Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

240 lose his mistress, just as he has lost his lovely Agues!” Lord Ormsby, on again parting from Mrs. Hardress, pursued his way towards the hotel at which he bad taken up hisown quarters. He was profoundly afflicted on account of Charles Di Vere’s supposed perfidy towards Agnes; and it was with bitterness that he mentally ejaculated, “ Mis- fortune has attended upon my journey tu Florence ! I: would seem as if I came hither but to learn everything bad in reference to Charles, and to dise cover the very worst in respect to Floribal !” The mention of the name of Floribel suddenly reminded the nobleman of the promise which he had made to his beloved daughter Agnes,—to the effect “ that he would endeavour to find out where Floribel was, for that she must not be suffered to remain abroad in the world.by herself, either as an outcast in her own estimation or else exposed to fresh temptation.” But what course was he to adupt in order to recover his lost niece P how must he proceed to get upon the track of the wandering daughter of bis perished wife’s sister? If any one could furnish him with a clue, it was Charles De Vere. But how could he present himself to Charles ?—in what capacity? Though utterly unable to make up his mind on the point—feeling himself indeed more at a loss thaa he had ever done in his life— he wended his way towards the hotel at. which our hero was staying. On inquiry, he found that Charles was in his apartment ; and he was conducted thither by one of the waiters, Our hero rose from the table at which he was seated writing a letter; and he bowed with his wonted courtesy to the visitor, whom he requested to be seated. This near view which Ormsby obtained of Charles, only tended to aggravate the painfulness of the emotions which he was previously experiencing ; for he thought to himself, “ Good heavens! that one on whose fea tures nature has stamped everything excellent and magnanimous, should be inwardly so depraved and profligate !” But Lord Ormsby had not gone through half a lifetime of trouble without knowing how to conceal whatsoever emotions were agitating within him; and it was therefore with unruffled countenance and with a col:| level voice that he said, “ You will perhaps pardon me for not at once giving my name, Mr. De Vere ; and you will excuse me for being equally abrupt in announcing my business. In plain terms, therefore, I wish to know whether you can afford me any intelligence concerning Floribel Lister ?” Qur hero started as if suddenly galvanized ; and he echoed the name, “ Floribel Lister ?” “Yes, sir,” continued Ormsby. “I am aware that you know her—indeed you know her well. You have seen her very lately—and if any one can tell where to find her, itis you.” “Now that I have recovered from the surprise into which the abruptness of your question threw me,” said our hero, with a frank calmness and yet with a manly dignity of demeanour, “I would ask you, sir, who you are, and on whose behalf you come to catechise me ?” “T am one who experiences a deep interest in Floribel Lister. Yes—and in her cousin Agnes also—as you perhaps may as well at once learn!” ee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND FPLEASUBRE. “But why, sir,” asked Charles, more and more astonished and bewildered, “do you adopt so much severity of look and tone towards meP You ac- tually seem to address me as if I were one who had given you sone offence !”’ “Perhaps I shall explain myself fully before we part,” rejoined Lord Ormsby. “Inthe first in- stance let us continue to epeak of Floribel Lister. You, Mr. De Vere, recently beheld her: she was living in this city under the name of Ciprina.” “Qu!” ejaculated Charles, as a wildly painful | thought suddenly swept through bis brain; “ does Agnes know that her cousin is not all that I have represented her?” “Talk not of Agnes now, sir!” interrupted Ormsby, with unyielding sternness. ‘“ We will presently come to that topic,” ‘Ou! believe me,” exclaimed our hero, “ that if I have kept Agnes in the dark relative to whatso- ever I may know prejudicial to her cousin, it has been from the best of motives! And then too, I did really believe at one time that she purposed to retire into seclusion, and lead an amended life |’ There was a frankness in De Vere's look and tone which Ormsby could not belp admiring for the instant: but still it was with unflinching seve- rity that he said, “I beg, sir, that you will an- swer my question. What has become of Floribel Lister, who lately dwelt in this city under the name of the Signora Ciprina ?” “ As I have a soul to be saved, I do not know!” ejaculated Charles. ‘ She left Florence suddenly, at the very moment when I purposed to reason with her seriously and solemnly upon the course of life she had adopted “And can yow, Mr. De Vere,” asked Ormesby, “lay your hand upon your heart with the conviction that you are a proper shepherd to reclaim the lost sheep P” Charles started: he looked very hard at hie visitor : he again felt bewildered and astonished ; and he said, “There is something in your appear- ance which forbids me to think that you have come hither to offer me a gratuitous insult, and therefore I request that you will as deliberately explain your meaning as you have just put that singular question.” “I should give you credit for frankness, Mr. De Vere,” rejoined the nobleman, “if I were not aware that you are capable of the most hypo- critical effrontery.” Again Charles started; and he ognemtatedl “ By heavens, sir, this is going too far. You know that it is! You are evidently a gentleman by social position—you even have an air of distinction ; and it is therefore impossible you can be ignorant of the groseness of your conduct towards one who has never injured you. Now then, sir, explain your- self !” “ The only explanation which I have at-present to give,” answered Ormsby, “ is that in the name of Miss Evelyn, and on her behalf, I recommend you to think no mote of her as your intended wife,”’ “What?” cried our hero, to whom this an- nouncement wasas replete with a sudden excruci- ation as if it were impalement itself; “ you tell me this seriously, sir? Ob, no! sooner would I believe that the sun had ceased to shiae on high than that Agnes Evelyn was unfaithful !” Comichbooksneo in