Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

ZOU AUNTS; OX, DYAUTS AWW YY WATO YW. of listening to a concert or joining in a dance. | Alas, that our fair fame should thus be libelled by Besides, on what excellent terms the Princess was |a bratairuffian! But it is one of the penaities with you, signor, just now when she brought you | which patriotism has to pay for its fervour and its into the room. Well, well! it is no business of | sincerity. Ah! it is better that the police should mine Z : the word lovers instead of conspirators t “But you seem to be making it your business,” | And not only do I thank you, signor,” pursued said Charles sternly. ‘And now what is all this|the Princess, “for your gemerous conduct in gossip and tittle-tattle to lead to?” reference to my sister and myself: I may likewise “To lead to? Why, to nothing, signor. I said | compliment you on the strict honour and integrity just now it is no business of mine; but somehow | with which you have fulfilled your oath. I had or another the subject has grown on us—and I | not the slightest hesitation in trusting you alone could only conclude by recommending that you do | with the police-agent: I knew you were a man of not suffer the fascinations of the Princess to retain | honour!”’—and the handsome dark eyes of the you hero beyond midnight.” Princess were fixed with admiration upon the “T shall depart at midnight,” said our hero, | countenance of our hero. with a stern curtness. “ You can order me a post- “Even though my oath be extorted from me by chaise, if you will. It may take me up at the|the force of circumstances,” said Charles, “I can gate of the Spartivento palace Py nevertheless respect it. And now, Princess, if my “T will come with it myself, signor,’ said the | conduct throughout has given you such satisfac: agent. tion—and if you can place such implicit reliance “Thank you, I would rather not,” interjected | on my integrity—why may I not be suffered to go Charles. ‘Do you think I want every one to|free? why must I be held to the terms of that know that I am hunted about by the police? !oath? One word from you to the secret conclava Send me the chaise, and let my portmanteau be | would ensure my manumission !” placed inside. Here is money to liquidate my ex- “Not so, signor,” said the Princess; and it ap- penses at the hotel: the surplus you will keep for | peared to be with an expression of mourniui regret yourself, And now depart.” that she shook her head. “It would piease me “I hid you farewell, signor. I envy you! ‘You | much to do aught that lay in my power to serve will presently be a happy man in the arms of the | you: but herein I am powerless. The Society will Princess J not part from one whom it hopes to enrol perma “Silence! a truce to this ribald scandal on your | nently in its ranks. It is not the first time that - part!” exclaimed our hero sternly, persons have entered those ranks unwillingly, and “Ab, well, signor, it is all very generous and | as the result of circumstances which were acci- honourable; but it does not make me your dupe. | dental, or at least involuntary on their part: and I tell you these two ladies are visited by more | they have ended by becoming stanch supporters lovers than even that famous Marchioness was —— | and advocates of the good cause. This is a cal- you know whom I mean the one who died so | culation of which the Society never loses sight; horribly the other day at Florence,” and it will not depart from its rule in your case. Having thus spoken, the official took up his hat, | Besides, signor, a point has already been strained made a bow, and retired. Just as the door closed | to save your life—and you must ask no more!” behind him, a large picture, about seven feet high,} “If you assure me that the request is useless,” and standing only about a foot from the floor, | replied Charles, “it were idle for me to continue opened as a door; and the Princess came forth | to urge it!” | from an inner room which was thus disclosed to| ‘It is useless,” said the Princess; and again she the view of our hero. bent upon him a look that was replete with com- “You are a man of the most scrupulous honour,” | passionate interest: then, as her countenance sud- she said to De Vere, as she proffered him her | denly fired up with an enthusiastic glow, she ex- hand. claimed, “Ob, chivalrous-minded Englishman! If “What! is it possible?” he asked, “you have] am confident that you will enter with spirit into heard dg our cause! You will accompany us to-night with “Hverything that has taken place,” replied the | the resolve to play a noble part !” Princess; and the blood mantled over her superb} ‘‘ What?” ejaculated Charles: “do I under- countenance, upon her neck, and upon her bosom. | stand your Highness aright? Is it the intention “Oh, signora!” cried Charles, “I dared not} of yourself and your sister to accompany the expe- breathe a single syllable in vindication of cha-| dition ?” racters which I knew to be go foully aspersed !” The Princess cast upon him for a moment a “You said as much as you dared,” answered | look asif she were surprised at the query; and the Princess, bending upon him a look full of} then she said, “Do you think, signor, that we gratitude, but still with a blush upon her cheeks ; | should remain absent when the spark is to be set —‘‘and far more than, as strangers to you, I and|to that system of trains which are ramified my sister had any right to expect.” throughout Italy? No, no! we shall not be “The female charactery when wrongfully ac-| absent! But come—you may stand in need of cused,” rejoined Charles, “always ought to enlist | refreshments—and then you must return to the the chivalrous sympathy of a male defender. But | conclave, who will be expecting you.” if I had spoken a syllable more than I did say on The Princess again took De Vere’s arm; and they your behalf “ issued forth from the parlour where this conversa- “You would have betrayed everything !” inter-| tion had taken place. Instantaneously changing jected the Princess, “Ah, signor, I fully appre- | the discourse to light and general topics, the ciate the noble generosity of your conduct ; and I| Princess talked gaily and in a very friendly shall aot fail to represent it presently to my sister. | manner with De Vere as they crossed the spacious COMMicloookxs (©)