Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

182 terests you would comprehend that a man will do more for his wife than he would for his mistress. If a mistress become endangered or dishonoured, he can cast her off: but the danger and dis- honour of a wife affect the husband! Her in- terests are his interests: there is an identity of position, so to speak !” “What mean you?” asked Lucrezia, gazing with a species of affright and bewilderment on Ramorino; for she thought that there was some- thing covert!y significant in his language. ‘1 mean,” he replied, fixing his regards stead- fastly upon her, “that if you well studied your own interests, you would rejoice to have the Minister of Police as your husband. Ah, Lu- erezia! let us not dissemble any longer! I have penetrated your secret. Become my wife—and I will protect and shield and defend you, with all those means so powerful and so comprehensive, so insidious and go subtle, which enable me to prove the most valuable of friends or the most dangerous of enemies!” The Marchioness of Mirano sat gazing upon the Minister of Police with horror and consternation in her looks. Whispers relative to his pecuniary embarrassments had reached her ears; and she | saw in a moment that if she gave him her hand in marriage, she would at the same instant be making him the master of her entire fortune. “You understand me, Lucrezia?” he said. “Ts there any need for me to speak out more plainly P” “ No, Ramorino—no !” she ejaculated. “TI will be your mistress—I will not be your wife! I will love you—I will prove your sincerest friend— I will display my gratitude 2 “ Useless words, Lucrezia!” exclaimed the Count vehemently. ‘You shall become my wife within twelve hours; or else ed “Or else what P” she demanded, starting up and gazing with the most feverish anxiety upon him; for she now determined to know the worst. ‘‘Or else,” he answered, in a stera implacable tone, “ I abandon you to your fate—and you will be arrested as the murderess of the young page Giulio !” A fearful moan came forth from the lips of the miserable Lucrezia, as she staggered back and evould have fallen if she had not suddenly sup- ported herself against a piece of furniture. In- describable horror was in her looks ; and Ramorino felt that the triumph was his own. But it was only for a single instant that he betrayed this sense of success: it was no subject for him to gloat malig- nantly upon — nor had he any desire to prolong the mental tortures of the miserable Marchioness. And on Lucrezia’s own part, a rapid revulsion of feeling took place. She mentally ejaculated, “It is only a random arrow which he has shot !”—and then advancing towards the Minister, she said with cold haughty dignity, “ You are falsely ac- cusing me—and you know it! But you have rendered me too many services to permit my in- dignation to flame up against you. Therefore I forgive you for the cruel injury involved in such @ suspicion.” The Minister of Police was too much accus- tomed, by the very nature of his office, to read deeply into the human-heart, to be deceived by | femeee Set a ere AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. | the assumption of a demeanour which would have ‘staggered any other person. He therefore only shook his head, in the hope that Lucrezia would retreat from a defence-work which she ought to feel to be utterly untenable. But she mistook Ramorino’s meaning: she thought that he was indeed staggered—and she hastened to follow up the advantage which she fancied herself to have gained, “You have touched upon a tender subject to- wards me, my dear Ramorino,” she said; “and you will now permit me in my turn to approach one which is delicate in reference to yourself, JI love you—and I am grateful for your kindness, It would please me well to be enabled to afford you a proof alike of my love and my gratitude, Come! why should there be any want of confi- dence between us? Rumour has wafted to my ears the fact that you have been a little extrava- gant it happens that I have at my banker’s a considerable sum for which I have no immediate use I beseech you to take it ty “ Luerezia,” interrupted the Minister of Police, “there ought indeed to be no want of confidence between us! You have indignantly denied the accusation which I threw out ; and I am bound to receive euch an assurance from the lips of a lady.” There was a scarcely perceptible sneer on the Minister’s lips for a moment. Slight though it were, Lucrezia perceived it—for all her senses and faculties had now a horrible clearness and keen- ness; and she trembled. ** But just suppose, for argument’s sake,” con- tinued Ramorino, “that other voices proclaimed the same charge—that other tongues sent forth the same accusation!—what course could I pursue? ‘There are certain cases in which even those who are the most highly placed, dare not trifle with justice——” “Oh !” interrupted Lucrezia, bitterly, “ there is a repetition of the cruel accusation beneath all the cold composure of this language of your’s! What do you mean? Tell me once for all—will you succour me P or rather I should say, will you do all that I just now asked for both our sakes ?” “ Lucrezia,” interrupted the Count; “let this farce have an ending! Be my wife—or resign yourself to the doom of a murderess!” “What! again ?” shrieked forth the wretched woman: “again this terrible accusation—this fearful threat ?” “Yes—again and again !’’ ejaculated Ramorino, “ Listen! Why was Paoli obnoxious to youP Because he was Giulio’s father. Why has Mar- ce:lin become obnoxious to you? Because he can most probably reveal something which you would fain stifle in his throat. Why did Ciprina become obnoxious to youP Because, as 1 now gather from the different things you have told me, she was Marcellin’s paramour—in his secrets—and doubtless sympathizing with him. And why did you deceive me in reference to Marcellin? Why tellme his name was Bourdon? Why refuse a personal description of him? Because you were afraid of affording me a clue—of exciting suspi- cion—of making me think that certain things ap- peared strange, and thereby setting my reflections in a particular strain! Yes—it is all apparent now !” MIicCDooks: co im