Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ERamorino; “and they will doubtless be executed, if circumstances render it possible.” “Ah! is there any uncertainty on the point ?” eried Lucrezia, with feverish impatience. “T must tell you candidly,’ rejoined the Minister of Police, “that matters are becoming terribly complicated.” A sound something like a stifling shriek came from betwixt Lucrezia’s lips; and her countenance presented such a tablet of ghastly thoughts, that it did really appear as if a scream were passing behind it. “That young Englishman, who was carried off by mistake to Bagno, is a certain Charles de Vere —he is attached to the British Embassy at Napies —and I have every reason to suppose that he is now under the protection of the British Envoy in this city. Then, as for Edgar Marcellin, it is likewise beyond a doubt that he has sought refuge at the Embassy of his own government. But even this is not all! You are watched, Lucrezia uv “‘ Watched ?” she ejaculated: “ what mean you? Watched? By whom?” “T am very much mistaken if you are not watched by two persons from the French Embassy —one posted opposite this house, and who there- fore doubtless followed you hither — the other loitering in the neighbourhood of your own man- sion——” “But you will protect me?” cried Lucrezia, joining her hands in agonizing appeal: “you will protect me? Ob, tell me that you will protect me !” “ You know that I will protect you to the very utmost of my power,’ answered Ramorino. “In fact, Lucrezia, it is useless to mince matters—it is as useless for me to deceive you, as it has been impossible for you to deceive me! We are both rowing in the same boat—we must sink or swim together! We both stand upon the very verge of destruction—you on account of your crime, I on account of my pecuniary embarrassments !” “Ob, save me! save us both!” exclaimed Lu- crezia; “and take all my property for the pur- pose! Do what you will with it !—sell—mort- “Compose yourself—give not way to these passionate outbreaks,’ said Ramorino. ‘“ How much money did you tell me just now that you had in the hands of the banker ?” Lucrezia named the sum, which was consider- able—but still not adequate to meet the pressing requirements of the Minister of Police. “It is only half-sufficient,’”’ he ejaculated: “and then too, it is impossible to obtain possession of it to-night! I tell you what you must do, Lucrezia ! —you must-immediately sign a paper to the effect that there are no marriage-settlements between us —that all your property has consequently become mine by virtue of the matrimonial alliance just now solemnized between us se “ Ob, I will do anything if you will but under- take to save me!” cried Lucrezia. “ But, good God ! how desperate does our position seem !—how fearful! how terrible!” - “Give not way to lamentations,” interrupted the Minister of Police ; “ summon to your did all your presence of miid—you need a cool head and a perfect command orer yourself. Now then, Lu- - tell me exactly to what extent you are compromised —precisely in what manner the evidences could be accumulated against you! ‘Tell me what Mar- cellin can say—what De Vere can say—what Ciprina can say !—in short, put me in possession of every fact, that I may the better be enabled to determine what to do in the present emergency : for you have only a few minutes to give me the re- quired narrative, and I shall have only a few mo- ments to take my decision !” Lucrezia accordingly told her husband every- thing : she omitted not a single detail—she re- vealed the entire particulars; for she saw that it was now a matter of life and death, and this was a position that was not to be made a child’s game of. “ And thus,” said Ramorino, “ you in the first instance accused Edgar Marcellin of the crime— and he fled in consequence P” “Yes : it was so,” answered Lucrezia: “he fled from Florence abruptly on account of that accusa- tion.” “And that was nearly a year ago,” said Ramo. rino: “ and now he has returned stealthily and secretly! Ah! a grand blow may be indeed struck! The French Embassy shall not protect him !—it is a warrant on a charge of murder that I will forthwith issue against him !” “ Ob, think you that we are strong enough to pursue such a course P” cried Lucrezia: “ think you that on my evidence alone—for on my evidence only will it be !—you can bring him to the bar of a criminal tribunal P” _ “ Let us get him out of the way, Lucrezia,” said the Minister of Police, “ and we shall then at least have breathing time. Remain here I may be an hour gone but remain here, I con- jure you, until my return |” The Count of Ramorino—having made Lucrezia attach her name to a certain paper which he drew up—again hastened from his private residence, It was now about half-past ten o’clock; and he sped in the first instance to the Prefecture of Police, where he drew up a warrant for the arrest of Edgar Marcellin on the charge of murdering Giulio Paoli. This warrant he entrusted to one of his most expert and daring officers; and he then quitted the Prefecture, leaving instructions that when the Minister of Finance presently called, he was to be requested to wait a few minutes, The Count of Ramorino, on issuing forth again from the Prefecture, plunged into an adjacent maze of parrow streets; and he quickly stopped at a gate where he rang the bell. “Now if the old man be at home, well and good,” said the Minister; “I shall be safe! But if he be absent, what in the name of heaven am I to doP ‘There is no other person in Florence who keeps so large a sum of money at his immediate disposal, and on whom [I could call at such an hour !” The gate was opened by the porter; and the Minister of Police inquired if Signor Furlo were in his own abode? The reply was in the afirma- tive; and the Count’s heart beat exultingly. Hs traversed a spacious court-yard surrounded by buildings: he-entered a staircase at the further extremity—and he ascended to the second floor. There he knocked at a door; and in about a mi- cregia, if your mind bea sufficiently tranquillized,|} nute a chain inside was heard to fall—then two Comichbooksneo iin