Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

256 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. She had risen from her seat, and she accepted | vidual who will never weary of affording proofs of the bouquet—for it was proffered with so much | his devoted love if you will but condescend to ac- well-bred courtesy, and with such an easy elegant | cept it !” respectful gallantry, as to render the donor’s man-| While the Marquis of Crescentino was thus ner indescribably winning—we had almost said| speaking’ Floribel discovered that his whiskers, fascinating. which at first had seemed to be of a glossy black, “* Pray be seated, my lord,” said Floribel, with | were in reality dyed; for they had that peculiar an amiable smile, as she indicated a chair. tint which betrays the artificial colouring when “Not until I see you sit down first,” said the, the sunbeams fal upon the hair whose natural Marquis, with a low bow; and it struck Floribel | greyness is thus disguised. And she furthermore that his voice was somewhat nervous and trem-| became convinced that the well-fitting coat was bling for a man who had the hale appearance of | skilfully padded so as to set off a figure which age about forty years of age. had emaciated ; and she perceived that brilliant She sat down; and then the Marquis took a| diamond rings glittered upon wrinkled fingers. In seat likewise. short, as she thus discovered in detail how com- “I went last night,” he pursued, “to witness pletely the Marquis was made up, she was gradu- the debit of a new actress and the representation of some dramas which are great favourites with me: but I saw neither debitanée nor perform- ances. I beheld naught but you.” “ Your lordship can speak very pretty flat- teries,” replied Floribel, “ as well as present very pretty nosegays.” “Truths are not flatteries, my dear madam,” re- joined the Marquis; and this time as he bowed, the conviction flashed upon Floribel that the beau- tiful black curling hair was only a wig most artis- tically got up. ‘“‘ Your presence last night at the theatre, so sudden and so unexpected,” he con- tinued, “came upon me with all the effect of a delightful dream; and when you departed at the close of the performance, it appeared as if dark- ness had suddenly fallen upon my eyes.” Floribel was just thinking to herself that even though the Marquis wore a wig, he had never- theless very beautiful teeth, when a slight move- ment onthe part of the entire upper range sent | another disagreeable conviction flashing to her mind ;—and this was that his teeth were false! “ You cannot be surprised, my dear madame,” he continued, “ that after your appearance made such an impression on me, I should venture to pre- sent myself here to-day. Tell me in one word that my visit is disagreeable—and I depart with a thousand of the humblest apologies for having paid it. But tell me on the other hand that I am not too bold, and you wiil infuse a perfect rap- ture into my soul!” ally led on to the conclusion that instead of o man in the prime of life who was thus entreating her love, it was an old man whose age exceeded sixty. Yet this discovery was accompanied by no sensation of disgust; for, in the first place, it came upen her gradually—and in the second place, his bearing was so gentlemanly, his manners so polished, his demeanour so kind, that if he had presented himself as a friend she would have been quite prepared to take a liking to him, too, his person conveyed the idea of the most scrupulous cleanliness and the most fastidious nicety ; so that notwithstanding all the artifices and succedaneous contrivances which were so skil- fully combined for the purpose of knocking off twenty years in his appearance, there was naught to inspire a feeling of loataiag and disgust for the Marguis of Crescentino. “You have frankly made certain proposals, my lord,” said Floribel; “and I will as frankly tell you that I am prepared to take them into con- sideration. I give you no definite auswer now— but to-morrow you shall hear from me.” “T bow to your will and pleasure,” responded the courteous nobleman, rising from his seat. “Yes—I yield submissively: but, Ob! it will be with suspense and impatience, so far as I myself am concerned! In the meantime is there any- thing Ican do to serve you or to save you the slightest trouble? You may command me. Make me your banker—your messenger—your escort— or your lacquey—and I shall be happy! And “You come to me, my lord, with so much| even if your decision should to-morrow prove un- kindness,” replied Floribel, glancing at the beau- | tiful bouquet, “that it is impossible I can say your visit is displeasing. Yet after all it must have an object ?” “Tt has an object—and it has a hope,” re- sponded the Sardinian nobleman. ‘ You are beautiful—and I worship you. Consent to become the idol of this worship—and see with what choice gifts I will enrich the temple that shall enshrine you! There is a spacious mansion not far from | hence, bearing the name of the Crescentino Palace. Ten leagues from Turin there is a beau- tiful country-seat in a park, bearing the name of | the Crescentino Chateau. Lither is at your dis. | posal : or you may divide your time between both. At each there are numerous equipages and troops of domestics : the former are at your command— the latter would be proud to obey you as their mistress. There is in the next street a banker who will honour your drafts, no matter for what amount;—and there is in your presence an indi- favourable, at least suffer me to continue your friend.” *T am really touched by your kindness,” re- joined Floribel; “and I wish that I had some service which your lordship could render me in order to prove that I do not hesitate to appeal to your friendship. But there is none. You shall hear from me to-morrow, my lord.” The well-bred and gallant old nobleman took Floribel’s hand—bent down and just touched it | with his lipsp—and then with a low bow quitted | the apartment. Again did Floribel give way to her reflections on the incidents of the morning; and with a smile of triamph upon her lips, she murmured, “I may now take my choice amongst four persons! There is Captain St. Didier, with his handsome face and mediocre means: there is the Baron von Fried- burgh, with his odours of tobacco, his self. suffi- ciency, and his well-filled purse: there is the Marquis with bis well-bred air, his riches, and oO COTMICLOOKS im And then