Agnes Vol. 2 — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

we AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. no ob ttm of See EEE grep ete oe eP~ oe sm TS ee ote nee little ; for his thoughts were still most suspense- an instant before seemed to be plunging down fully balanced betwixt hope and fear. | into the abysm of despa: now suddenly bounded “And yet,” he suddenly exclaimed, “what if, with hopefulnéss when the form of the priest ap- everything must be regarded on the brighter side, ' peared upon the threshold. And how strange ! —ought 1 to be unprepared? There can be no No !—was it strange? or was it a sign—a good harm in waking such preparation! I need not | omen—a hint P—for the ecclesiastic carried hie build cntirely upom the realization of tho hope; ; kerchief to his face! and thus, if it fail, IT shall not be utterly crushed | ‘ Your reverence seems to have a bad cold,” by disappointment |!” said the turnkey. | Ilaving thus mado up his mind toa particular; “Yes,” replied Father Falconara: “it as course of action, Charles began to tear up some: flown to my eyes. But my duties must be: per- portion of bis bedding; and he twisted the strips : formed ; and if Number Twenty-nine be feall into the form of strong ropes. The task occupied | indiaposed, it may possibly arise from mental Per: an hour: he was full of excitement while it lasted | turbation, which needs my soothing offices.” —but whon 1t was over, he was almost inclined} ‘“ When shall I return, boly sir ?” inquire the to yield to despondency; for he thought to him. | turnkey. , self, “This priest, so conscientious—who showed, “Io half-an-hour,” rejoined the ecclesiai tir himeelf so full of remorse fur a transgression | “ Be not a minute later; for I have other duis which. surely under the circumstances was not £0 | to perform this evening, and which will tak~ me very groat—will ho now come forward, and stifling | outside the castle walls so soon as I shall have some scruples of conscience, assist me to regain | foished with the prisoner here.” my freedom? Jleaven grant that it baso! If; The young priest enterod—the tarnkey closed, he return this evening, the matter will be placed ‘locked, and bulted the duor—and now Charles was boyond all doubt :—it muy be regarded asa cer- ready to spring forward and throw bis arms about tainty !” the neck of the ecclesiastic whom he already looked Slowly and wearily passed the time: the dusk ; upon as his deliverer, His heart thrilled with the bogan to cluse in—and then at about six o’clock wildest joy, for he had no longer any doubt that the turnkoy re-appeared, ‘This timo he came with | tbe whole di that conversation in reference to an intimation that De Vere was at liberty to walk | the supposed circumstances of an escape, was in- in the court-yard fur a couple of hours, Our hero ! tended us suggestive for his own special mode of was on the point uf availing himself of tho offer, | action. when the sudden thought struck him that tho; “I learnt that you were indisposed, Number turnkey might during his absence examine the: Twenty-nine,” said Father Falconara, with a calm bedding, in which case he would detect under the | unruffled countenauco ; “and therefure came to visit coverlid the preparations that had been made, | you.” Charles was seated upon the pallet at the moment: “And I cannot do otherwise than express my whon the man entered; he declined the offer to | sincervst—most fervid—most heartfelt gratitude,” walk in the court-yard—complained of being | exclaimed Charles, ‘for the generusity-—the——””’ somewhat indisposed—and threw himself down | “Your language, Number Twenty-nine,” inter. upon the bed. The turnkey’s assistant entered! rupted Iather Falcunara, with a especies of cold Wish a supply of coffee and dry bread, after the: severity, “1s enthusiastic beyond all rational or fashion of the murning’s meal; and he placed a | legitimate bounds. I mus request that you deo nut candie upon the table. address me in such terms—because it would really * In « couple of hours, 1 shall come,” eaid the | seem asif I bad done you sume favour or shown turnkey, “tu take away ‘tho light. If you then! you some act of friendship beyond the limite of feel that your intisposition increases, you may be ' my duty rp visited by the medical attendant.” |“ Pardon me, holy father!” said Charles, who “ Ob, 1¢ is nothing so serivus as all that!” an-' saw that the young priest’s scruples must be swered Charlea: ‘it is only a sense of exhaustion | studied and respected even to the very letter. “ J arising from the fatigues of last night, which was | perceive that I thanked you for something which not morely sleepless, but spent in all kinds of ad- | after all you were bound to accumplisb, and which ventures.” imay be considered within tho scope of your Lhe turnkey withdrew; and an hour passed : duties,” away, during which our bero wus banging on the “ Yes—it 1s so,” answered the ecclesiastic. “ J tenter-hooks of suspense. Would the priest come? | will kneel down and pray by the side of this —did he wean to come ?—and if he had meant to; pallet: kneel you likewise if you will.” do su, was anything now preventing him ?—or was “ Kueel, holy father,” said Charles: “ your ex- there after all nothing significant in the conver- | ample is ove that must be followed.” sation which had seemed for a while to take so! The priest sank down upon bis knees accord- singular and promising a turn? A thousand ingly, and then De Vere sprang upon him —~ times did Charles ask himself these questions dur- | clutched his throat with both hands—and threw ing that hour. Still time wore on—no one came | him completely down on the pavement of the cell, --the castlo clock chimed half-past seven. Ah! if | at the same time saying in a menacing tone, “ Cry it were nut all a delusion, the dream of hope must | out or resist, and I will throttle you !” now be fulfilled! ‘Yet still time was passing, and {| But Father Falconara appeared to be in no Father Falcunara appeared not. The clock began | condition either to raise an alarm with the tongue to strike elght— gd Charles felt his heart sinking | or defend himeelf with hie hands: but be lay per- withing him. fectly motionless — his eyes closed — his foatures ‘fhe bolts wore drawn back—the key grated in | rigid, as if Le had fallen intu a swoon. Yet. the the luck—-the deur vpened ; aud that heart which | attack made upon him by Charles De Vere was COMME HOG SS (C@