Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

a 158 “Oh, assuredly!” ejaculated Ramorino, who thought it better to take the matter with a high | siastic. hand. the bye! come to me to-morrow according to our previous appointment ; and notwithstanding the terms in which you have now been speaking, I shall fulfl my promise of granting whatsoever boon you may have to claim. Good night, holy father.” Ramorino bowed the ecclesiastic out of the room ; and he was retracing his way towards the apartment where Lucrezia again most anxiously awaited him, when he was accosted by the domestic to whom he had entrusted the errand to the Mirano mansion, ‘It is done, my lord,” said the confidential de- pendant. “ Your Excellency will admit that all possible despatch has been used P” “ Evidently so—and I am well pleased,” replied the Count. ‘“ You have procured the pictures P” “Yes, my lord. The steward at once delivered them up to me,” was the response, ** And where have you placed them P” demanded Ramorino. “In the uppermost room at the back part of the house, my lord.” “ Tho uppermost room P” ejreulated Ramorino. “ But what was the use of that ?” ‘Your Excellency bade me lodge the pictures in the apartment most convenient for the purpose in that part of the house,” replied the domestic ; “and as the uppermost room communicating with the private staircase was the only one that was empty ss Well, well—there is no harm done,” inter- rupted the Minister of Police. “ You may retire :” —and then, as the man withdrew, Ramorino mut tered to himself, “It is only an extra flizht of stairs or two for old Furlo to ascend presently in order to see the pictures—and a little additional trouble in taking them down to the vehicle which he may bring for the purpose of fetching them away.” CHAPTER XXVIL. THE CATASTROPHE. Ler us now return to Father Faleconara, whom wo left at the moment when he was bowed out of the room where bis last interview had taken place with the Minister of Police. He left the bouse, saying to himeelf, “ Yee, Charles De Vero was riyht! It isthe sinful man protecting the erring woman! An identity of interests of come guilty complexion .or another, must have induced them to join their hands with bonds even more powerful than those which had previously united them!” As Pather Faleonara was slowly pursuing his way along the street, he mot Edgar Marcellin and Charles De Vere, “What tidings, holy father?’ inquired tho young Frenchman: “have you succesded with that vile woman ?” “ No,” was the response, “There was an in- stant when I felt confident of success: but I failed |” “ She is still there?” interjected Marcellin, in- quirnigly —— AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “Yes—she is still there,” rejvined the eccle- “She is evidently in a state of wild “Qood night, Father Falconara. Ab, by | mental agitation ——” “Thank heaven, she is there!” exclaimed Mareel- lin. “ We have seen the Minister of the Interior s and the measures which are now taken are of a decisive character. Look, holy father! see you that muffled individual gliding along on the other side of the street ? And there is another !—and look! there comes another !” “Yes, What means all thisP” inquired the priest. ‘ Are they the emissaries of justice ?” “They are officials from the Ministry of the Interior,” replied Marcellin: “ they are about to surround the Count of Ramorino’s house. WNoise- lessly and stealthily they creep, because the arrest itself, though now fully resolved upon, is to be effected tranquilly and quietly——=at least if Ra- morino himself will so permit it. But if other- wise, then * T understand,” said Father Falconara : “ foreo will be used if necessary? Alas, unhappy woman ! itisimpossible for her to make her peace with man! Ican only pray that she may recon- cile herself to heaven !”’ With these words Father Falconara was moving on, when Edgar Marcellin, grasping his hand, said, * Although you failed to obtain from that vile woman’s lips the confession’ which would have at once exonerated my chiracter, yet let me proffer the assurance of my sincerest gratitude for the kind interest you have dispiayed on my behalf.” ‘Fatber Falconara expressed due acknowledg- ments for the courteous language thus held to- wards him ; and be pursued his way in one direc- tion, while Edgar Marcellin and Charles De Vere continued their own route in another. The fwo young gentlemen quickly arrived at tho gate of Ramorino’s private -residence; and one of the muffled individuala to whom we have so recently alluded, glided towards them. “Tt is all right,” said Marcellin. there” The individual spoke not a word, but glided away again; and De Vere now rang at the gate. Tbe summons was immediately answered by @ laequey ; and Charles said, “ We wish to speak to his Excellency the Count of Ramorino.” “What names shall I bear to his lordship ?” inquired the domestic. “It is unnecessary to mention any names,” fe. plied Charles. “Say simply that two gentlemen desire to see his Excellency on most important business. Ah! when I bethink me, you may add, if you like, that one comes from the French Ea- bassy and tho other from the Baglish.” The domestic conducted the two young gentle- men into the waiting-room where the Count of Ramorino had already seen sO many persons on this particular evening. Tn the meanwhile Ramorino had rejoined Lu- crésia after baving parted from Wether Palconara ; and be told her of the failure of his endeavours to effect the promised arrests,—a circumstance which she had already more than half conjectured from an observation which had fallen from the lips of Father Faleconara. The Oount did mot think it worth while to mention that he had sent for the pictures, or that he expected Murlo to supply him with the funds which should ensure hie owa saletys “Shoe is —- te ee en MIMENCoMmiIcbooks