Agnes Vol. 2 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEABURE, _— “Yes, signora,” replied Charles. “A thousand, thousand thanks for all this that you are doing on my account !” Our hero was already upon the sill of the win- dow as he thus expressed his gratitude: the next moment he was lowering himself down by the r pe. Signora Belluno dared not remain another instant in the dressing-room,—no, not even to watch the progress of De Vere from the little yard beneath the window into the larger yard adjoining. But she Jeft the window open: in short, she suffered overything alike in the dressing-room and the bed- ~ehamber to remain in the state of confusion into which her proceedings had thrown thoso apart- rients, because she would have presently her own tale to tell, Taking away the candlo from the dressing-room and extinguishing the light in the chamber, sho sped back to the sitting-apartment where wo first introduced her to the reader. She found no one there: she hurried out upon the landing, for the purpose of descending the stairs into the lobby, with the ostensible object of making inquiries whether*the escaped prisoner was recap- tured, but in reality that she might show herself | normewhcre at that crisis encountered J*ather Falconara, who was just emerging from his own apartments Hoe had put | on another ecclesiastical suit which he possessed : 83 stooped to pick it up—for she felt that the ghastli- est pallor came over ber countenance as she hear the announcement that noone coull? poss the gules without the watch-word ! With liutning ripidity she calculated that her huchand must havo been at least somo minutos inside the eastlo-—if not longer —in recciving explanations and giving hia orders; and those orders would therefore be in time enough to frustrate ber scheme at its vory last step and bar the outer gates effectually against the escaped prisoner ! But while the lady is making every effort to ro- gain her eelf-possession and wield a strong control over her feelings—while her daughter is plying her rapid questions in respect tu the circumstances of the escape from the cell, little suspecting how- ever that her mother could, it she chuse, relate all subsequent particulars,—and while Captain: Bolluno is expressing to Father Falconara bis sympathy for the outrage which wae expericncod by the young priest—we will see how it was faring with Charles | De Vere. Having glided down the rope from the droasinz. room window, and safely alighted in the httle yard But on the landing sho | below, Charles guickly found his wey to the cistern, upon which he clambered. As Si,znora Bollano had intimated, he found that by the sucvuur of this cistern he was enabled to climb the boundary- his looks were composed, —but his cheeks were | wail into the next yard. Lanterns were there perhaps even paler than was tuctr wont. “Ab, reverend sir!” excluiroed Sigaora Belluno, “jow rejoiced I am to perceivo that you have suf- fered comparatively so little from the diabolical Outrage |” “JT thank you, signora, for your generous sym- pathy,” responded the ecclesiastic. “Do you ; know whether the prisoncr has effected his escape, or whether he is retaken?” he quietly asked. “1 know nothing, holy sir!’ cried the lady. ““J] was coming forth to put the same question ! | and whispered in her ear~-“ Lwenty-nine ! Kly husband has been sent for——— But perhaps he | has come ’—perhaps you bave seen him P” “No, signora,” rejoined the priest. “I have | been in my own apartments, resuming a suitable apparel.” “Ab, yes! the villain stripped you of your upper raiment, L am told—and bound you hand |; “away with you to that gato throm whiely ya soe half-a-dozen horsemen now pressp ot aud foot—aud gagged you !’—but Signora Belluno had already noticed that the gagging process had not in the slightest degree injured Father Fal- | conara’s beautifal tecth, At this moment the door at’ the bottom of the staircase opened; and Captain Belluno made his appearance, rather nico-looking girl, of about Otteen or sixteen, and who possessed a figure which had all the just-— ness of symmetry without the voluptuous fulnoss” of her mother’s shape. “What tidings, my dear husband?” inquired ‘rection, in search of the woman Ursula. : he received a whip from ths woman’s hend ; accompanied by his daughter, —a_ being hurried to and fro—vecillating like meteors in the darkness; and thus Charles had to seleot a particular moment to let himself over She wall into the yard, so as to escape the danger of liaving tho light of one of those lanterns suddenly turned Upon him. TKvoping beneath the black shade _ thrown by the wall, he funy his lovks in every di- Aht therc she was !—and sure enough, ¢he was holding horse by the bygidie! Caarks giided towards her, 17? She beheld the form emerging trow the depths of the surrounding darkiug: -fur a memento ue thought it was that of the Governor tamerts, uel she was about to give veut to umejaentaliom, ahon ‘the words “ Twenty-nine” were thus whiepe red in her ear. “ Mount !” she said. “Qtek ! quick !-- end Charles was on the herse’s back in & memont: and the next instant he wae passing through the gato. way to which she bad alluded. tie was now in the principal court-yard «=f the eastle,—thoe one which the poustchaise tad entered and where he and Cuprina had therectrom alighted in the , morning. Jie was jusi belicd the bulf dozen horsemen who had preceded him when issuing forth from the stablo-yard : he was careful not co Signora Belluno, who was nuw playing her part get sufficiently far into their midat tu stand the with considerable tact and ability. “Tf the young fellow is still within the castle walls, he must be speedily recapturod,” responded thie Governor ; “and from everything I can learn, J do not possibly think he coald have got outside the gates. watch-word caution.” Signora Belluno dropped her kerchicf and hastily Inshort, 1 have taken every pre- Jiowever, | bave ordered that no une thould be allowed to pass without giving the ‘chance of being recugnired by any sudden hight flashing upon bis countenarer; vod he waa jike- | Wise Cautluus OnVLU: zh nol to remain ao fae oin Ceo rear as to cause any particular al(ention te ha riveted upon himself. Tae mght was as block as piteh ; ; and the only lights which were to be seen in the outer court-yard were at the preat gates. Everything appeared to be progressing favour: ‘ably ; and Charis felt as if Lig escape was already as goud as ensured when be beard the foreinuet of CORNICE OO <S ©