Agnes Vol. 2 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

AGNI; OR, BEAUTY AND FLEASURE. 75 EPA Pa Od a Ss eetieEeit S Ne need — oe to enecuuter a friend who ts in distress, and whom | 1 might legitimately aseid}, without Vielating the | measures were nut well taken ows which I took upon entering this fortress, I | In that bed-chamber ; appears that during the daytime he tore up some ‘am net without the meana. ——— ~SEEewe- oy © imeem se: Oe ee wee oe oe =o ee ene eee eee ay Pare GE. OFS oe “It failed ?” repeated our bero. “ Perhaps the 93 66 Tt “You shall see,’’ responded the priest. \ef sshich I have spoken, there is acuriously carved | of bis bedding into strips, and twisted them into bureau of walnut-wood; and in one of the rawers thero is a bag of cuins—a sum of money, in short, which I do not want and can never use, which I purpose to be somo day or another devWed toa friendly aim For do you not see, Num strong cords. When tho turnkey came the last thing in tho evening, according to custom, the prisuner pounced upon him, overpowered him— stunned him, I believe, with a fierce blow~—and possessed himself of the man's apparel. Then cer Twenty-nine, that if I did not choose to | he bound him band and foot, leaving him with a Bestow that muncy as a gift—or if tho person! gay between his lips, unable to move a hand to om@ future ogcasion P” ‘AU nquestiongbly! I comprehend all this,” an- ved Do Vere, wondering mvore and more why Fathé& Valeonara shculd be conversing in such a strain. 99 “Ah! 1 forgot to mention,” proceeded the! feverything was discovered.” ase ands should grasp the bag, were too proud | withdraw it, even if he should very soun re- y reedive tho sum otherwise than as a loan—ho | ighf easily return it to me at his convenience on | Ing, and of course provided with his keys, the cuver his senses. Dressed in the turnkey’s cloth- prisoner very nearly suceeeded in effecting his escape from the castle: ho even managed to pass through the lubby—but for want of the pass-word ho was stopped at the vuter pate and then “Ah!” said Charles De Vere: “any one who ecclesiastic, “that the door on the Jett hand at the | bas boene for only a few hours in this fortress, top of that staircase,gcominunuicates with a suite of | knows enough of it to experience tho ardent wish apartments occupied by Captain Belluno and his famiiy.” “Captain Belluno?”’ aaid Charles inquiringly. “Yes—the Governor of the castle,” rejoined Futher Faleonara; “and therefore wifen ascending Lhat staircase, 1 am always particularly careful to lake the duor fo the right whieh opens into my that the prisoner might lave succeeded fully.” “ Such is vour opinion, ‘’wenty-nine,” said the priest, somewhat sternly: then immediately re- summing his conversatiunal mood, he said, “Only fancy if that prisoncr had doalt with me, the chaplain, instead of with the turnkey! If he had put on my ecclesiastical dress and husicdly passed wn rooms, instead of that fv the lef¢ which opens ! through the lobby—holding his kherchief, we will into the apartmienta occupied by the Govornor, his! suppose, up to bis countenance as if labouring wite, and daughter.” ' under some strong cmvtion--he would have es- “No doubt,” said Carles, in whose min d the | caped, because the pass-word would not bave been uspicion began to flutter that the pricat must: demanded of him!’ lave some motive in speaking to him on such; “True: true!” cjaculated Charles, whose heart iubjects; for as he recollected everything which | was palpitating in his breast. “ But this stratagem ‘elated to Father Falconara, be could think of could only have succeeded in the evening when iaught that might justify the impression of tri- | it was dusk. And perhaps you are never accus- rolity in hia character or mere gossiping garrulity | tomed tu visit the prisoners’ cells at such late n his habits. i hours ? ° : “Yt sometimes happehs,” continued the priest, | “ Perlape not,” said Father Falconara coldly- ‘that lam compelled to go forth trom the castle; At this moment the bolts wero heard to draw it a late hour in the evening, to attend sume sick ; back—the key grated in the lock—and tho turn- Serson in the town, or to shrive some dying ' key made his appearance. ‘inner: for the minister of the place is well! ‘Am I too soon for your raverence?” he in- itricken in years, and I have considered it my: quire), luty to euccour him to tho utmost of my power,; ‘“ N»,” replied tho priest, with his accustomod Phus sou see that I have plenty of occupation on calm se: aul be issued forth from the cell. my bands, and 1 pass unquestioned ia and out of) 9 The deor was again closed and fastened ; and he castle at wil.” Charics De Vere wos ones more aloue. Strange You are fortunste,” said our hera. Meild thoughts woe agitating within bim; his Father Faleonara now rose from his seat upon ' mind was fui uf susponse:——that balansing be- tho pallet; and gezing slowly round the cell, he tween ope and fear was even fraught with the aid, Yea—this must be the very eame! I re- {most paintul sensations. What was he to think nember full well the incident connected hore- , of the diacourse which } ather Falconara had held with; fur it happenod during the first few weoks to him throughout the latter part of their inter- ‘hat I was chaplain to the castle.” ‘view? Was it mero conversational gossip ?—or “And what incident was that ¢” inguired Do had it a purpose and a meaning? He reviewed it Vere. ‘all with the utmost minuteness,—sentence for sen- “There was a prisoner bore,” continued the tence -syliable for syllable —~ino all its details! ‘eclesiastic, whose manner was that of one en-' Was it a scries Of hints and suggestions? —or was leavouring to amuse with a friendly species cf it poinilcss and airless beyond the idea of amusing ‘hat,—“ there wae a prisoner here who mude a fur a moment? His mind continued in a wild lesperate effort to escape ——” feverish flutter fur sume hours. “Escape? Ah!” ejaculated our hero. At abuut two o’cluck the turnkey, with his at- “ Yes,” returned the ecclesiastic, appearing not tendant, seappearcd ; and this time it was to bring 0 notice the youth’s sudden excitement: “he the captive lis dinner. The fare was simple but na@e an endeavour to escape. Truly, it was natu- ~wholesume, an. sorved with cleanliness : it was alao ai enough —— but it failed.” sufficient in quantity. Our hero however ate bat awe ? GORMGOOOKXS (CO