Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

—— ee rm ee 2 ee eee - —_--— rr cr rm re i the house, and began threading their way through the various streets leading towards the Camerino Mansion. A complete silence was maintained be- tween them: but the keen eye of the Cuunt ever and anon flung a look behind, or to the right or to the left, to assure himself that he was not being watched or dogged by any hirelings of the police. On this point he seemed to be pretty well satisfied ; and the neighbourhood of his own mansion was reached in safety. His own mansion! Yes—that dwelling from which he had been nearly a twelve- month absent, and which crime had now made de- Bolate! The owner of that lordly palace was ap- proaching it as if with the stealthiness of a thief; and Charles wondered how he would effect an entry without being observed by his domestics. A ques- tion to this effect our young hero now put to the nobleman. “T have already thought well upon the subject,” answered the Count of Camerino. “ In this unfor- tunate country it would be the beight of indiscre-ion to trust to one’s domestics; for such is the diabolic subtlety of the police, that spies are introduced into every house on which suspicion has fallen— aud in the person of the most obsequious lacquey, the readiest page, or the most stolid-looking stable- boy, one of their agents may be concealed !’’ “Then what will your lordship do?” inquired Charles De Vere. “You must leod me your assistance,” replied the Count. “ The old housekeeper has been for years in my family; and she can be relied upon. It is for you to rivg at the front gate and ask to see the woman. In her ear you may whisper the fact that ] am in Naples, and that it is my mourn- ful wish to kneel for a few instants by the side of my unfortunate wife’s remains. She will enable me to obtain admittance by the private door open- ing into the garden. Meanwhile I will hasten round to the alley at the back of the grounds —I will scale the wall—and by the time the private door is opened I shall have reached it.” Charles and the Count accordingly separated on the spot where this little colloquy took place; and the youth proceeded to the principal entrance of the Camerino Mansion. He inquired for the house- keeper; and a page in waiting at coce conducted him to the room occupied by that elderly female. Tue three or four servants whom he met while proceeding thither, wore an expression of the deep- est sadness upon their countenances; for death was in that house, and ther had loved their de- ceased mistress. None suspected the secret of ber guilt: — upon their minds rested the impression that she had committed suicide in a moment of despair on account of the protracted absence of her husband. This same impression likewise existed with the elderly housekeeper, who was seated in the most pensive sadness at the instant when Charles was introduced into her presence. He guardedly communicated to this confidential female the fact that the Count was in Naples, and that he sought a stealthy admission into that pala- tial residence where in past times he had trod with the dignity and freedom of a master. The house- keeper was at first overwhelmed with mingled as- tenishment and apprehension: then she put a thousand questions; but Charles assured her there was no time for discourse—and she therefore has- tened to periorm the part that was requ'red of AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. her. staircase: they reached the landing which com- municated with the state-rooms; and there they threaded a series of passages, towards the top of the private staircase. Down this they went: the housekeeper opened the door at the bottom; and in a few moments the Count of Camerino emerged from amidst the shade of a group of evergreens which bordered a grass-plat in the garden. When he had entered the mansion, and that private door was closed, the housekeeper regarded him for a few instants with an air of mistrust, as if she could not altogether make up her mind that it was her master whom she beheld before her—so altered was his countenance, not merely by the beard be- ing shaven off and the hair of his head being cropped close, but likewise by the effects of care }and anguish. When, however, he took her hand aud spoke kindly to her, she knew that it was in- deed her master; and she burst into tears. She | Was giving way to her lamentations, when the | Count entreated her to be calm, as the slightest circumstance might betray his presence at the mansion; and the good woman exerted all her energy to subdue her emotions. Ste now led the way up the private staircase; and first of all con- ducted the Count and Charles into an apartment, where she left them for a few minutes while she hastened to assure herself that none of the de- ceased’s Ginevra’s maids were in the chamber in which the corpse lay. All being in accordance with her wishes in this respect, she returned to the apartment where she had left her master and our | heru; and she said, “ Your lordship can now fel- low me.” Charles, from motives of delicacy, purposed to remain where he was; but the Count said in @ |low whisper, “Come with me, my young friend. | LT have a particular reason |” | De Vere accordingly followed the nobleman | from the room ; and they were led by the house- keeper into an elegantly furnished ante-chamber, communicating with Gioevra’s own apartment. “Tarry you here, my faithful servant,” said the Count to the housekeeper, “so that you may give us warning if anythiug at all suspicious should occur.” The Count had really little or no fear upon this point: but he wished to be alone with his young friend, by the side of the corpse in the adjacent apartment. Into that apartment they entered; and the door was closec behind them. There, upon the couch, lay the perished Ginevra, with a sheet thrown over her. The housekeeper had already iofurmed her master aad our hero that precisely as the Countess had been brought home by the fishermen, so had she been laid upon that couch; for as it had been a case of yiolent death, it was necessary to await the official visit of the Commis- sary of Police on the morrow, before any arrange- ments could be made for the laying out of the corpse. And now by the side of that couch on which lay his perished and guilty wife, stood the Count of Camerino! His arms were folded across his breast: he stretched not forth a hand to Jift the sheet from the face of the dead: his features, pale and rigid, indicated the working of strong feelings within. Charles at length asked in @ low tone, * Shall I raise that coverlet ?” She led our young hero up the principal Gomichbooks ———_— _— a — - =e 4 (@) C) S|