Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

eGuQGQVWYe SS 152 Charles thanked the attaché, and passed on to his own room, where he found Father Falconara waiting. “T have to offer a thousand apologies,” exclaimed our hero, ‘for being thus upwards of an hour be- hind the appointment which I myself made with you: but business detained me elsewhere “ “No excuse is necessary,’ interrupted the ecclesiastic. ‘I know that you would have come sooner if you had been able.” “There is nothing I would not do,” cried De Vere enthusiastically, “to demonstrate my friend- skip and gratitude towards you; for never, never sball I forget the generous service you rendered me !” “T rendered you a service, Signor De Vere?” said Father Falconara, with a severe tone and look. “Ought I not to complain of the treatment I haye received at your hands P” “Ah! to be sure!” cried Charles, laughing. Well, we will not touch any more upon the sub ject. But at all events we are not now within the walls of the fortress of Bagno—you are not speak- ing to Number Twenty-nine, but to an individual possessed of a name. Let us converse freely. You may now be permitted to listen while I tell you that I was carried off from Florence by a mistake —I was taken for another—that very gentleman with whom you ere now saw me. It was at the in- stigation of a lady of high rank, but who is steeped to the very lips in crime " ‘““Ab!” ejaculated Falconara: “can it be the lady whom I saw just now ?” * There is no secret in the matter,” resumed De Vere; “for all Florence will to-morrow ring with the name of that lady !” “Ah!” again ejaculated the priest: “is such a storm as this indeed brewing P” “It is as I tell your reverence,” rejoined De Vere, “‘And you allude,” said Father Falconara, “ to— to ” and he still hesitated to pronounce the name for fear lest after all there should be some mistake in the matter. “ The Marchioness Charles. “ Then it is so!’—and the priest looked con- founded. “What ! do you likewise know something rela- tive to this vile woman ?” exclaimed our hero. “ But, Ah! doubtless you met her at the Count of Ramorino’s?—for I think you told me ere now that you had been to make a certain report yi “Yes—it was there that I met her,” rejoined the priest. “ But tell me, of whatis she accused ? why will all Florence ring with her name in the course of a few hours? Surely there must be some mistake ? The Minister of Police him- gelf ? “He is a villain, and he protects her!” cried Charles. “ He is her paramour.” “Not now,” answered the young ecclesiastic; and then he added solemnly, “ Count Ramorino is her husband.” Charles De Vere was stricken with amazement —as well he might be—at this intelligence: but it was now his turn to fancy there was some mis- take—and he said, “ Are you sure of what you tell me? This lady to whom I allude és “Is young and beautiful,” interjected Father of Mirano,” exclaimed ~ AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Falconara. “Ah! I recollect! she was much ex- cited when I spoke of the escape of the young lady. But that Lucrezia di Mirano is now the wife of tbe Count di Ramorino you may rest as- sured: for only three hours have elapsed since my lips pronounced the nuptial blessing,” “ Good heavens !” ejaculated Charles, “ what a bride has the Count of Ramorino taken unto him- self! Can it be possible that he is acquainted with her iniquities P” “And those iniquities?” said the priest in. quiringly. “‘ She is a murderess!” answered Charles. Father Falconara staggered as if the astonish- ment which smote him was a veritable blow physi- cally dealt ; and clasping his hands together, he murmured, “ Good heavens ! that I should have pronounced a blessing on the head of such a sinner !” At this moment the door burst open, and Edgar Marcellin rushed into the room. ~ CHAPTER XXXVI. RAMORINO’S BRIDE. THE instant the young Frenchman made his ap- pearance, it was easy to perceive that he was in 3 very excited state; and Charles De Vere sprang forward to ask what was the matter—for he dreaded lest some new misfortune should have occurred. “T will not endure this another minute!” ex- claimed Edgar. “ No! I will not lay my head upon my pillow this night until some step be taken to vindicate myself! What to me are all tho safe- conducts in the world if I am thus to be accused of the most atrocious crime ?” “ Tranquillise yourself, my dear friend,” said Charles. ‘‘ You need not leave the room, holy father,” he added, turning towards the young priest. “ You already know that Lucrezia di Mirano is a murderess * But you have yet to hear,” exclaimed Mar- cellin, vehemently, “that the vile woman dares attempt to cast the blood-red shadow of her crime upon me!” “Explain what has happened!” cried Charles De Vere. “On reaching the mansion of the French Em- bassy,” said Marcellin, “a scene occurred of a nature similar to that which greeted us just now at the gate of this Embassy. I was suddenly seized upon by a posse of sbirri, and the officer in command said that he arrested me on the charge of murdering Giulio Paoli. You may be well assured that I indignantly repelled the atrocious accusation ; and | demanded who was my accuser. To this no reply was given; and in my rage and anger I exclaimed, “I know that it is Lucrezia di Mirano who charges me with this crime; but she herself committed it!’—The officer counselled me to hold my peace and accompany him quietly. I produced my safe-conduct ; he seemed uncertain how to act ; but this indecision on his part quickly vanished, aod he said that under existing circum- stances he must execute the warrant which he held in his band. At that very instant whose carriage | (©) i) GVOOKS (C@)