Agnes Vol. 2 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ‘Blessed sainte!’’ cried the girl becoming vory ‘pale ; “‘ what are all these things you are telling me, signer P Secret doora in the walls—precau- tions Oh! what has happoned to my dear mistress P? what do you fear? what do you appre- hend ?” “ Sume terrible treachery has been at work, Antonia! Yuur mistress is not here—and this dvor was locked on the ixside. It could not there- fore be by these meaus that she went forth!” “And that Englisiman, signor ?” ejaculated Antonisa,—* think you that he was capable 7 “ He capable of doing her any harm ? Ob, no! he was a friend who came to succour me! Ab, this mystery is dreadful—dreadful, Antonia! Yes ~—it could have been no delusion on the part of your mistress! She must have seen that wainscot open and then close behind the Marchioness on that memorable night a “The Marchioness ?’”’ ejaculated Antomia. “ Ah ! I have bad my suspicions that there was sowe- thing wrong on the part of the Marchionoss! The Signora Ciprina and yourself have asked so many questions concerning her ladyship “ “Tt is time you should know everything, An- tonia,” interrupted Marcellin ; “and great is the pity that your mistress did not all along take you more completely into her confidence! You are faithful—and you love your mistress ” “Ob, yes, signor! do not doubt it !” ejaculated Antonia, with tears in her eyes as she thus spoke. “Oil, if any harm has befallen her !”’ ‘We must endeavour to penetrate this mys- tery,’ said Marcellin. “Whether your mistress and Mr. De Vere have been together treacherously dealt with—-or whether it be your mistress only— are questions now involved in doubt and uncer- tainty. But listen, Antonia, while in a few words I tell you certain secrots which mweod not for an- othor moment be concealed from you. The Mar- chioness was the real assassin of the unfortunate Giullu—but she would fain seek to fix the crime upon me! It was she who wounded me, when I stule secretly inte this mansion to cullect the neces- sary cvidence tu bring the crime home to her. Ste hates and misfrusts your mistress Ciprina, because Ciprina loves me and has saved my life. And when I spoke to you of secret passages, and of precautions that have been taken, it was because the other night the Marchioness stole into these roome and poured puison into every jug, and glass, and cup " “Oh, signor!” ejaculated Antonia, with horror depicted in her countenance: “ are we really be- neath the ruuf of such a demoness P” ‘lave you ever read of Lucrezia Lorgia ?” asked Edgar, with an impressive look and tone. “Yes, yes!--and | know full well that the pic-— ture which was moved from the gallery to the Signora Ciprina’s chamber, representa Lucrezia Borgia, though every one would say that it was paintod 7 ‘““ As the postrait of Lucrezia di Mirano !” added Marcell@ ‘“ Yos! —and Lucrezia Mirano ie as perfect a fiend as was Lucregzia Borgia! Now you know everything, Autunia ! Will you reuder me your assistance to the utmost of your power P” “{ wall, signor~I will!” exclaimed the young woman. “ Ob, I will do anything that may help to sulve the fate of my dear mistress, whom I love AGNES; OB, BKEAUTY AND PLEASURE. so well: for she has been so kind and good to mo! What can I do, signor?” “Tn the first place,” answered Edgar, “ go and seo if the Marchioness be returned from tho villa ; and if so, ascertain when she came back—tbhrow yourself in her way—sce if she puts any question to you concerning your mistress or me——lIn short, seo how she will act.” “And if her ladyship be not at the mansion ?” said Antonia inquiringly. “Then hasten to Signor Petroro’s—ascertain if | Mr. De Vere returned thither last night—or where he is living in Wlorence. Then seek him—and be- seech hit to come to me.” “J will set off at once, signor,” responded An- tonia. “But do you not incur a foarrul risk in remaining here? You say that the Marchioness seeks to aflix upon you the foul crime of which sho herself was really guilty. What if she wero to invoke tho aid of the police? In short, sinor, what if she were to hand you over to tuo sbirri, under the horrible imputation " “ All this I must risk, Anténia!” interrupted Marcellin. ‘“ But accept my best thanks for tho generous interest which you display on my behalf. The Marchioness does .t seem tu have the courage to venture upvn a bold and open fight. She is continuing the warfare by occult and pertilious means—she is digging mines and pitfallsa—and this appears to have boen her entire policy throughout: or elee why did she not af any instant summon the sbirri into the mansion and give me intu cus- tody ? —for she has all along known that I have been here. No, no! the whole course of her proceed- ings has been characterized by the slimy, stealthy, creeping conduct of the reptile; and not for a moment has she had the boldness to stand forward as an open fue and accuse me! She seeks to de- stroy all the evidences that [ may uccumulate—to destroy me likewise—but she dares nut meot me in a court of justice!” * But is it noé almost unaccountable, signor,” inquired Antonia, “that the Marchioness should have caused my mistress to be carried off, as you believe to have buen the case,—and yet you your- self are left behind, though buried in a profound sleep, as you admit yourself to have been ——~” “Truly, my dear Antonia,” interrupted Mar. cellin, “there are many things which are myste- rious and unaccountable: but we can only take the facts as we find them and reason upon them in that sense, There is just the possibility—the faint possibility—that your mistress Ciprina may have discovered the secret passave-—-that she may have gone forth by that means tor some purpose —and that she may therefore presently re.urn. In thig cause I am bound to tarry hore and wait the result —though I confess that my tears tar transcend m+ hopes ” “Ah! I will lose not another instant, siznor, exclaimed Antonia, “in doing my best tu clear uy this myatery! I will depart at once!” “Ah! one word mere?” ejaculated Marcellin “When you introjuced Mr. De Vere hither last night, did your mistress give you any particular instructions P” ‘‘ No, signor--only that I was to retire the mo- mont I bad conducted Mr. De Vere to the anto- room : therefore [ concluded that I was not tv sleep here last night, as uu the two preceding nights L CORNICE OO <S (GO