Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

a | a a 314 scarcely knowing whether to deem the page sin- cere or not. “J will tell you presently,” he rejoined. “ First of all, in reference to that scene which took place in the gallery, I must inform you, lady, that in a moment of utter despondency and aflliction I sought the gallery to gaze upon the portrait which though not painted for yourself, constitutes so mar- vellous a representation of your own wondrous and striking beauty. I was contemplating this por- trait, 1 say, when the Signora Ciprina entered the gallery. She was on her way to the library: she saw that 1 was distressed—she paused to question me—she spoke some few words of sympathy—and as I have a soul to be saved, lady, this was all that passed between us! As for loye—a single syllable pertaining thereto—or a single look reflecting the sentiment,—may the Evil One himself at this moment seize upon me if aught of all that took place between the Signora Ciprina and myself!” The Marehioness was staggered by the explana- tions thus given. She recognised the possibility of their truthfulness—the idea of their possibility was succeeded by that of their probability: but before she admitted that the conyiction had now impressed itself on her mind, she was determined to know everything to which Giulio had alluded. She therefore said, “ And that discovery which you made,—what was it ?” The discovery, lady,” responded Giulio, “ that Edgar Marcellin loves not you, but that he loves the Signora Ciprina. Yes!—and that she herself loves Edgar Marcellin, is a faetequally certain !” “No, no, Giulio!’—and the Marchioness be- came for an instant deadly pale; them the next moment she said in a cold lowevoice contrasting strangely with the former excitement of her look and accents, “ you have your own motives, Giulio, | for telling me these things —and i may be per- ee ee mitted to judge for myself in respect to the amount of credit to be attached to them !” “Tam speaking truthfully—I swear that I am speaking truthfully!” exclaimed the youthful page. “Oh! I who love so well, can full easily discern the evidences of love on the part of others! The slightest look—the most rapid glance which the eye can throw—the accents of the voice—the flush which flits across the countenance—indeed there are a thousand signs which are either altogether imperceptible to those who love not, or which seem to be the veriest trifles - * But even supposing, Giulio,’ interrupted the Marchioness di Mirano, “ that the Signora Ciprina loves Edgar Marcellin, and that he loves her in return,—how does all this concern you? of what * have thus made?” — SS “Ab, lady! do you not understand,” cried Giulio, “that if it be all as I proclaim, it is in the first place a proof that the Signora Ciprina could have entertained no particular sentiments » | avail is the wonderful discovery which you : towards myself “Yes—granting this to be so,” said the Mar- chioness, “‘ what other lesson would you teach me through the same medium? I think you i that you had some incident to announce, to which all this Las therefore been only a preface——” “If your ladyship wou'd have the proof that the brilliant young French gentleman loves the Signora Ciprina, you need but repair to your NR AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. villa in the Vale of Arno :.for Edgar Marcellin is there !” “Ah!” said the Marchioness—and the ejacula- tion was low—half stifled, and deeply concentrated: but so strange a look for an instant swept over her countenance that Giulio was frightened: he had never seen that handsome face wear such a look before:—it was asif a tigress had for that single fleeting moment lent the reflection of its own malignant rage to those features whose as- pect was wont to be so mild, so gracious, and so pleasing ! But in another instant that expression was alto- gether gone; and Giulio fancied that he must have been mistaken in supposing it to have ex- isted at all. “Yes, lady,” he continued, “ Edgar Marcellin has flown on the wings of love to your beautiful villa in the Vale of Arno; and doxbtless at this moment he is clasped in the arms of her whom he adores, in'that exquisitely-appointed boudoir where last night I stood fora few minutes in the presence of the Signora Ciprina !” ; “ Ah! Edgar Marcellin is there !” said Lucrezia di Mirano, ina voice which might now be taken as expressive of apathy and unconcern. “ And you perhaps, Giulio, have done this—it was you who brought it about ?” she:added, inquiringly. “Yes—it was I, lady!” responded the page. “In thus acting I merely took.a leaf out of your own book: I followed the lesson which your lady- ship had taught me. You, believing that I loved the Signora Ciprina, took measures to throw me into her arms; and I have now taken measures to throw into her arms the one whonrehe really and truly loves.” Luerezia di Mirano remained: silent fora few minutes:—her looks were bent: downward — her features were perfectly still—it wasampossible to judge from their expression what was» passing in her thoughts. She seemed to be unmindful of the continued presence of the: page in the apartment ; —while he watched her countenance with an anxiety showing how uneasy he felt as to the result of the present scene so far as it might regard him- self. At the expiration of that long pause Lucrezia slowly raised her eyes; and then suddenly appear- ing to be reminded that the page was still in the apartment, she said in the kindest possible tone, ** My poor Giulio, you love me very much?” “Oh! I adore you!”—and while the light of the strongest excitement appeared suddenly to flame up in the youth’s handsome dark eyes, the glow of joy likewise appeared upon his cheeks, and his whole frame trembled with the agitation of his feelings. “T cannot blame you, Giulio,” continued the Marchioness, still speaking in- the same kind tone, “for what you have done in respect to Edgar Mars cellin and Ciprina. If they love each other—as you assure me they do—it was an act of kindness thus to throw them together. You are however very much mistaken on one point, my dear boy,” added the Marchioness; “ and this is to suppose that I entertain any particular regard for M. Mar- cellin. It is by no means the case! And now let the subject drop between us.” The Marchioness inclined her head with an air of gracious and friendly familiarity, as much as to imply that there was nothing more to be said and GComichbooks fs CF ea ee aera Py i. lh