Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 280: what you’re looking at

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a 272 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, f re I —_—_ escape—and I will faithfully succour you in carry- \@ pair of green spectacles, and his hair was cut ing them out. Should we succeed, lady,” he | quite close. The service was already being per- added, with a tender look, at the same time taking | formed: there was a small congregation present; her band, “ you may command my lasting grati- | and on one of the chairs in the front row, Ginevra tude—my devotion—my love! What more can I | was kneeling. The individual to whom we have say ?” just referred, satisfied himself by a glance that she “Nothing,” answered Ciprina, with downcast was present; and with noiseless steps he proceeded eyes and witha blush mantling on her cheeks. | to the vestiary. Here he found a young priest ‘““'We will escape, Viscount !—but it cannot be until | seated, reading some religious book: but he imme- to-morrow night!” | diately rose as the visitor made his appearance. ““Not until to-morrow night?” echoed Silvio, a The young priest was Father Falconara. shade of disappointment suddenly coming over his | _“ My lord.” he said, with anxiety depicted in countenance. his countenazce, “is it possible that you are really “No, it is impossible!” she rejoined, with an incurring these fearfui risks? I could scarcely air of anxiety and concern. ‘“ But what is it that | believe Nino Corso when he came to me this morn- you fear? what do you apprehend? Think you | ing “ that in the meantime the order for your removal| ‘“ Nevertheless, my dear young friend,” inter- may be issued ?” rupted the Count of Camerino—for he indeed was “It is this that I fear,” answered Silvio: but | the tall individual disguised in the ecclesiastical after a few moments’ reflection, he exclaimed, | costume,—* you see that the faithful Nino did not “Yet it is possible that I may be enabled to pro- | deceive you: for I am here punctual to the ap. eure a delay! Certain proposals have been made | pointment which through him I made with you. to me _ But look, and tell me—is not this disguise com- “For heaven’s sake do whatever you can—strain | plete ?” every nerve,” zateriected Ciprina, “ to procure this Father Falconara had been already rapidly and delay! You see how much depends upon it! | anxiously surveying the Count of Camerino’s ap- There are arrangements to make—I must deliberate | pearance; and he said, ““If Nino Corso had not with Fidelia told me in what disguise you were coming—and if “ Are you well assured, lady, that she is not a | this punctuality to the very instant had not proved traitress and a spy?—are you confident that she | that it was really you—moreover, if on crossing will not betray you?” demanded the Viscount. | the threshold you had not at once made the secret “TI feel convinced that I can trust her! She | sign,—I should have looked upon you as a stranger has already agreed to assist me—for she has sti- | whom I had never seen before. The disguise is pulated that I take her away with me. Her father | indeed complete !” is harsh and stern towards her—she loathes the, “I knew it was so,” said the Count. “ With gloomy existence which she habitually leads within whiskers, beard, and moustache shaven off—with these walls: in a word, Viscount, i can depend | my hair cut close—with these green spectacles— upon her sincerity. Let not this idea trouble! and in this priestly garb, I was assured by Nino you. Do you perform your part; and I will ' that I might pass amongst my own most familiar accomplish mine.” | friends without being recognised.” “‘ Be it so, beautiful Ciprina!” rejoined Silvio. “ But your object in Naples, my dear Count ?” “T now hold myself entirely at your orders.” | said Father Falconara; “is it in the desperate At this instant the door of the apartment opened; and from an adjoining ante-chamber, a “Whatever it be, my young friend,” inter- young girl, who had been keeping watch there,! rupted the Count, “I seek not again to inyolve emerged. She was about seventeen, and singularly | you in any of the perils wnich you have once so beautiful. But the Viscount had not many mo- | narrowly escaped !” ments to contemplate her; for her sudden appear-| An expression of joy appeared upon the natu- ance was a signal that he must retire to his own | rally pale face and previously anxious countenance apartment, Ciprina hastily conducted him thither, | of the priest, as he fervently exclaimed, ‘‘ Heaven opening the secret doors by some means which he | be thanked! You know, my lord,” he went on to could not discern; and as he crossed the threshold | say, “ that when I was at the University, I and of his own room, she gave him her hand for a_/ other students bound ourselves by a most solemn moment. He pressed it to his lips: the secret | oath to obey the mandates of our political leaders ; door then closed upon him—and he was once more | and I believe you will admit that in the conspiracy alone in his prison apartment, feeling as if all that which so fatally exploded, I performed my duty. had taken place within the last hour was a dream _ I was fortunate enouzh to remain undiscovered hope trom which he had just awakened. and unsuspected. But I have since meditated deeply and painfully upon all those things. Lam — still the fervid patriot that I ever was: but I feel that my position as an ecclesiastic and a minister CHAPTER XLVI, of the Gospel is utterly incompatible with that of the member of a secret society - THE HUSBAND AND WIFE. * And I tell you, my young friend,” answered the Count of Camerino, “ that [ seek you not now It was in the forenoon of the day following the | for the purpose of enlisting your services in re- incidents which we have been recording, that an | newed struggles for the emancipation of our be- | individual of fine tall form, and wearing a priest’s | loved Italy.” costume, entered the church which has been so| ‘“ Nevertheless, my lord,’ rejoined Father Fal- frequently mentioned in recentchaptors. He wore | conara, “ you must not deem me a recreant Or & GComichbooks: com |