Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE “Oh! what lesson of life could be more ter- rible ?” cried Gustavus in accents of despair, as he flung the box upon the table with a force which almost shook down that piece of furniture. ‘ But tell me, how knew you all this?—how knew you that it was Emily who did it P” ‘TI first conjectured it,” replied Mr. Hargrave ; “and it has since been proven to me by circum- stantial evidence. If you have patience as well as the inclination to listen, I will tell you every- thing.” “JT have patience—I will endeavour to be calm!” rejoined Gustavus: but he was shivering with an inward excitement. * Now, IT am going to deal frankly with you,” resumed the misanthrope; “and you must not be angry if I tell you that yesterday morning I was a listener to the entire conversation which took place between yourself and Emily Pinnock on the bank of the streamlet.” “ You a listener, Mr. Hargrave P” cried Gus- tavus, partly in astonishwent and partly in indig- nation. **’Yes—a listener,” he coolly and quietly re- peated. “ButI did not go thither for the pur- pose of listening: it was accident that led my steps in that direction—-I saw your meeting with Emily—and fancying there was something strange in your manner, I stood concealed that I might observe you. Do you think that I was actuated by any vulgar curiosity? No, you cannot imagine it! But you are well aware that I experience a degree of interest in you; and I will even confess that I was smitten with pain when I saw how depressed and downcast you looked. I was then ignorant of the loss of your treasure—I had heard nothing of it—for it was perfectly true that I had for three or four days been conficed at home by indisposition. So you see, Gustavus, that I did not listen or watch from any bad motive, nor from any unfriendly one.” “No, no, Mr. Hargrave! Iam sure you did not!” exclaimed Gustavus; “and I was wrong to express any angry feeling!” ““Hnough, my dear boy!—let that pass,” said the misanthrope. ‘“ Well, I listened and I heard everything which took place between yourself and Emily. The loss of your treasure was then for the first time revealed to my knowledge; and I felt assured I could at once, if 1 had chosen, lay my hand upon the authoress of thatcalamity. I purposely sought you on the sea-shore in the afternoon of yesterday; for it was then my inten- tion to communicate my suspicion—but I was held back by the thought. that it was but a sus- picion after all! I left you with a determination of taking some step to investigate the matter, though I scarcely knew what plan I should adopt. At a later hour I met the negro Nelson, who was rushing along as if in a frenzy. I imme. diately stopped him. These negroes entertain a Species of superstitious terror of mysclf—but a terror which is also mixed with a certain degree of reverence and respect. Nelson therefore stopped when J commanded him, [I inquired the cause of his excitement. I spoke gently and kindly to him; the fellow was moved somewhat— he dropped a few words from his lips—and they afiordeda clue to the comprehension of something thathad happened in reference to Emily and your- er et en 6 ON DN eens a te eee 167 self. Then, by dint of further questioning, coax- ing, and cajoling—by dealing gently with the man, and speaking reassuringly to him—I elicited all that he had to reveal.” Mr. Hargrave paused for a few moments, and then said, “ Was it not during the night of the 20th of October that your treasure was lost P” “Yes,” replied Gustavus: “it was on the morning of the 21st that 1 discovered the loss— exactly five days ago.” “And it was on that night,” proceeded Mr, Hargrave, “ that Nelson beheld Emily Pinnock at the casement of your bed-chamber !” “Ah!” ejaculated Gustavus: “then, alas! it must be true. But still—but still, what faith can we put in the words of that villanous negro P” “Every faith,’ responded Mr. Hargrave, “when a particular assertion is corroborated by events. Now listen! that negro confessed to me that he has for some time past been fired by the beauty of Hmily Pinnock ; and he has been driven almost to frenzy by the contemplation of her charms. In the eyening preceding the night when your treasure was stolen, Nelson was sent with a note from Mr. Thurlow to Mr, Pin- nock ve * True !—and it was that circumstance, coupled with the idea that he might in the garden have overheard somethicg which Emily and I were saying in reference to the gold—it was this, I re- peat,” continued Gustavus, ‘ which led me in the first instance to fix my suspicions upon him.” *Yes—on that evening,” continued Mr. Har- grave, ‘ Nelson beheld you walking in the gardem together: but it really does not appear that he overheard you say anything to each other in re- spect to the gold. But he was again maddened by the sight of Emily Pinnock: he has confessed to me that if the Enemy of Mankind had sud: denly appeared before him and offered him the possession of Emily in exchange for his immortal soul, he would have greedily clutched at the com- pact. Ho returned home to his hut—he shunned his companions—he refused to join in their even- ing sports—he shut himself up in his dwelling, But he could not sleep; and at length, goaded by his evil passions—that state of mind in which he felt he must do something desperate to possess himself of Emily—he stole forth, Noone beheld him i “No,” interjected Gustavus; “for every one of his fellow-negroes subsequently vowed that Neison had not quitted his hut.” * But he did, nevertheless,” continued My, ‘Hargrave; “and he stole towards Mount Plea- sant. There he concealed himself amongst the trees, watching the house—racking his brain for some means of penetrating and making Emily his own, even though he might subsequently en- counter the penalty of death upon the scaffold i But while he was still watching from his lurking- place, in the middle of that night, he beheld a casement open—he saw some one in a night- toilet there—he recognised Emily! He knew it was your chamber ; and the idea that Emily was already possessed by you was intolerable to his mind, Hoe retreated from his hiding-place —he stole back to his hut. On the morrow, when suddenly arrested and taken before his own master, My. Thurlow, the magistrate, on a charge LL rr eT eT eee ee OE CoOMmcooolks ee Se eee oer = OimM