Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 150: what you’re looking at

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142 —and the door opened. A shrivelled old man, between sixty and seventy years of age, enveloped in a dressing-gown, and holding a candle in his hand, made his appearance. Ramorino, had pre- viously worn his bat slouched and the collar of bis cloak high up, so that he should not be recog- nised by the porter of the lodging-house; but he now revealed his countenance—and the old man immediately recognised him. Making a low bow, he asked, “ What can I do for your Excellency P” At tbe same time Furlo—for such was the old man’s name—led the way into a small parlour, which might likewise be called an office, inasmuch as it contained a desk covered with account-books and papers, and hada certain business-like appear- ance, We should observe that Furio did not exhibit any considerable degree of surprise on be- holding Count Ramorino there at that hour; and thence we may infer that it was not the first time a visit had been paid by the Minister of Police to Signor Furlo’s abode at ten minutes to eleven o’clock at night. “ Now, my wortby friend,’ said the Count, at once entering upon the business which had brought him thither, ‘I require a considerable sum of money this very minute. I know you have it in your strong box—and there shall be ample security given.” “And the amount, my lord?” inquired Furlo, who, as perhaps the reader has already suspected, was a money-lender in a considerable way of busi- ness. Ramorino named ths sum—at the mention of which the old man made a slight movement of the head, accompanied by a drawing-in of the lips, as much as to imply that it was a very large amount indeed. * And you want it directly, my lord?” he asked, elowly and hesitatingly. “ Directly,” rejoined Ramorino, “TI tell you L want it this very minute! By eleven o’clock it must be forthcoming from my hands eee “Ah, my lord! my lord!” said the old man, ehaking his head ina half-familiar, half-deprecating manner: “the gaming-tablo rh ‘No matter, Furlo!” interrupted the Count: “ you have the money, and you willlendit, The security fe “Ts it personal, my lord?” inquired the old man quickly: “for if so, L would rather de- cline 4 “Silence, and hear me!” ejaculated the Count. “What think you of a charge, or mortgage, upon one of the most splendid mansions in all Florence, —a mansion filled with magnificent furniture, pictures, plate, and ornaments of every description, —standing in the midst of its own grounds 4 “JT will take the security, my lord,” exclaimed Burlo. “I knew it. Here! give me ono of your hypo- theque papers—I mean one of those printed terms which you have. I will fill it up in a moment— and you can be counting out the money.” “ Good, my lord!”—and the old man produced one of the printed forms for which the Minister of Police had asked. é Eamorino sat down, and in two minutes the blanks were filled up in the proper manner; for this was a provisional security, or valid draft of a AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. mortgage, allowed by the Tuscan law, and which merely required registration on the ensuing day in order to render it effective. If the document were redeemed within seven days, no further ex. pense need accrue; but if the mortgage were to continue for a longer period, it would be requisite to have a fresh deed drawn up by a notary, and duly attested, at the end of those seven days. While the Minister of Police was filling up the document, Signor Furlo was counting out the gold pieces from his iron strong box. He arranged them in little piles upon a side table; and as ho deposited each fresh heap there, he gave a smile, a sigh, and then a smile again. His first smile was that of the miser who gloated over the precious yellow metal; the sigh was heaved at the idea of parting with it; and then the second smile ap- peared upon his lips as he thought of the large amount of interest that Ramorino would have to pay for the Joan. “There is the sum, my lord,” he said. “TI pre- sume the rate of interest is according to the usual terms P” “ Yes—lI have so filled up the mortgage-paper,” answered Ramorino, “ It will be a good night's work for you, old man—inasmuch as to-morrow the loan will be returned aye, and therewith all the different sums I have at any time borrowed of you.” “Right glad am I, my lord,” said Furlo, rub- bing his skinny old hands and smiling. with his toothless mouth, ‘‘ to hear that your prospects are so good. I suppose itis some lucky turn at the gaming-table—or else one of those happy wind- falls which sometimes come to great Ministers of State 2 “T have no time for prattling, Furlo,” inter- jected the Count. “By Jove! it is close on eleven o'clock! How time flies! Here! take the deed —give me the coin “Ah! one moment, my lord!” cried the old miser: “ I quite forgot to ask where the property is situated though of course I can take your Excellency’s assurance ? “JT have just married, Furlo, a lady of immense fortune,” exclaimed the Minister, ‘‘ Here is the certificate !—here also is a paper signed by her own hand, to the effect that no marriage settle- ments have passed—and consequently 4 “ T understand, my lora,” said Furlo; “ you are consequently exercising the privileges of a husband having full power over his wife’s property. Icon- gratulate your Excellency But Ab!” “What do you mean?” demanded Ramorino; “ why that ejaculation ? why that sudden start ?” “Tucrezia di Mirano!” cried the old mans “Lucrezia di Mirano!” he repeated, in a still louder tone, as he glancea his eyes over the mort- gage document. **Yes—that is the lady whom this very evening T have married,” hastily interjected the Count. “ She is immensely rich S “ My lord,” said Furlo, “I beg to decline this transaction: and the next instant the piles of golden coin were all swept back into the iron safe, “ Decline it?” exclaimed the Count, astonished and enraged. ‘“ Wiat mean you, old gotardr Ie not the Mirano mansion security eaough for ten times the amount which I seek to borrow ?” “ Likely enough, my lord,” rejoined Turlo, as book (E@) 3