not mean ———!’ “ Robbers in ene sense if not in another,” cried Charles quickly,—“ men who would rob us ef our liberty {” “ But is there any immediate danger? ‘You were flying———”’ “From the mo sbirri /” = respondez Charlies. “The poor brute which you saw sink down under me, performed wonders—miracles er otieies For half-an-hour I distanced “ Just heaven !” exclaimed Ciprina: “ then they ‘are upon our track———" * 'Yos !—perdition take them !” interrupted De Vere, who had just peeped forth from the window. ‘They are coming along in the same direction! I was in hopes they would be thrown off the scent!” ‘*' What chance have we of escape °”’ asked Ci- prine, who thus beheld all the heaven of her hopes suddenly darkened with the blackest clouds. “No chance but the feetness of this horse!” yejoined Charlies. “ And after all, it is ridiculous to suppose for a single moment that we cas out- strip them! Ab, signora! I am now perhaps bringing destruction upon you-——”’ “Do these sbirri know us?” demanded the young lady quickly: “are they aware——” “I searcely can tell what they know or what they conjecture,” exclaimed Charles. “They pur- sued me all of a sudden—I had dre-arme—the carbine and the pistol which I took from those officers———"” “Well, well?” ejaculated ‘Ciprina impatiently. And these weapone P’ . COMM ECLOOO SS (C@