Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Catrina did not immediately reply ; but at the expiration of a minute, she said, “ We are not very rich people, signor—wmoney is an object to us —and though perhaps my brother would not have consented to take the lady into the house if he had known that such instructions as these were given, yet I was a trifle less particular—and—and in plain terms I consented to all that Signor De Vere dictated. But as heaven is my judge, I fancied it was because the woman must be crazed—I had then no suspicion that * ““That what P” demanded Ormesby, as Catrina stopped short. “That the lady was Signor De Vere’s mistress,” rejoined Catrina. “Ah! then you have made this discovery P” ex- claimed the nobleman. “T fear there can be little doubt about it,” re- sponded Signora Petroro. “ Look you, signor! the very day after the lady was brought to the house, my niece—whose name is also Catrina—went vp to present her with a bouquet as a tuken of civility: she did not know that the young English gentleman was there—so she opened the door without knock- ing—and then she was very sorry, signor—for both the young gentleman and the young lady louked very much confused. The gentleman snatched away his hand, which the lady was pressing in her own, or else to her lips—I don’t know exactly which; and whether he had his arm around her waist or not, I cannot exactly sey—for I did not like to question my niece too closely—she is only an innocent young girl of fifteen or sixteen years of age | “ Ah, well,” said Ormsby; “but at all events enough transpired to convince you that the young lady is the young gentleman’s mistress!” “Oh, no doubt about it, signor!” exclaimed the woman; “no doubt about it! The more’s the pity: for she is a splendidly handsome creature, although her skin is even darker than that of an Italian. And he too seems such a nice young man! But they do not agree—and it is evident that there is an awful jealousy or something of that sort—for the quarrele—Ob, the quarrels !” “Good heaven, is this possible?” exclaimed Ormsby : then to himself he added, “Ah! unfor- tunate young man! thou art already most terribly punished! God help any one who comes within the scope of that quadroon’s fierce, overbearing, imperious temper !” “Oh, the altercations are sad enough!” conti- nued Catrina: “but.as they are carried on in the Envglish language, we cannot of course understand a syllable of all that is passing “* And how often does the young gentleman visit her ?’”’? demanded Ormsby. “Every day regularly,” rejoined Catrina ; “sometimes in the morning — sometimes in the evening. To-day, as you have said, signor, be was there two hours; and the best part of the time they were arguing and reasoning and quarrelling. It was lucky my brother did not overhear it; or I do really think he would have gone up and turned the young gentleman out of doors. But now they must leave! I myself shall not try to shield them any longer. I shall speak to Signor De Vere to- morrow, and beg him to find another lodging for the lady.” “IT thank you for the information you have 239 given me,” said Lord Ormsby: “it is, alas! cor- roborative of all the misgivings that 1 had pre- viously entertained.” “‘ Perhaps, signor, the young gentleman is your son?” said the woman; “or the young lady may be related to you P” “No,” interrupted Ormsby; “but for other reasons I am interested—alas ! deeply and mourn- fully interested, in all that has transpired to my knowledge in reference to that young man. But do not mention either to him or the lady that an English gentleman has been making any inquiries concerning them.” “Ob, no! I pledge myself to silence,” an- swered Catrina. Lord Ormsby then took leave of her; and as he was proceeding at a slow pace and with pen- sive looks towards bis hotel, he met the Hon. Mrs. Hardress. She was alone; for her sister-in-law Josephine felt indisposed and remained in her Own apartment. ‘Mrs. Hardress,” said Ormsby, “I have re- ceived the sad confirmation of everything that you told ue, In the first place I have been to the Mirano mansion; and there I beheld the picture in which is represented the beautiful face of Floribel. Tell me—do you know whither the erring girl has proceeded ?” “That is a complete mystery,” replied Mrs. Hardress: “she departed with a strange abrupt- ness.” “ But this is not all that I have to tell you” resumed the nobleman. “ Another statement that you made me, has just been confirmed. -I allude to Charles De Vere and the quadroon wife of Gustavus Barrington.” “ Ah!” ejaculated Cicely. “‘ And now, Mr. Har- grave, have you - “I discovered where the prcfligate young man had lodged the faithless adulterous wife !” “Oh, you have discovered her abode?” cried Cicely: ‘“‘ this is most fortunate! Just at the moment I was coming out of the hotel—not a quarter of an hour ago—a courier arrived from England from Mesers. Millard and Co.—I think that was the name £ “Yes, yes!” ejaculated Ormsby; “the London agents of Mr. Pinnock of Jamaica.” * Well then,’ continued Cicely, “the courier brings letters of the utmost ‘importance from the Messrs. Millard; for it seems that Mr. Pinnock, her uncle, is dead Ke “ Dead ?” echoed Ormeby. “‘ Yes—dead !—and he has left her his entire fortune. All this the courier knowa; for he gave me the details, as the landlord had been recom- mending the man to address himself to me to see whether I could afford him any information in re- spect to the abode of the lady whom he sought.” “These are indeed important tidings for Emi'y Barrington,’ said Ormsby. ‘“ You would be ren- dering her a kindness, Mrs, Hardress, if you would direct the courier to the house where he may find her.” Lord Ormsby then named the street in which Petroro’s bouse was situated ; and Cicely promised to return at once to the hotel to communigate to the courier the discovery she had made. “She will doubtless have to go to Jamaica,” thought Cicely; “and then Charles De Vere will EOMmMiclo® er <SIIGO ‘nn