Agnes Vol. 2 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

70 AATCC TD CRP O LT CDNA C LOCO LEI ECS strength of a prison whence it was next to an im- possibility to eacape against the will of the autho. rities of the place. solid masonry, formed of huge blocks of stone : AGNES; OR, BBAUTY AND PLEASUBE. 1? AGREE nem ye era=ees ~hewt* Tho walls were of the most | assuredly the right perbon.’ ‘ “Bat yet, signor,’ exclaimed Charies, “ you at OT otic FU! interrupted the Governor with a stern curtness. ‘ Whoever comds to this fortress as a prigoner, 18 the pillars supporting the arched roof, were of | will at least grant me your attention P” great thickness: the doors had a massive appear. “T have no ears and no eyes for anything ex” ance ; and the windows were such mero loopholes | cept for my duty,” rejoined the Governor. that there was not a sufficiency of natural light in the place, and therefore an iron lamp suspended to the ceiling was burning. A sentinel with a loaded musket stood near each door; for there were three leading into different departments of the fortress. It was into this lobby that Charles De Vere and Ciprina were conducted by the sdirri. Ciprina walked firet ; and as she bad been the first to de- scend from the vehicle, Charles had still failed to catch a glimpse of her countenance, even if the folds of the veil would permit it. But when once that lobby was entored, the unhappy young lady threw horeclf upon.a stone bench; and the sounds of her deep sobbings smute tho ears of her cum- panion. He turned towards her to address some words of consolation, or say something reassuring, if possible: ho then caught for a moment a vlimpse of the profile of ber countenance, and an |! ajaculation burst from his lips. Yes !—there was 20 longer a doubt! — his sussicion was confirmed ! —it was Floribel whom circumstances had thus rendered the companion of his captivity !—Flori- he! Lister. 6 lost cousin cf his beluved Agues : Oh, be merciful! reproach we not !” ehe mar: | mured, perceiving that the recognition which she | had alJ along been sv anxious to avoid, or at least to postpone, had taken place; and hor sobbings were renewed with au increasing bitterness. “My God! my God! Floribel! is it thus that we meet?” exclaimed Charles, as he was compelled | “ But you have doubtless some document,” cried Charles,—‘ a warrant—a proces-verbal—gr | 92 some credential, containing the names “ ] have nothing to do with names,” interrupted the Governor : “‘no prisoners have any names at Bagne. You will be Number Twenty-nine y your lady-companion Number Thirty.” . “Ob, this is infamous!” exclaimed Chares; while a low moan camo forth from the lips of the wretched young lady ; for it naturally‘struck them both as being something horrible thus to destroy their identity, and remder them nameless beings as if they wero already numbered with the dew! At that moment another of the \tbree doors opened ; and an individual dressed in.the garb of a priest, made his appearance. _He was evidently the chaplain of the fortress; for the Governor saluted him with becoming respect. Young and haudsome was that ecclesiastic, with a pale in- {vlicetual face ;——-and now another e¢jacalation burst from the lips of Charles Ds Vere, as he re- coguiscd Father Falconara | The recognition was mutual: and an expression of astonishment seized for & moment upon the countenance of the young priest on beholding Charles De Vere there, for he had just heard that two prisoners, & young gentleman and a young lady, had arrived at the fortress, and he could not therefore for an instant doubt that Charles was indeed a cuptive. The Governor turned quickly towards lather Falconara, ejacu- ‘oO support her on the stone bench where she had | lating, “Then it appears you know this young ‘hrown herself, for he feared lest she should fall 1eadiong upon the pavement of thedobby. TU feolas if I should faint,” she murmured; and tho threw off her cloak,—-appoaring now in the slegant dreas which she wore bengath it. “ Sustain yourself, Ficribel,” ssid Do Vore: “summon all your courage to your aid !—you will require it presently!” “What mean you, Charles ? what mean you P?” the demanded, as if all in a moment goaded by poignant terror into a keen sense of life again. * What borrors du you anticipate 7?” * None, none,” he hastily interjected,— beyond mmurement in dungeons within these walls !” At this moment one of the doors was thrown vpen; and a middle-aged man, wearing the uniform of the highest grade of officers of the luacan police, made his appearance. He had de- 20rations on his breast ; and his sword, instead of 1anging to a white leather belt over his sloulder, vas suspended to his waist. Moreover the sen- ‘inels drew themselycs up in an attitude of re- ipect ; so that the two prisoners were at once mabled to comprehend that this personage was a nan of autbority. And such he was; for he now sroceeded to intgpduce himeelf to Charles as the tovernor of th@fortress. “ J have every reason to believe,” De Vere at ree said, “that I am “the victim of some mia- af0 ——.*? “The police never commit mistakes, signor,” man 7” *“Yes—wo have met before,” responded the priest, as a deep shade came over his countenance: and at tho same time he shook his head mourn. fully ay he thought of all the dire circumstances which had been connected with the self-destruyed Grinevra and the executed Silvio. “Well, holy father,” said the Governor, “ it will of course now and then happen that in the person of a prisoner either you or I may encounter an acquaintance or a friend whom we have known under different and even happier circum- stances, ButI need not remind your revorence that our duty is paramount above cvery other consideration.” “I know it,” responded the young priest firmly ; “and whatsvever my duty may be, rest assured that I shall fulfil it.” In the meantime Charles De Vero had hastily whispered to his lady-companion, “It is provi- dence who has sent me a friend in tho person of that ecclesiastico! Cheer up! despair not! Now that the means of communication with friends elsewhere are opon to me, our captivity will be but short !” “Let the prisoners be tranaferred to their re- spective cells,” said the Guvernor of the fortress. “Tam not permitted to address you by name, said Father Falconara to Charles De Vere; * mor to shake you by the hand: but there is no jaw and no deoree which can prevent me from wishing, 9? i@i COMNMUG AOC SS (C@