Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 168: what you’re looking at

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169 mu ee — AGNES; OR, BBAUTY AND PLEASURE. he were losing his head in the midst of the distracting circumstances that now environed him. But let us resume the thread of our narrative. We have said that it was not long before the Count of Ramorino was again called away from Lucrezia. The door opened—a domestic appeared —and while Lucrezia turned aside to conceal her emotions, the Count muttered impatiently, “ What, again? Fresh visitors P” “If you please, my lord,” said the lacquey, “ two gentlemen desire to see your Excellency.” “Two gentleman? Who are they ?” demanded Ramorino. “They say that it is unnecessary to give their names, my lord: and they bade me state that one comes from the English Embassy and one from the French.” “Ah!” ejaculated the Count: and Lucrezia at the same moment quickly turned her head towards the domestic, for the same suspicion had simul- taneously smitten herself and her husband. “Two young gentlemen—both slender and handsome,” continued the servant, who thought a further description was needed. “ Dark hair and eyes se “Enough ! I will come,” said Ramorino: and the domestic withdrew. * Marcellin and De Vere!” said Lucrezia ; “‘ there can be no doubt of it! mean? Does it bode good ? or does it bode evil? Ob! is the crisis coming ?”—and she shivered from head to foot. “Tt may be something more favourable than we suppose,” said the Count; “or else why should they come hither? But I will go and see.” “For heaven’s sake return soon! come back speedily, I conjure you!” cried Lucrezia. “ Ob, my God! what agonies of suspense shall I endure in the meantime! What if the very worst be about to happen !” A thought struck Ramorino. He knew that the Minister of the Interior would be willing to show all possible courtesy towards a colleague, and that it would only be as a last resource or under very urgent circumstances that the arrest of any one would be ordered to take place in his (Ramorino’s) house, It therefore occurred to him that the visit of De Vere and Marcellin might be for the actual purpose of bringing matters to a prompt, yet quiet and noiseless issue. Ina word, he pene- trated the real truth on the point. “ Now, this may mean something of import- ance—or it may mean nothing of any conse- quence,” said Ramorino hastily: “and yet it is not likely to be the latter!” . “ Suppose then it is the former,” cried the wretched Lucrezia,—“ suppose that the crisis is come,—can you not arrest them ?” “ No, no—I dare not under existing circum- stances!” replied the Count impatiently. ‘“ But listen to me! I must take measures for your safety! Look! you see the wire of this bell P It passes up the angle of the room ad “Yes, yes. What then?” demanded Lucrezia, with feverish impatience. “ It communicates from the room below with a chamber at the top of the house. ee What does this | SS tenses move. pull it. alarm “Yes, yes! But whither shall I goP and what shall I do ?” asked Lucrezia. “Listen to me. Hasten to the end-of the pag- sage—open the door to the right—it will bring you upon the landing of a private staircase. Ads- cend that stairease—and on reaching the top you will see the means of passing out on the roof of the house. Keep along the roof as if you were seeking the lower end of the street ; and enter one of the attic windows in the fourth house from hence. Mind, the fourth house! It belongs toa faithful officer of mine; anc he will at least keep you concealed and in safety until measures can be adopted to ensure your secret departure from Florence. Now, will you do this in case of need P will you follow all my instructions ?” “Qh, yes! yes!” exclaimed Lucrezia. ‘‘ Good heavens! what would I not do to avoid the other fate that may possibly be in store for me ?” ‘Then watch well the wire,” said Ramorino; “and for heaven’s sake sustain your presence of mind!—for on that everything may now possibly depend !”” Having thus spoken, the Minister of Police has- tened out of the apartment ; and as he descended to the waiting-room, he composed his looks into a demeanour of sedate and reserved courtesy, which may be denominated the “ official air” he was wont to assume on most occasions. On entering the waiting-room, he bowed to the two young gentlemen; and appearing to be struck by the visage of one of them, he said in a somewhat severe voice, “Surely you must be M. Marcellin, whom I met occasionally last winter in the saloons of Florentine society P” “T am that same M. Marcellin, my lord,” re- plied Edgar, with a tone and look of calm dig- nity,— that same M. Marcellin against whom | you have dared to issue a warrant fora crime | which makes my blood curdle to think of it, and then boil to be accused of it!” ‘And I, my lord,” said Charles De Vere, now stepping forward in his turn, while Marcellin retreated a pace or two, “am that English gen- | tleman who was carried off to Baeno by your Excellency’s police-agents,—the same concerning | whom your lordship was this evening inquiring so | very earnestly, and with every appearance of anx- | iety, at the hotel and likewise at the British Km- | Watch it well! If there be danger I will Then do you instantaneously take the >? bassy.” “ And to what circumstance, gentlemen,” in- quired Ramorino, who lost not his presence of mind, but who remained coldly calm, “am I in- debted for the visit that you now pay me at one o'clock in the morning ?” “Our object will be soon explained,” said Charles De Vere, who now acted as spokesman. “A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a lady lately bearing the name of the Marchioness di Mirano, but who, I presume, must now be known as the Marchioness or Countess of Ramo- rino,” “A warrant against that lady, sir!” said the Minister: but instantaneously recollecting hiw- self, he saw that it was ridiculous to affect igno- You could not | rance of the circumstance—and he therefore went hear the bell ring; but you might see the wire | on to observe in the same cold tone as at first, ! (©) Et COMNMUG @ HOOKS 5}