Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

a a a 264 certain weapons of defence against you. This I did ; and I rejoice at my prudence and forethought. Now tell me whether I may not defy your threats! For if it should ever come to the knowledge of my cousin Agnes that Floribel Lister and the Signora Ciprina were one and the same person, I shall at once take it for granted that you, Hector Hardress —either directly or indirectly, either anonymously or in an open and avowed manner—communicated the fact. And then, by way of reprisal, I shall proclaim to the world how the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Hardress made together an infamous compact, by virtue of which the husband was suffered to woo me as his mistress, while the wife obtaimed leave and license to bestow her favours upon Charles De Vere!” While Floribel was thus speaking, the very individual whom she last mentioned—namely, Charles De Vere himself—opened the door of the apartment. He stopped short on the threshold, transfixed with an amazement amounting almost to stupefaction at the words which came from Floribel’s lips ;—and we should add that his presence remained unnoticed, as the opening of the door had been previously unheard, by Hector Hardress and tke young lady. “These threats shall not serve you!” exclaimed Hector, furious with rage and maddened with the passion which the spectacle of Floribel’s charms had inspired him with in the morning. “You shall be mine! you shall be mine!” He sprang forward—he seized her in his arms: but the next instant Charles De Vere rushed in to afford his succour. He tore Floribel from Hector’s grasp; and upon the young patrician himself did our spirited hero bestow a buffet which sent him recling to the opposite side of the apartment. Floribel sank down fainting upon the floor; for the sudden excitement of the scene had over- powered her. Fortunately at that moment Lady Holeroft made her appearance. She had just re- turned to the hotel after her marriage with the Baronet: she was coming to announce the joyous intelligence to Floribel; and she therefore just arrived at the very nick of time to render those succours which women can best afford under such circumstances. “Mr. De Vere,” said Hector Hardress, walking straight up to our hero and speaking in a low hvarse voice, “ you have insulted me, sir !” “Dastard that you are!” responded Charles ; “it was you who first insulted her who now lies inanimate there! But this is not the place for disputiog. You may hear of me at the Hotel de "Europe. My time is valuable—heaven knows how valuable !—but I will remain in Turin for a little time longer than I originally intended, that I may again have an opportunity of chastising ou.” “And this time,” rejoined Hector, with deep bitterness in his accents, and with a look full of concentrated rage, “the ground shall not be left until one shall have succumbed! It shall bea duel unto the very death !” With these words Hector Hardress hastened from the room. Filoribel was already returning to consciousness: she caught those words that were thus uttered: they smote her comprehension in a moment. “ A thousand, thousand thanks, dear Carlotta!” ED AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. she said, speaking in Italian: then springiog up to her feet, she turned towards De Vere, saying in the English tongue, “ Charles, is it possible that you intend to fight a duel on my account ?” “ T wish to speak to you on most important sub- ects, Floribel,” said our young hero, evasively. “Pray get rid of Lady Holcroft for a few mi- nutes.” “Carlotta, my dear friend,” said Floribel, now quickly turning again towards the bride, “ leave me with Signor De Vere——” “One word!—only one word,” whispered Car- lotta; ‘and I leave you! Oh, I am supremely happy! I can now look the world in the face! I am married !” * Married ?” echoed Fhoribel, half in amazo- ment and half in credulity. “Yes—it is so, I can assure you!” ejaculated Carlotta, though in a whispering voice. ‘ Mar- ried by the-priest, and married by the chaplain ! But I will tell you all about it presently, my dear friend. Ah! what was that rude person who has just left, doing that you fainted P” “T in my turn,” rejoined Floribel, “ will tell you everything presently. Meanwhile accept my sin- cerest congratulations, Lady Holoroft—for it de- lights me thus to call you!” The warm-hearted Carlotta kissed Floribel on the cheek, and then hastened from the room. The moment the door closed behind her, Floribel said to De Vere, “ Excuse me for a few minutes, Charles. I am overpowered by my feelings—I must retire for a brief space to my chamber! I will rejoin you again.” “T will await your return, Floribel,” said our hero, taking a seat. Tho young lady proceeded to her own chamber ; and there flinging herself upon a sofa, she pressed her hands in anguish to her brow, exclaiming, “ A duel on my account! No, no! heaven forbid ! But how to prevent it? Ah! a thought strikes me !” She opened her writing-desk, and hastily penned the following lines -— “TI promised that you should hear from me: I have thought well of all you said, and I feel that I can love you. But you must give me a prompt and immediate proof of the love which you have avowed. A duel is meditated between two young Englishmen ; and the quarrel has arisen on my account. I will explain everything when we meet. Meanwhile, believe me when I assure you that it was through no imprudence, nor coquetry, nor folly on my part that this serious complication has arisen. You must likewise un- derstand that I have the most urgent reasons for desiring that this duel shall not take place. You must prevent it—and I will tell you how. Use your influence to procure the immediate arrest of the Hon. Hector Hardress, on the ground that he meditates a hostile encounter with another English- man named Charles De Vere. I believe that Hardress is staying at this hotel: De Vere is at the Hotel de l'Europe. At the same time that Hector Hardress is arrested, let an intimation be sent to De Vere commanding him to quit the Sardinian territory forthwith. Fulfil my demand —and I am your’s!” Floribel sealed the letter and addressed it te a eee eT Comichboo nn) S (E©) 5}