Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

sacred I adjure you AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, .95 I will give you half my fortune—and these arms which you have bound shall be thrown lovingly about your neck !” : “Cease, woman !” interjected Marcellin. “Do you not already feel that your hour is past and that mine is now at hand P”’ “ But, Oh! the stratagem to which you had ro- course was most abominable!” cried the Mar- ehioness, unable to restrain her rage. “ While you were pretending to make terms of peace, you were meditating fresh treacheries !” “We are at war, signora,” exclaimed Edgar; “and everything is fair in a state of hostility. Why do you think I brought you hither from the dark places which we threaded ? It was to bind you! You, by your own folly, suffered me to learn where Antonia was: otherwise my course would have been a difficult one—for I should have been compelled to search for her throughout the mansion—and I had resolved not to leave it with- out ensuring the safety of that young girl. Ab! you are in every sense beaten!” Thus speaking, Edgar Marcellin caught up his portmanteau and again slung it over his shoulders. “ But is it possible,’ cried the miserable Lu- _ erezia, “ that you will leave me here—bound as I am *“T do not wish to be unnecessarily cruel,” in- terrupted Marcellin; “and therefore I will at once inform you that your captivity will not last very long. So soon as my own security is pro- vided for, I shall adopt measures to cause you to be set at liberty.” “Edgar, I entreat—I implore—by everything »” But the young Frenchman tarried to hear no more of Lucrezia’s passionate exclamations: he quitted the chamber, again closing the door be- hind him. In a few moments he rejoined Antonia. “ Now, my dear girl,” he said, “ let us depart !” —at the same time he pressed the gilt button in the wainscot, and the secret door flew open. He and his fair companion passed into the stone corridor; and Marcellin shut that private door which gave them admission thither. Being by this time well acquainted with tiie dark pas- sage, he guided Antonia by the hand; and the spiral staircase was soon reached. They descended it: they gained the bottom. “Now one moment,” said Marcellin; “ for I possess the key !” He opened the door gently, and peeped into the stable-yard. No one was to be seen; and he issued forth, followed by his fair companion. But scarcely had he shut the door and put the key in his pocket, when a middle-aged man in the dress of a groom emerged from the stable. “ Ah, Bernardo !” ejaculated-Antonia, “What! Bernardo?” cried Marcellin. then, is most fortunate !” The man looked astonished at the appearance of those two persons from a door which he never re- membered to have seen opened before, and which led he knew not whither, unless it were to some unused cellar in the basement of the mansion, But at the same time he respectfully saluted the young Frenchman. “My worthy felloys’ know me ?” * This, said Edgar, “do you “Yes, signor, to be sure!” was the response. “You used to visit at the mansion about a year back or so You are Signor Marcellin ?” The young Frenchman knew perfectly well that the Marchioness di Mirano had not publicly ac- cused him of being the murderer of Giulio Paoli; and he now at once perceived, by the groom’s re- spectful demeanour, that no hint to so calumnia- tory an effect had been dropped by Lucrezia in his hearing. It was therefore with all the greater amount of confidence that he proceeded to address the groom. ‘“‘ Your name is Bernardo P” he said; “ and you have the special care of her ladyship’s favourite riding-horse P” “Yes, signor,” replied tho man, wondering why ho was thus particularly and sontentiously apostrophised. “And you remember,” continued Marcellin, “a certain young female who used to be in the ser- vice of the Marchioness di Mirano ?—I mean Lisetta P” “Oh, yes, signor !—a very nice young damsel! —and it gave me great pain when she suddenly left her ladyship’s service although, for the matter of that, there was nothing more betwixt myself and the pretty Lisetta than *Qne word with you!” interrupted Edgar. “T require a groom, to whom I will give just three times the amount of wages that you receive here, whatever that amount may be. Are you agreeable? You hesitate “No, signor,” replied Bernardo, as if suddenly galvanized into the necessity of giving a positive response. ‘Offers such as this do not admit of much hesitation !” “One word!”’—and Marcellin drew the groom aside. He put a few pieces of gold into the man’s hand, and questioned him upon a subject to which we need not now more particularly allude. At the expiration of some minutes, Antonia, who stood at a little distance, perceived that the young Frenchman had gained his point, whateer it were, for his countenance expressed the utmost satisfaction. He resigned his portmanteau to Bernardo; and he said to Antonia, “ Go forward with him—and I will follow at a little distance.” The damsel obeyed. Bernardo opened a door leading into the bye-street which ran along that part of the premises attached to the Mirano man- sion; and Edgar, drawing his travelling-cap over his countenance, followed them at an interval of about fifty yards. *“T must be cautious,” he muttered to himself; “for if that unprincipled Chief of Police, Ramo- rino, who is evidently more or less devoted to the Marchioness, should happen to have given any particular instructions to his sbirri, I might be arrested just at the very moment when it is so highly important for me to remain at large!” Bernardo and Antonia continued their way to- gether, threading divers streets—but the former evidently knowing to what destination he was to proceed. In about ten minutes they reached the French Ambassador’s mansion; and there they were joined by Marcellin, who had pursued his own way without experiencing any molestation. He sent up his card to the Ambassador, who at once received him. Marcellin was closeted with COMmicloool (2B ae aS ee erg co =}