Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

252 me acquainted with the fact that he was charged with certain letters and tidings of importance for Captain Belluno at the Castle of Bagno. It was then his turn to become the querist ; and glancing at the upset chariot in the road, he expressed a hope that no one had been injured. It suddenly struck me that bis name had been in some way or another mixed up with those tragical affairs at Naples which regarded the Count of Camerino’s wife and son; and I hastened to explain that the Count himseif was the traveller in the chariot to which the accident had occurred, and that he had been conveyed in a very precarious state into the little wayside inn, On hearing this intelligence, Father Falconara gave vent to an ejaculation of wild grief—and he flew to the chamber where the Count lay. I also proceeded thither. The me- dical man had by that time ascertained the state of the injury : and he informed us that the skull was severely fractured at its base, and that reco- very was therefore next to impossible. Father Fal- conara displayed the deepest sorrow, declaring that nothing should induce him to abandon his bene- factor, except the sense of duty which compelled him to bear safely to Bagno the letters with which he was charged. It appeared from what I gleaned from Falconara’s lips, that the Count of Camerino had supplied unto him the place of a perished father. It occured to me at the moment that by becoming the bearer of those despatches to Captain Belluno at the Castle, I might by some accident or another be enabled to forward my own views in reference to Carlotta. I therefore repre- sented to Father Falconara my willingness to un- dertake the task ; and I bade him reflect that so long as he obtained a trusty messenger in respect to those documents, he need not entertain the punctilious notion that he was neglecting a sacred duty which had been confided to him. He thank- fully accepted my proposal: he placed the letters in my hand—and he gave me certain explanations which he requested me to repeat to Captain Bel- Juno, It appeared that when the storm burst above the head of the Count of Ramorino, a new Minister of Police was appointed in the course of a few hours, Father Falconara had waited upon him toexplain for what purpose he had come to Flo- rence ; and the new Minister had questioned him very closely in reference to the discipline observed in the fortress of Baguo, the number of prisoners who were confined there, their offences, and so forth. From all that Father Falconara said to the new Minister, the latter had expressed his resolution to send, with the least possible delay, an Inspector or Commissioner to visit the castle, and draw up a report of the state of the estab- lishment, with a view to its complete reformation. It was this piece of intelligence which Father Fal- conara desired me to communicate to Captain Bel- luno, so that he might not be taken unawares by the appearance of the Inspector or Commis: loner.” “And so you undertook the task ?” said Flo- ribe ; “ and by those means you obtained an in- troduction into the Castle of Bagno?” “Softly, softly, my dear Mrs. Lovel!” inter- jected the Baronet: “the raciness of the story is now to come; for I see that you have been impa- tient over those dry details which formed the in- dispensable preface. Yes—I undertook the task; {4a ETO Sean eae en Pie aes, BIE ae ee AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURZ, and with the despatches in my pocket and the message in my memory, I resumed my seat in my postchaise to retrace my way to Bagno. But it was not plainly as Sir Alexander Holcroft that I returned thither: I was completely metamorphosed! In the first place I travelled considerably out of my way to reach a town where I know that I could purchase certain little articles that I required y “And what were those articles?” asked Flo. ribel. “A black wig—a fine pair of moustaches, much larger than my natural ones—and a beard. These were for my own special behoof 5 ‘Good heavens!” ejaculated Floribel: “for what purpose did you require such masquerading accessories P” “JT am now about to explain my purpose and the mode in which I carried it out. Ah! I wag going on to observe that I also procured a similar disguise for my valet; and I finally became tha purchaser of a third pair of false whiskers, with the accompanying moustaches.” “Three pairs altogether!” cried Floribel. “Yes. One disguise for myself—one for my valet—and the third to keep in reserve for a special purpose. There was likewise a very pretty little suit of male apparel which I bought; and that was also to be kept in reserve.” “Ah! I think I begin to understand,” ssid Floribel, glancing at Carlotta, who smiled signifi- cantly and at the same time blushed with modest confusion. ‘ But pray proceed with your narra- tive, Sir Alexander.” . “You will say,” returned the Baronet, “ that th scheme which I concocted was one of the boldest and most impudent ever devised, and that it waa a perfect wonder it resulted in success. But I must remind you that I speak the Italian language with the fluency and accuracy of a native; and this circumstance constituted the main element of that success. Add to which, I am by no means deficient in brazen hardihood; and you will cease to be so very much surprised that the stratagem should have ended so triumphantly. And now for the explanation. Completely disguised, and at- tended by my valet, who was equally well dis- guised, I presented myself at the gate of the Castle of Bagno, desiring to be immediately intro- duced to the presence of Captain Belluno. The sentinels asked who I was, seals of the official despatches whereof I was the bearer. Ina few minutes I was in the presence of Captain Belluno. Then I boldly announced myself as an Inspector sent by the new Minister of Police to draw up a report of the state of Bagno Castle. Captain Belluno became all civility and politeness ; for it doubtless at once struck him that the tenure of his situation depended upon the nature of the report that I should make. I gave him the de- spatches from the new Minister of Police; and inasmuch as they ordered certain ememdations to be accomplished in the discipline of the place, pre- paratory to the introduction of other and still more sweeping reforms, they seemed to corroborate me in the story that I had framed, and to confirm my representation that I was an Inspector ap- pointed for this particular business. Captain Belluno at once offered to introduce me to his wife and daughter; aod I expressed myself delighted at the proposed honour. I was conducted into an oO michboo COMMUG Sj I skowed them the — atc tapenaeR ES (E©) |