Agnes Vol. 2 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

68 eee een enna goner! And the lady-captive too, by all that is fortunate !”’ he added, as his look travelled with lightning rapidity from the countenance of Charles in the midst of the sbirri, to the veiled and cloaked form of Ciprina inside the vehicle. A subdued moan indicated the despair of the young lady as she sank back in the chaise; while Charles De Vere knew not how to maka another effort of any kind to save himself and Ciprina. Hasty explanations took place between the newly errived sbirro and the officials who were pre- viously on the spot—the result of which was that Charles in a few minutes found himself again ecated by Ciprina’s side in the chaise. “To which place were you proceeding with the lady ?” inquired one of the sbirri of the driver of the vehiole. “J was going to tao her to the next town, on the way to Bagno——” “Ah, Bagna!” ejaculated the official whose arrival had so utterly defeatod the last chance that remained for the unfortunate fugitives. ‘ And did the signora say that she meant to proceed as far ae Bagno P” “Yea—and farther on still—into the Roman States, I believe,” was the response. “Ab, well! she will be so far cratified that the will presently see Bagno! And now drive on.” The chaise accordingly continued its way~—the whole troop of sbirrt keeping guard over it, some riding 9p one side and some on the other. “ Madam,” said Charles, in a voice of the icepest affliction, “I must again repeat mpisor- ‘ow that I should have become the cause of your ‘eoapture !”’ We should observe that he spoke now, as he iad all along done, in the French language to ‘iprina; for it was that which she herself had dopted when first he met her in the ante-room f her own suite of apartments at the Mirano 2ansi0n. © “ Pray, sir,” she responded, still maintaining a ertain disguise in her voice, and speaking in a ow subdued tone,—* pray, sir, I beseech you, re- roach not yourself! We are evidently the vic- ims of stars the most unlucky that ever ruled the estiny of mortals! But what meant the signifi- ant accent and leer with which that ruffian sbirro lluded just now to Bagno?” “ Alas, madam,” answered De Vere, “ Bagno is pe of the Apennine fortresses in which Tuscan risoners are confined !” “ Heavens! And I who was rushing headiong ato the lion’s mouth!” ejaculated Ciprina. “ But, ood God! can our persecutora mean to imprison s for any length of time ?” “Ab, madam,” interjected Charles, who from generous feeling was naturally anxious to ab- bain from telling her the very worst,—“ it is use- ‘sa to waste time in speculation and conjecture. et us talk of something.else. There are certain splanations which you may possibly be enabled ) givo—n—” “Ob! you mean to ask me,” interrupted Ci- rina, “whether. I can tell you who is at the ottom of thigfedious procecding. I have no oubt it was that vile woman, the living counter- art of that perished princess of infamous me- TU D foil “You mean the Marchioness of Mirano ?” said AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Charles. “Yes! I have heard that she exactly resembles all the known portraits of Lucrezia Borgia; and every circumstance now tends “a prove that the resemblance ig not merely confine” to features and figure, but that the character,’ the same! ‘Yes, madam, I bad already conjecture ——nay, more, I had felt convinced that the in- stigatrix of tho outrage wheroof we are the vic- tims, was the Marchioncss di Mirano! But pow was it that at your mansion—beneath your roof-— such an irruption of the myrmidons of the law could take place so unexpectedly and wifh such mystcrious suddenness? Methinks I bolfeld.the abrupt opening of a door in the midst oF a wail where I had seen no traces of any door until that moment Ah!” ejaculated Charles, as a light seemed to flash in unto his brain; “ perhaps, after all, it was not I whom thi police-officials purposed to arrest? It may havg been M, Mar- cellin bimself!” ‘ “ Yes—there can be no doubt,” reSoined Ciprina, “ that this idea on your part is the correct one. But I will tell you a little secret, Mr. De Vore— one that it is now no longer of any use to con- cecal ——" “And that secret?” demanded our young hero hastily. “It was mato the mansion of the Marcbioness di Mirano that you were introduced last night !— it was within the walls of her palatial residence that we were both seized upon and carried uff!” Charles De Vere was confounded at this piece of intelligence ; and for nearly a minute he sat specchless with the astonishment which bad seized upon him. “Good heavens! mystery is piled upon mys- tery!” he at length ejaculated. “ You in the Mirano mansion! and yet not an accomplice in the odious treachery which hus thus made me a prisoner, and which, whether intended for mvsel! or another, is nevertheless burrying me ei tha.. same toa fortress in the Spennines! And Livar Marcellin too beneath that roof?—unless for any reason you deceived me———”’ ‘“No—lI did not deceive you,” responded Ci- prina; “and under all circumstances I pardon you the insult conveyed by the imputation. Ei ar Marcellin was beneath that ruof—is perhaps there now ” “And you, lady—who are you?’ demanded Charles De Vere. “ At least there ought to be no longer any mystery on your part towards me: but, on the contrary, if you be really the friend of Marcellin—if you be an enemy of the Marchioness of Mirano—— “IT am both!” interjected Ciprina. “I found an asylum with the Marchioness di Mirano— Edgar Marcellin loved me ” ‘‘ And is he really il! ?”’ demanded our hero. ‘‘He is wounded! The wretched Marchioness sought his life—and but for me he would have died! I deemed him safe in my suite of apart- ments—-I considered myself so far safe likewise that Lucresia di Mirano would never have recourse to any open violence: and as for entertaining an idea at all treacherous towards yourself, Mr. 1 Vere——Ob, no! I was incapable of it!—believe me, I was incapable of it! But I did desire to keep my amour with Edgar Marceilin wao- known——” ee ee ee ee A AOC ( i@i SS (C@