Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee SE A NL — business-like style,” resumed Ciprina, “ to make me aware of the position in which I now found myself placed by the whim which he had conceived or the passion which had inflamed him—for it would be a desecration of the name of Jove to use the term in this sense. He asked me if I would agree to live with him as his mistress ¥ * Ah, the monster!” ejaculated Silvio: “he dared thus avail himself of his power and autho- rity to insult you?” “Interrupt me not,” said Ciprina, with another good-tempered smile; “or 1 shall never make an end of my narrative. Yes—such was the pro- posal which emanated from the lips of the Minis- ter of Police. I can assure you that I was no longer timid and frightened: 1 saw precisely how I was situated; and I calmly inquired what he would do if I rejected his overture? It was still as if he were dealing with a mere matter of police- business that he answered me. He said that io the unsettled state of Neapolitan affairs it was ab- solutely necessary to keep a vigilant eye upon all foreigners, male and female, who visited the king- dom without any apparent object: he significantly hinted that he, the Chief of the Police, was vested with full discretionary powers in such matters, and that the doors of the most loathsome dun- geons opened to receive captives at his bidding. But on the other hand he was equally precise in his assurances of kindness and liberality if my answer should prove favourable. What could I do, sir? You see that I am dealing very frankly with you—I am giving you my confidence that I may in turn receive yours: and the truth is that I became the mistress of the Chief of the Police !” “Ts this possible?” exclaimed Silvio, who could ecarcely in his own mind realize the idea that one 60 young and exceedingly beautiful could have thrown herself into the arms of that ill-looking man of fifty years of age. “Tt has happened !” responded Ciprina. “Do not blame me—do not let me suffer in your esti- mation: I yielded only to the necessity of my position. Think you that it was better to accept the alternative of a loathsome dungeon or to yield to the overtures of that man? Meally I had not the courage to adopt the former; and therefore I chose the latter alternative. As I informed you at the outset, the Minister bestowed upon me the Christian name by which I have desired you to address me; for after everything which has hap- peued, my own real name—the name which I bore in my native land and which was mine when I set foot on the Italian shore—must be for ever aban- doned! Behold me installed beneath this roof— the occupsut of a su@ptuous suite of apartments —with troops of domestics to do my bidding in all things except to give me freedom ” “And why does the Minister retain you a cap- tive ?” asked Silvio. “Because I have as yet been but one week beneath this roof,” answered Ciprina : “I came not hither of my own accord—I accepted not my position willingly—and therefore the Minister rightly conceives that I should avail myself of the first opportunity to flee hence. Perhaps he sup- poses that by detaining me for a few weeks ora few months in my gilded cage—by surrounding me with luxuries—by lavishing upon me the cost- best gifts—and by means of every art with which —— 3 te ee me eo “<j : ” a, Se See . - “ s? 4 >> ‘ . as * men invariavly seek to ensure the fidelity of pc mistresses who’ are younger than themselves, sball become reconciled to my position and shall willingly occupy a town mansion or a suburban villa without the least inclination to flee away from the protection which has been forced upon me. But the Minister is mistaken! I loathe this gilded cage: I pant for freedom. Already have I revolved a thousand plans in my mind: at length I have settled my thoughts upon one which seems feasible—nay more, it is even certain of success! But in its execution I require an assistant; and if your own circum- stances be such i “Tell me, beautiful Ciprina,” said Silvio, “ how came you to be acquainted with the mysteries of these concealed doors?—for surely the Minister himself would not initiate you into such secrets.” “No,” rejoined Ciprina: and then she added with an arch smile, “ But what if the maid who has been assigned to my special personal service, has conceived an affection for me—what if she be devoted to my iaterests ——” “ Ah! this I can easily comprehend,” ejacalated Silvio: “for it is impossible to be even a few mi- nutes in your society without experiencing an interest in your behalf!” “ Fidelia—this maid of whom I speak,” con- tinued Ciprina, “is the daughter of one of the officials belonging to the establishment. She has dwelt beneath this roof almost from her infancy ; and she is acquainted with many of its mysteries, There are secret doors for various purposes. For instance, if it suit the Chief of the Police to visit & particular prisoner under circumstances of the utmost secrecy, the turnkey need not be appealed to to open the door of the room in which such cap- tive is confined: the Minister has the private door whereby he can seek access to the interior of that apartment. And then too for all purposes of es- piai—and likewise to listen to the conversation of two or more captives who may be placed together in the same room—or for the more convenient removal of a prisoner in the dead of night to the carriage in the court-yard which is to convey him to a fortress where eternal captivity is to be his doom and where he is to be consigned toan almost utter oblivion,—in a word, for all the thou- sand purposes which have to be answered in this dread establishment, you can easily conjecture how secret doors, secret passages, and secret stair- cases are absolutely necessary! TFidelia is ac- quainted with many of these mysteries; and she has communicated them to me. You perceive,” continued Ciprina, with another of her sweet smiles, “that this knowledge has already proved useful, inasmuch as it has enabled me to commu- nicate with you; and if, as I presume, you would avail yourself of the chances of escape——for what prisoner would refuse them?—this know- ledge of mine may be still further utilized.” *‘ Was it by accident, beautiful Ciprina,” asked Silvio, “ that you peeped into the Minister's cabi- net ere now P” “Entirely by accident,” she responded. “I am permitted access thither at any time that 1 may wish to communicate with his lordship. He enter- tains company this evening in his state-saloons; but he informed me that there would be an hour when he would withdraw from his guests to glance AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE: ‘ ‘ 43 é Rta Ri cs ra . weil. ti i © a ae a ee ee ~~ Gomichbooks