Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

: % . drom the chureh, considerably relieved, she might have se concealed much of her real feelings from bis knowledge since she had learnt to look upon him with doubt and suspicion. For Silvio dreaded lest Ginevra should in her de- spair, or else with the idea of making an atone- ment for her sin, conttss everything to “her injured husband in a penitentially written letter, and then retire altogether from the world into the seclusion of aconvent. Silvio likewise adopted that stra- tagem in reference to the confessional in order to prevent the fearful secret from being revealed to Father Falconara, lest the holy priest should enjoin the avowal of the crime to the outraged Count as the means of disburdening the wretched young lady’s conscience. With all these aims in view, Silvio had sought the confessional; and with his countenance com- pletely concealed by the muffling hood of the Do- minican dress, he had listened to Gineyra’s peni: tential outpourings. She confessed the full extent of her iniquity, reproaching herself however far more than she reproached her guilty paramour ; but she did not state where nor how the child had beea disposed of, In a low feigned vyoice—-for Silvio was acquainted with Father Faleonara and could imitate his voice—he questioned her; but as she became overwhelmed with grief, she heard him not—and he subsequently feared to repeat or press that question lest her suspicions should be excited. It then only became necessary for him to speak in monosyllables in answer to certain questions which she herself put. Should she confess everything to her outraged husband? No. Would there be safety for her soul’s welfare if sho maintained the secret and welcomed him on his return (whenever this might happen) as if she had never proved faithless to her marriage vows? Yes. Should she retire to a convent on some pretext? Wo, Might she expect absolution? Yes. Was she to _ attend the confessional often, and repeat the tale of her iniquity as a means of self-punishment ? No. Was she thenceforth to remain altogether silent upon the subject? Yes. Might she ap- proach the holy altar with a sense of absolution from her sinsP Yes. Numerous other questions did she put, and to all of them did Silvio give the answers which suited his own purpose, He left her weeping and praying; and returning to the vestiary, he laid aside the cowl which had so materially aided his purposes. He went forth He felt convinced that the tremendous secret was now altogether safe, and that Ginevra would study her utmost to maintain it. There was only one point in which he had failed of success; and this was to discover to whose hands the infant had been con- signed. Persevering as well as utterly unprin- cipled, he was resolved, if possible, to fathom this mnystery; and it was for that purpose he had re- mained in Naples instead of fulfilling his pledge to Ginevra and returning at once to Vienna. Her uncle and aunt, Signor and Signora. Visso, were the mercenary creatures whom his gold had bought over entirely to his own interests: he kept back no secrets from their knowledge—and he desired them to do their best to discover where the child was. Then, after tho lapse of a few days, he was anxious to iearn some tidings in respect to his father—aund “6 en, sissy lls Sls ssn sesso 261 he conceived that the Marquis of Ortona could afford him this intelligence: for he dreaded lest the Count of Camerino should take it into his head to come secretly to Naples before Ginevra’s mind had sufficiently recovered from its recent shocks to be enabled to pass through the ordeal of a meeting without betraying herself to her husband. Silvio had therefore sought the Marquis of Ortona, and had falsely assured him that he had only been a few hours in Naples, All the explanations which we have just given wero necessary to fill up certain gaps in our narra- tive. We may now resume the thread of our story. ; Silvio, after leaving his outraged but unsuspect- ing father, returned to his own lodgings to reflect upon the course which must now be pursued. Not for a moment could he think of fulfilling his sire’s instructions and enticing Charles De Vere to tho house in the Via Graciosa; for he saw only too plainly that the first word of accusation levelled against our hero would elicit assurances completely exculpating him. Indeed Silvio knew, from cer- tain inquiries which Signora Visso had made, that Charles De Vere had barely been a month in Naples, and that therefore the supposed intrigue with Ginevra could be unmistakably refuted. But what was to be done? Silvio, as we havo already said, saw that he was standing upon the verge of a precipice, down which the least touch or the slight. est false step would plunge him, Ina pecuuiary sense he was entirely dependent upon his fathers there was no entail in respect to the family estates —no law of primogeniture to render them Silvio’s inalienable heritage. If, therefore, his crime were discovered, he would be for ever discarded by his outraged sire—he would becomo a beggar anda wanderer on the face of the earth! Tho young Viscount’s position was thus frightfully perilous, and he saw the necessity of plunging still more deeply into erime, in order tosave himself from do- tection and exposure in reference to the misdeeds already committed. Before he sought his couch that night he had settled cortain plans in his mind ; and these, as the reader may imagine, were of the blackest iniquity. In the forenoon of the following day, Silvio, closely muffled in his mantle, proceeded to the church which Ginevra was in the habit of fre- quenting and where he hoped now to find her, She was there, kneeling in the midst of the éon- gregation, He waited until the ceremony had concluded,—remaining the while concealed from her view: and then, as she was about to issue forth, he accosted her. “One word, Ginevra!” he said: “it is of paramount importance that I should speak to you !” She accompanied him into the seclusion of one of the aisles; and in a low bat reproachful tone, the young Countess said, “Is this the way that you keep your promise, Silvio? Ten days'back did you pledge yourself that within the hour that was then passing you would quit Naples and seé out for Veena. ag “ And I should have kopt. that pledge,” replied Silvio; “but L was seized with illmess—I have been confiued to my bed. Look how pale and altered L am !” This was indeed true; for the Viscount had COMmcooolkks