Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

el 238 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “What!” ejaculated Ormsby: “do you mean Signor De Vere ?” “The same!’ answered the steward. “™ Is he not a most interesting-looking young gentle. man ?” But without giving any reply, Ormsby hastened | away; for De Vere at that inetant turned round a corner, and the nobleman was determined to follow him. It was not however with any definite intention that Ormeby thus got upon his track ; he had not made up his mind whether he should introduce himself to our bero and reproach him for his per- fidy towards Agnes—or whether he should adopt some other course to let him know that he must think no more of that beauteous, innocent, and artless creature. And as he thus followed him— as be thus for the first time beheld Charles De Vere—Lord Ormesby could not be otherwise than struck by his handsome, genteel, and elegant appearance; and he mentally exclaimed, “So far as the external aspect is concerned, he is the very husband whom I should have selected for my daughter! Alas, that the inward man corresponds not with the outer!” Charles continued bis way along two or three streets, Lord Ormsby following him. At length our hero stopped at a small but neat-looking house, which he entered. He remained there for upwards of two hours; and during the whole time Lord Ormsby kept such a watch upon the house that be never once lost sight of the front door. At the expiration of that interval Charles issued forth; and with slow footsteps, as well as in an evidently thoughtful mood, he continued his way. “He regrets the fatal connexion that he has formed !’’ thought the nobleman to himeelf. “ But, Ab! would it not perhaps be as well that I should obtain a corroboration of the terrible intelligence I have heard concerning bim? Although, alas! it is scarcely possible to doubt the statements roade by Mrs. Hardress, yet so serious is the matter—so completely is the happiness of Agnes at stake—tbat it is my bounden duty to avoid forming a judgment on slight grounds! Yes—I will investigate this matter farther; and then if the worst should be confirmed—as I fear it will and must—I shall at least have the consolation of knowing that I did not decide too rapidly !” By the time that Lord Ormsby had reached the end of bis reflections, Charles De Vere was out of sight; and now, as the nobleman was on the point of crossing the street in order to knock at the door of the house, that door itself opened and s respectably clad female came forth. She pro- ceeded along the street with a basket in her hand: she was evidently on her way to make purchases for the use of the household. Lord Ormsby fol- lowed her to a little distance; and when she had turned into another street, he accosted her. ““My good woman,” he at once said, slipping four or five pieces of gold into her hand, “I wish for some information which you can give me.” “J, signorP” and she looked at him with asto- nishment, “ You are a stranger to me—you are not an Italian——” “But it is not only with Italian people that you have to do,” interrupted Lord Ormsby; “ for it is not many minutes since an English gentle- man issued from your house.” “Ah, true, signor!” said the woman, who etill © held the pieces of gold hesitatingly in her hand— anxious to consign them to her pocket, and yet not liking to do so ere she learnt the precise motive for which so liberal a bribe was given. “And perhaps,” added Ormsby, “you have some other person. beneath that roof who is not ap Italian ?” “ Well, signor—and if it were so, what then?” demanded the female. ‘A dark-complexioned lady!” ejaculated the nobleman, fixing his eyes keenly on her counte- nance. “T hope, signor, that you are not going to wake any trouble about it,” said Catrina Petroro —for she the woman was: “but if you mean these coins as a reward for my speaking the truth " “That is precisely what I do mean,” rejoined the nobleman. “So now we understand each other. Keep the money. I shall ask you to say nothing that will in any way compromise yourself.” “Good, signor !”’—and now the coins were con- signed to the pocket. * You have admitted the point at which I was aiming,” resumed Ormsby,—“ that is to say, a lady with a dusky complexion—very handsome— with a fine figure—is living beneath your roof.” “ Yes, signor: I have already admitted it,” an- swered Catrina. “‘And she is visited by the young Englishman whom I just now followed to your house, and whom I saw go forth again after tarrying there precisely two bours ?” * This also is true, signor,” said the woman, “ Did that gentleman introduce the lady to your house P” inquired Ormsby. “Yes, signora. We had some trifling know- ledge of the gentleman, because he was mixed up in the recent affairs connected with the Mar- chioness di Mirano—and we had Signor Paoli staying at our house £ “Ah!” ejaculated the nobleman: “then your name must be Petroro ?” “That is my name, signor at your service.” “ Signor Paoli arrived safe in England a week ago—and I saw him. But let us revert to the topic in which I am most interested. You say that we “I was about to tell you, signor,” interrupted Catrina, “that as we knew the young English gen- tleman De Vere, we of course took his recommen- dation when he came one morning and said that he could send us a lady as a lodger. My brother did not for a moment think it necessary to ask about her respectability : but to tell you the truth, signor, I thought she was a little touched here :” and Catrina significantly tapped her own forebead. ‘What made you think so?” asked Ormsby, as he walked slowly along the street by Catrina Pe- troro’s side. “Because Signor De Vere,” she responded, “told me so particularly to keep the strictest watch upon the lady’s actions—to follow her when she went out—and especially to take note whether she followed him when he left her.” “ Ah!” said Ormsby : “these were strange in- junctions —were they not ?” Catrina Petroro ee boo <SEIGO i