Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

202 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. mingled with alarm. “ There must be some mistake i “ No mistake, sir, I can assure you,” replied the clerk. “I now recollect perfectly !—the young lady showed me the letter of advice p) : “Good heavens!’ exclaimed Gustavus: “ the letter of advice P” “Yes, sir. But I hope there’s nothing wrong: for though the case seems to have been shipped from Jamaica as containing pickles, it was in reality a box of gold dust—as the Custom House officers discovered at Liverpool. But it was cleared by the agents, and all charges were paid You look ill, sir ?” “Til?” repeated Gustavus, with a bewildered vacancy; and he felt that his brain was reeling. ‘TI hope to God there is nothing wrong?” again said the clerk, now looking frightened. ‘ Here is the signature—it was a dusky young lady—very handsome 2 “ Ah!” gasped Gustavus: for at the same mo- ment that this description was given of her, his eye settled upon the signature of Winifred Bar- rington in the book which the clerk presented to him, and he recognised the handwriting only too well ! “Really, sir, you begin to alarm me most seri- ously,” said the clerk. “It is quite evident is “No, no—do not be alarmed!” interrupted Gustavus, with a preterhuman effort regaining somewhat of his lost self-possession. ‘ I see that it is all right. Do you know where the lady lives P” “Ob, yes—to be sure! Tt is in the book Street, of course! Pray forgive me for the trouble >) I have occasioned—but it is a family matter “Well, sir,” exclaimed the clerk, in haste to get about some other business, “as long as there’s »” nothing wrong so far as we are concerned “Oh, nothing, nothing—I can assure you!” rejoined Gustavus: and like a drunken men he reeled away. He speedily encountered Winifred on the plat- form where he had left her; and she was at once struck by his altered appearance; for his counte- nance was haggard and ghastly toa degree. The very natural idea that smote her was that some- thing had occurred in respect to the treasure ; and smitten with commiseration on her cousin’s ac- count, she said emphatically, “ Whatever has happened, dear Gustavus, do not give way to de- spair |” He tried to speak—but he could afford utterance to nothing intelligible: he merely gasped forth a few inarticulate sounds ; for there was madness in his brain and sickness in his heart. Giving his | arm to Winifred, he hurried her out of the station, into the cab which was waiting for them. | Where to, sir?” asked the driver, who could not help perceiving that something had bappened. Gustavus threw himself back in the vehicle, as if utterly crushed by the tremendous sense of calamity ; and Winifred, seeing that it was of no use to question him, said to the driver, “ Back to Aldersgate Street.” The cab rolled away; and Winifred drew down the blinds—for Gustavus was now sobbing and weeping bitterly. That the treasure was lost, there 3 “Ah! certainly! I qnite forgot! Aldersgate | Winnie felt only too well persuaded; and think- ing that it was this—and this alone—which go affected her cousin, she entreated him to be com- forted. “It is only for our poor grandfather’s sake that I myself am distressed,’ said Winifred: “for to me it is just the same to work for my bread in future as I have hitherto done. And you, Gus- tavus, are young—and there are plenty of situa- tions which you can obtain Pe “Ob, Winifred dearest!” he murmured; “ you know not how wretched I am!”—and he literally wrung his hands in despair. * For God’s sake compose yourself, Gustavus!” she said. “Surely, surely all hope need not be abandoned? ‘The police-authorities may be ap- pealed to # “No, no—it is useless !”” he vehemently ejacu- lated. “A vile trick has been played us——” “Ah! perhaps that letter which was lost in my room,” said Winnie, now thinking that after all the blame would redound upon herself, “is in some way conuected ¥ “No, no—do not in any sense yield to self-re- proach!” said Gustavus, “ Look you, dear Win- nie!” he continued, seeing the absolute necessity of exercising a mastery over his emotions, lest he should suddenly let fall from his lips some word that would excite suspicion. “There is a deep mystery in all this—for the present we must say- nothing about it—not even to Mrs, Slater nor to Mr. Wardour and thank God, our grand- father knows naught concerning it! But the railway authorities will investigate A “Then there 7s still hope!” interjected Wini- feed: “and you, my dear cousin, must not despair. Do you know that for an instant [ was wonder- ing whether the visit of that young lady yesterday could have anything to do with the matter— especially as she was alone in my room for a little while — and I am almost convinced I saw that letter safe in my workbox in the forenoon yesterday.” * Nothing can be more likely!” ejaculated Gus- tavyus, catching at an idea which had just struck him—or rather suddenly resolving upon a parti- cular plan to be carried out. ‘‘ Unprincipled people are full of all kinds of wicked devices in London “Ah! if I thought there was any wickedness in that strange visit yesterday,” said Winifred, “how truly distressed should I be that I left the letter in my unlocked workbox.” “ Acain I conjure you not fo reproach your- self,” interrupted Gustavus. “I tell you what we must do. But will you be entirely guided by me?” “Ob, yes, Gustavus! Can you doubt it ?” asked Winitred affectionately. “These sorts of robberies,” he continued, “are often perpetrated with the hope of obtaining a good large sum for the restoration of the stolen property: because it is scarcely probable that the thieves in the present instance could go and dis- pose of their plunder. Well, then, if for argu- ment’s sake that lady should call again for the more I think of ir, the more [ am convinced she was an accomplice in tho villanous transaction, as the disappearance of the letter proves let me be at your lodgings to receive her. If she should comilcbooks a a EE ee a ”