Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 184: what you’re looking at

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ee mm throughout! Accursed gold, I say! But who could have hoped that a miser’s gold would bring anything to its possessor but trouble and ill luck ?”’ **Ah! you have not been to sea,’’ said Mr. Hargrave, in a tone that was slightly contemp- tuous, ‘‘ without becoming imbued with the superstition of sailors! And now will you please to explain to me everything that has hap- pened r”’ ‘* Mount Pleasant has been watched by Mr. Pinnock’s people ever since the loss of the gold,’” replied Gustavus; ‘‘and of that fact I was ignorant. In a word, Nelson is dead—the watch- men shot him as a robber !”’ ‘And serve him right !’’ said Mr. Hargrave ; “for though I cannot understand how he took Sambo’s place, yet the motive was clear enough. I suppose that there is now a _ tremendous sensation at Mount Pleasant—everything is known——”’ ‘* Nothing is known!” rejoined Gustavus. *“ When I parted from you yesterday I had reason to believe that there had been an unseen listener to our conversation in the road; and therefore when the terrible catastrophe hap- pened last night, I at once comprehended that this listener could have been none, other than Nelson.”’ “Then it only remains for us to question Sambo,” said Mr. Hargrave. ‘‘ But when I bethink me, the old man will be frightened by your presence. Do you remain here—or walk ; into my cottage—while I go to his hut——that | is to say, if he is there, and if Nelson has not murdered him.”’ Gustavus shuddered at the bare possibility of the realization of the horrible idea; and he walked in the garden while Mr. Hargrave sped to the little hut where Sambo dwelt. He remained there for about ten minutes; and therefore Gustavus was relieved from his ap- prehension that Sambo had been made away with. At the expiration of that interval Mr. Har- grave reappeared from his servant’s hut; and young Barrington immediately hastened to accost him. “That villain Nelson,’’ said Mr. Hargrave, *‘ overreached himself at*last. I have got it all out of poor Sambo. But first I must tell you that after I left you yesterday, I went into King- ston to give notice to the captain of a ship that it was very probable a box containing mineral specimens would be consigned to his charge this morning. ‘Then I returned to my cottage; and it was between nine and ten o'clock, just before I retired to rest, that I gave Sambo his instruc- tions. tween eleven and twelve last night, he met Nelson, who seemed to be coming towards him in a very great hurry. ‘Ah!’ said Nelson, ‘ it is fortunate I have met you; for I was just running across to your hut to tell you that you are not to come to-night. Mr. Barrington has sent me with the message: there is a party at Mount Pleasant; he will not be able to get away from the drawing-room to do the busi- ness; and besides, all the servants will be about.’—Sambo naturally believed the truth of this message, delivered as it was by one who evidently possessed s6 intimate an acquaintance with the transaction that was in hand. He accordingly retraced his way to his hut, little 'dreaming how the villany of Nelson had proved the means of saving his life: for if it had been otherwise, and if Sambo had been snf- fered to continue in the performance of the al AGNES ; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. en But it now appears that as Sambo was | making his way towards Mount Pleasant be- | — “—S~— —_—_— duty entrusted to him, he would have assur- edly perished by the same pistol shots which stretched Nelson a corpse beneath your window.” ‘* Yes—it was heaven’s own retribution against — the villanous Nelson!’’ said Gustavus. ‘*And now, Mr. Hargrave, will it be necessary at the Coroner’s inquest——”’ ‘*For us to give any information upon the subject ?’’ exclaimed the misanthrope. ‘‘ Assur- edly not——unless indeed you have altered your mind in respect to Emily, and you are no longer desirous of shielding her from exposure in the matte of the purloining of your gold? For if one thing comes out, everything must of course be explained.”’ ‘*Oh, my dear sir!’’ cried the youth, ‘I am very far from haying an inclination for any such exposure !”’ ‘“Then say nothing upon the point,” re- joined the misanthrope. ‘‘ We have no qualm of conscience to appease: it is not our fault that the vile negro met his death. He was meditating a robbery—that is only too evident —and as you yourself ere now said, it was heaven’s retribution. Mr. Pinnock had a right to have his grounds watched; and the watchers had a right to shoot any one whom they caught stealthily lurking there for an improper pur- pose. I may think myself very fortunate that when I stole into the grounds the other night to hunt after the box of buried gold, I did not get my brains blown out by the watchmen. It must have been a narrow escape for me, you see, Gustavus—for I had not the remotest sus- picion that the premises were being actually watched. However, let that matter pass—— and now to return to our former topic. The proceedings at the inquest will be but a for- mality—an affair of but five minutes—and in two or three days the matter will be no more thought of.” Gustavus now took his leave of Mr. Har- grave, and at once hastened back to Mount Pleasant. In the garden he met Emily, who was exceed- ingly anxious and uneasy at not havine found him there as usual when she descended from her own chamber; for she dreaded lest some com- punctious feeling on his part, or else advice on Mr. Hargrave’s, should lead to a full revelation of all the circumstances which had led to the catastrophe. The quadroon was therefore rejoiced when on encountering him, she observed that his fea- tures were placid and unrufiled; and she was | still more completely relieved when he informed | her of the particulars of his interview with Mr. | Hargrave. In the course of the day an inquest was holden upon the corpse of Nelson; and as the misan- thrope had predicted, it was a mere formality. The two watchmen gave their evidence; and the jury returned a verdict in accordance there- with. Gustavus was well pleased that the affair had | passed off thus tranquilly ; while the quadroon was not only delighted on that account, but also | because the very man who could tell an evil tale concerning her—how he had seen her one night | at the casement of Barrington’s room—existed upon the earth no longer. In respect to the box of gold, Gustavus ceased to entertain a superstitious notion—which in- deed was only momentary at the time—concern- ing it; and he was resolved to adopt some prompt measure, unattended likewise with danger, for its transmission to England. The ready wit of Emily Pinnock now came to his assistance. She sug- — —a cComilcbooks = » con £ ki oF