Agnes Vol. 2 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

s$ you know that the signora had a young gentle- man secreted there-——he was ill, or wounded, or something of that sort and now that he is convalescent, I suppose that in mingled gratitude and love he has vowed to devote himself for the rest of his life to the young lady—-and—and-—per- haps they have fled together? Come, now—is it : not so, Antonia P—and have I not read what is | passing in your mind with a sufficient accuracy to save you the embarrassment of speaking in torms which you might conceive to be depreciatory of the Signora Ciprina P” “Of course, my lady,” answered the young damsel, “I should not venture I mean I should not permit myself: In short, the respect that I owe to my mistress——”’ “Ab, then, I see my suspicions are correct !”’ exclaimed the Marchioness: “your mistress and the Frenchman Aave run away together? Doubt- less they have their own guod motives for such a course But Ah! while I bethink me, Antonia, : AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “ And this passage, signor P” inquired Antonia “TI have explored it,” rejoined Marcellin; “it leads to a staircase which conducts down into a place where there is an issue by a door opening into the little stable-yard.” “Ah!” cried Antonia. “I know there is a door in that yard. And thus, signor, you have discovered the grand secret ?” “Yes. But now tell me what you yourself have discovered ?”’ exclaimed Marcellin. “In the first place, signor, I have bad nows in reference to Mr. De Vere——” “Ah! bad news P” ejaculated Edgar. “Yes. Mr. De Vere has not been heard of since he accompanied me from Signor Petroro’s house.” _o “Ah! then, treachery has overtaken him !” cried Marcellin: “but by heaven ! 7 “Stop, signor!”* interposed Antonia. “I have an idea—something has struck me! But in the first place let me tell you that the Marchioness has just have the kinduess to hasten to the roome | come back—and she evidently {hinks that you have lately tenanted by your mistress—and seo if you | left with the Signora Ciprina !’ find any masculine garments there—or any fire- arms. Indeed, I have some reason for supposing that your search will not be in vain: becauso I lent the Signora Ciprina my own suit of male ap- parel and a pistol, that she might visit a mas- guerade some nighte back.” “Twili go and see, my lady,” responded An- tonia. “Ah! and in the meantime,” interjected the Marchioness, ‘‘ you would perbaps do well to for- bear from mentioning the circumstance to your follow-servants until you and I may have agreed together how the tale can be best told so as to create as little scandal as possible,”’ Antonia curtsied and issued from the boudoir She hastened to the apartmentg where she had left Kdgar Marcellin: she knocked at the outer door of the suite—he opened it-and the young damsel at once crossed the threshold. “T have discovered the secret, Antonia!” ejacu- lated Marcellin, as he closed and locked the dvor by which she had just entered. “ What secret, signor P” she demanded. “ Do you mean the private passage ” “Yea! Look!” cried the Frenchman. As he epoke he advanced towards the wainscot op the side against which Antonia had for a couple of nights made her bed; and pressing upon one of the gilt nails which embellished the panelling, Edgar cried, “ Behold !”" A portion of the wainscot seemed all in an in- stant to give way, ee strange was the appearance of a door opening where there was not a moment back the slightest evidence to show that a door wae in existence, It opened into a passage, narrow and dark, and into which the eyes of Antonia sould only plunge for eome half-dozen yards. “And how did you discover this, signor ?” in- juired the dameel. “Oh !” ejaculated Marcellin, “I was determined ‘0 examine the wagtacot well while you were gone: [ thought that if there were any secret spring icting upon a hidden door, it might possibly be ionnected with one of these nails ; and I expori- nentalised upon them till at last, lo and bebuld! hat particular nail gave way bencath the touch, ind the*door opened !” “Ah! sho thinks that?” cried Marcellin, ‘You, signor! And now it is my idea that the wrong person has been carried off!” rejoined An- tonia. ‘Good beavens! this is possible! Nay, more ~—it 1s probable!” exclaimed Edgar ; “and it never | struck me before! Yes, yes—I see it all! The Marchioness thought to get rid of me and Ciprina at one and the same timo: but an error has been committed ‘There can be no doubt of it, signor !” said the damsel: “the discourse of the Marchiouess fully proved that such is the case. And now she has sent me to look for certain articles of malo rai- ment and a pistol " “Ab!” exclaimed Edgar; “if there had ox- isted the slightest possibility of doubt in reference to the motives of Lucrezia‘Mirano, it is now cleared up! Yes, yes! ashe flutters herself that these rooms are empty now, and that she has naught to do but to send you hither to fetch away those articles which help tu serve as the evidences of her crime.” “ And what will you do, signor ?” inquired An- tonia. “TI will depart at once,” responded Marcellin. “The secret passage shall now serve my purpose! I can lock the ante-room door inside—and you can return to the Marchioness and assure her that you are unable to enter the suite of apartments. I shall thus gain time, and also guard against any sudden eurprise on her part: for at any moment is she capable of coming hither tb seck after ou.” “Ah! 1 fergot to mention one thing, signor,” said the damsel. “The man Petroro bas heard from Signor Paoli; and that unfortunate father of the murdered Giulio will be at Petrero’sa heuse to- morrow night at eight o’clock.” “ Oh, this 1s indeed welcome intelligence !” ex- claimed Marcellin. ‘“ Rest assured, Antonia, that thinge are now taking a turn, and the triumph of Lucrezia di Mirano shall be speedily brought to a termination! But come—hasten to assist me! Is there no convenient little carpet-bag or portu.an- teau, which I might carry in my hand through the streets, with the air of a traveller-——” ECOMNIEL@OO <S