Agnes Vol. 2 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLRASURE, opiate, Aiea te. OO SA) ae eee og eget ats rag] eS — ~e -_ ‘+ And what name bore you within the walls of the Mirano mansion?’ asked Doe Vere. “Surely you may now tell me everything ?—for I confess that there are so many, many mysteries, I feel awyself bewildered, and I fain would catch a glimpse of light to guide me through so much uncertainty and darkness.” “Atthe Mirano mansion,” replied the young Nady, “I bore the name of Signora Ciprina. It is not probable that I shall ever enter that mansion again ; and as for the name—the name ” ‘Good heavens! can it be possible ?’’~—ejacu- dated De Vere, as a suspicion suddenly struck hi “The tones of this voice !—yes! yes! they are evidently disguised! Madam, I adjure you— tell me ‘“ “TI know hot, sir, what idea may have struck you,” answered Ciprina, in a cold voice that now iuunged very different to tife ears of Charles than but a Yew moments back he fancied it had seemed : ‘but if yu imagine that you ever met me before ast night, fou are mistaken. And now, sir, worn mut and exhausted with fatigue as I am, I would ‘ein slumber for awhile.” Our hero accordingly held his peace ; and a pro- ound silence now prevailed within the vehicle. Siprina lay back in her own corner: the veil was till thickly folded over her counfenance; and as he dawn was not yet breaking, there was a certain legree of obscurity prevailing in the chaise, though he heavens themselves were brilliant with argen- ine lustre. Charles could not ubtain the slightest ‘limpse of his companion’s countenance: he was vewildered by the suspicion which had struck him | few minutes back, and which was diminished, ‘ut not altogether dispelled, by the different in- onations of the vcice. He fell into a profound everio: bué it would only be a tax upon our eaders’ patience to analyze the multitude of con- icting thoughts, ideas, and conjectures which now .pitated the brain of our young hero. Meanwhile the chafse continued its way, guarded | by the posse of shbirri. At the expiration of about an hour a small posting-town was reached; and there, in front of the tavern Where the cavalcade drew up, stood the very identical postchaise whence the captives had escaped some few hours previous! The two shirrt whom Cherles De Vere had attacked and stunned inside thatvhaise, were partaking of refreshments at this hostelry: but they rushed forth the inetant they learnt the welcome intelligence that the fugitives were re- captured. The arrangements, as they at the outset existed in respect to the travelling, were now resumed. Charles and Ciprina were transferred to the post- chaise—the two sbirri who were their custodians at the first were again placed opposite to them: but now, for better precaution’s sake, a couple of sbirri rode with the equipage, one on each side, and both with pistols in their holsters, so that fire-arms might be clutched at an instant’s warning. When the equipage started, Charles De Vere made some casual observation in French to Ciprina: but the officer of the sbirri at once interposed. “Prisoners, you will maintain a profound bilence! If you, signor, violate my commands, I will bave you bound hand and foot and a gag placed between your teeth. I have not forgot the low you gave me with the butt-end of the nistol: RARE epee, 69 and you can’t therefore expeot that I should show you any indulgence.” The fellow had a tremendous bruise on his fore- head : tho other sbirro likewise bore the marks of the attack which Charles had made upon them ; and both showed by the fierce vindictive expression of their countenances that they longed for an opportunity to wreak their spite on the young Boplishman, Charles saw this, and was resolved to avoid affording them, if possible, the occasion of seizing on any pretext to make him the victim of their petty tyranny. The postchaise pursued its way at a tolerably rapid rate, for it was now drawn by four horses, — it evidently being the inteution of the sdirri to get rid of their own responsibility by lodging the captives with the least pugsible delay in the fortress of Bagno. The morning presently began to dawn above the Apennine hills; and now Ciprina not merely drew the folds of her veil all the more closcly over her countenance, but she likewise kept her face continually averted from Charles de Vere. Without appearing to be contemplating her with any degree of attention, he studied her height as well as he could, considering her sitting posture : he studied her form likewise as weil as tle muffing cloak would enable him. The suspicion grew stronger in his mind; but still he was far from arriving at a settled conviction on the pvint. The equipage continued its way: the sun rose high abovo the hills in the distance hg travellers were now completely in tho bosom of the Apen- mines. All objects wero plainly visible ; for the orb of day was rapidly putting forth all its lustre ; and though it was at the beginning of the month of November, yet let our readers bear in mind that tho grand luminary possesses in the Italian clime a power which at the close of Autumn ke seems to havo altogether renounced in respect to us dwellers in a more northern region. But though it wasnow broad daylight, yet still Charles De Vere was unable to obtain a single glimpse of the countenance of his female travelling-com- panion. She etudiously averted her face; and she still kept the thick veil closed overit. The sbirré maintained a profound silence. They did not even speak to each other; and Charles had no inelina- tion to draw down their ire upon himself by viv- lating tho mandate which had been so peremp- torily given. In this manner the equipage continued ite way until at length a few straggling houses indicated the commencement of a town. Then a atreot of tolerably imposing appearance was entered ; but the eyuipage suddenly turned abruptly thence, and pursued its course for some two hundred yards along a broad open road with no buildings on eithor side. The interior of the vehicle was sud- denly darkened, or rather shaded into semi-obscu- rity ; at the same time that the wheels rolled over an uneven stone pavement which jolted the chaise most horribly. It wasan arched gateway through which the equipage was passing ; so that the cap- tives felt assured their destination was reached and that this was the fortress of Bagno. The equipage stopped in a court-yard surrounded by gloomy walls: the door of the vehicle was opened, and the captives wore ordored to slight. They were now conducted into a large lobby, or wait- ing-room. the entire aspect of which indicated the COMME HOG SS (C@