Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

LLL TT A TE A ie ANE es PRE 258 “Silence, Silvio!” ejaculated the Count in a stern voice: “no one shall be permitted to step between me and my vengeance in the way that I may choose to wreak it!” The young Viscount dared not give utterance to another word—but terror seized upon him: he was almost overwhelmed by consternation and dismay ; for he saw that if there were time for explanations between his father and Charles De Vere, the former would be quickly disabused of his belief in respect to the latter, and everything might be exposed. The bowilderment which Silvio experienced was a perfect excruciation: it was almost a punishment sufficient to atone for the fearful crimes he had committed. Suddenly an idea struck him; and he said, “‘ Father, I think it most probable that Charles De Vere will have a sword or some weapon about his person; for these foreigners are cautious when coming into the obscure districts of the city “Let him have weapons,” interrupted the Count of Camerino: “do you think he will dare use them? When TI look that young man in the face, and announce to him that I whom he believes to be aruined merchant or banker skulking away from his creditors, am in reality the Count of Camerino whose wife he has basely seduced—he will be overwhelmed with shame, consternation, and horror—he will not dare draw forth a weapon —but mine will be ready at hand—and as it flashes before his eyes, he will sink down a guilty wretch, all trembling upon his knees!” “No doubt, father—no doubt!” said Silvio. “But for heaven’s sake allow him not leisure to regain the slightest particle of self-possession — drive the dagger deep down into his heart—or if not he will treacherously draw forth a pistol, and you may lie weltering in your own blood instead of shedding that of the man who has dishonoured you!” “ Fear nothing, Silvio,” replied the Count: “ his doom is sealed! The warning you have given me in respect to weapons being hidden about his per- son, is salutary and shall not be neglected. You will remain here, Silvio: you must see this deadly deed of vengeance !” Again the Viscount shuddered to the nethermost sonfines of his being; and he was just upon the point of devising some excuse to pass over to Nino Corso’s room opposite, when footsteps were heard ascending the stairs. ‘Now the moment is approaching!” said the _ Count of Camerino, in a dark sombre voice: and he advanced towards the door,—while Silvio, in a condition of mind scarcely enviable even by one about to be hanged, paced towards the opposite extremity of the little room in the hope of conceal- ing his countenance as long as possible from Charles De Vere. Placing himself against the window, with his face towards the curtain, Silvio awaited the ap- proaching crisis with an indescribable agony of ' guspense. For matters had not progressed as _ he had hoped and expected: he had fancied that his father would at once strike the young Mnglish- ' man down; but that intimation of leaving a few rooments’ leisure to gloat over De Vere’s condition, was terribly menacing to tho safety of the Vis- count, Meanwhile Charlea was ascending the staircase jor tno purpose of seeking Nino Corso’s apartment cartammame mga eee teh eeoe ee Se a RR LL TT IT — _ — i AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, eee ‘ * : *j . * —<—<—- = é * Te wee ee Sr tte - Ore OSE Arne and executing the mission entrusted to him by Gi- — nevra, Just as he reached the landing he per- ceived that the door of the opposite room stood ajar; for a light was issuing between the opening —and Charles wondered to himself whether that room was still occupied by the insolvent merchant hiding himself from his creditors, The next instant that door opened completely ; and the individual whom Charles supposed to be the ruined merchant, appeared upon the threshold. The youth was instantaneously struck by the altered countenance of that personage—so haggard, care- worn, and ghastly was it! His generous soul was smitten with compassion; for he naturally con- ceived this changed countenance to be the result of affliction on account of his affairs. * Good heavens, my dear sir!” said Charles, hastening forward. “Iam afraid you must haye been ill since I last saw you-—” “Pray walk in,” said the Count of Camerino: and Charles was struck by the sombre gloominess of the tone in which he spoke, while at the same time he fancied that there was a sinister gleaming in the stranger’s dark eyes. Charles however readily followed the Count into the room:—indeed he was glad of an opportunity to administer consolation, and to offer such services as he might be enabled to afford. He entered there- fore :—a glance showed him the figure of another man standing at the window, but partially con- cealed by the curtain as if he were looking from behind it through the casement into the street. Our hero had not time to recognise that figure: for scarcely had he entered the room when the supposed ruined merchant seized upon him vio- lently with one hand, brandished with the other the naked dagger before his eyes, and exclaimed, “])own upon your knees, villain! and prepare to die !” So sudden was this onslaught—so completely was Charles taken off his guard—and so vigorous was the arm of his assailant, that he was actually forced down into the very position which he had been ordered to take,—namely, upon his knees. Then, ere there was time for a single syllable to go forth from his lips, or before he could even make a single effort to rescue himself, the sup- posed bankrupt merchant added in a fierce vindic- tive tone, “ Kuow me at length! IT am the Count of Camerino !” It was no wonder if an ejaculation of astonish- ment burst from Charles De Vere’s lips at this announcement, or if his features should reflect the whirlwind of thoughts which suddenly swept through his mind ; so that to the morbid imagi- nation of the Count of Camerino the youth’s looks were those of conscious guilt. “T have heard your name, my lord,” said Charles: “but little did I think Unhand me!” he suddenly interrupted himself, * and let — me rise! Ihave injured you not—neither am I capable of betraying you !” ‘“Wretch, you have betrayed me far more cruelly than if you had handed me over to the grasp of justice! Prepare to die! Your last moment is come !”—and the dagger was lifted high up ready to be plunged deep down into the heart of our hero. A light flashed in unto the mind of Charies De Vere : the words just used by the Count were ONS nt et OF re OR Oe dietitian diiietel —_—-—-— cComicbooks