Agnes Vol. 2 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

AGEES; OF, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 67 a] have them no longer. When hard pressed | factory response, she was seised with a violent some ten minutes back, at the commencement of, trembling; and if the sbirrs could have with their that very lane from which you saw me emerge, I looks penetrated beneath her veil, they would have turned and for a moment made head agaiust my | seen that her countenance was of a ghastly ; emjes. thought I might beat them back—or | pallor. ent terrify them—and I discharged my fire- “ Come, signora, you had better answer the arms, The plan seemed to succeed—the fellows question |” exclaimed the officer who had pre- atopped—and on I rushed. But I had no ammu- | viously been speaking; “for I can tell yuu that ution for my weapons they were therofore an‘ we alreddy think there is something suspicious encumbrance—and I threw them away.” | and strange in the proceeding—and not the less “ TLuok and see again where the pursuers are P” ' on account of the pertinacity with which you keep said Oiprina, a prey to the most feverish anxiety ' that veil over your countenance.” and torjuring suspense, I will tell you the truth !” exclaimed Ciprina, “Qobd heaven! they are close upon us!” eja-/ now terribly agitated. “I was travelling a little culated Charles; “and whatever they may think | while back in quite a different style—I was at- or know, you, unfortunate lady, are now only too | tacked by robbers—they took from me my pass- sure to be confpsomised by me! What can I do? | port-—purse—everything ” I will spring fprth!—I will lead them a chase “ And where did this happen ?” demanded one across the fielgs—through the woods!—and you | of the sbirri. will put®ue your journey in safety |” “Ah! I forget the name of the town which I With these/wildly spoken ejaculations, Charles, I had last left—but I was cciwing from’ Flo. Do Vero flung, open the door of the chaise, and | rence 7 sprang forth, reckless of the frightful peril he in- | “And pray, after having been attacked by curred on account of*the rapid rate at which the | robbers,” demanded the sbirro with an ineredu- equipage was proceeding. He alighted on the | lous sneer, “ how came you to admit into your grassy slope of a bank by the side of the road; | chaiso one of the chiefs of the vory banditti by but he was almost stunned by the violence of the | whom you had been despoiled P” concussion; and the few moments jhe thus lost! At this moment one of the sdirri who had wero irretrievable. Scarcely had he regained his | Charles De Vere in their custody, called out to his feet, when the sbirri were upon the spot. He was | two companions at the carriage-door,—exclaiming, surrounded drawn cutlasses menaced him—re- | “ After all, I really think there ig some mistake sistance was utterly vain—and he was compelled to ' here! The young gentleman seems to be different acknowledge himself a prisoner. | from what we thought " A couple of the mounted police officers now | “¥fo will have some difficulty in making me be- galloped forward to see who might be travelling in | lieve it,” said the sbirro who had just been ques- the postchaise that had evidently some few mi- | tioning Ciprina in such sharp terms. “ Bring him nutes rendered its services to the fugitive, and, this way; for I do not mean to let the chaise which (they naturally thought) would not have | continue its course until I am convinced that been abandoned unless he had seen that he could ! things are a little moro satisfactory than they now not hope to accomplish his escape by means of that | appear.” equipage. Our young hero was accordingly escorted to the Stop!” exclaimed thea sbirri to the postilion— | spot where the vehicle had halted; and then one of and the man stopped accordingly: for he now per- | the sbirri who had him in custody, said, “The peived that instead of the horsemen being robbers, ; young gentleman has shown us his card; and if it as he had at first concluded from Charlee De Vere’s | it is to be relied upon, he is an Englishman, at- exclamation, they wore the officers of the law. tached to the British embassy at Naples-———” Ciprina had already seen from the carriage- “ He may have stolen the cartls from the pocket windew that Charles was captured; and when she | of some murdered or pillaged traveller,” exclaimed beheld the two sbirri ride after the equipage, she | the incredulous sbirro. . gave herself up for loaf. “But he has got a letter,” continued the “Who is this lady ?”’ demanded one of the offi- | official who was better disposed in De Vere’s cials, the instant be had thrown a glance into the | fevour, “ addressed to just the same namo that vehicle, there is upon the cards-——” “T am travelling for my recreation,” Ciprina | “ Well then, perhaps the young gentleman will hastened to answer, thus anticipating whatsoever | have the kindness to show us his passport—to tell reply might have been given by the driver to{| us why he galloped away like a felon—how he whom the* question was put. “I perceive why | came with a éarbine in addition to a pistol-——” you ask me—but the mattor is easy of explanation.| At this moment tho hasty trampling of a horso’s I saw that gentleman’s horse fall under him—he | hoofs attracted the attention of the entire party begged me to give him a seat in the chaise—he | assembled on the spot where this scene was taking told some tale of robbers, and I believed him. If} place; and another sbirro was seen advancing it be not true—or if there be any reason why I | along the road. As he drew nigh, a tightness should not have succoured him—I am exceedingly | seized upon our young hero’s heart and he felt sorry.” assured that all was lost; for in the approaching “ But who are you, signora P” inquired the fore- | horseman he recognised the very identical police- most of the two sbirri. .“ Where do you come | official who had ridden on the box of the other from Whither are you going ? Be pleased to | postcbaise, and whom he bad vanquished aud dis- produce your passport.” armed of his carbine ! At this terrible demand, to which the unfor- “Ab, by the saints!” ejaculated the horseman, inate lady was utterly unable to give a satis-'as he galloped up to the spot: “my lust pri- GORMGOOOKXS (C@