Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

296 “ben some one will draw for you,” said the Marquis coolly. “JT deny the proxy!” cried our hero: “I repu- diate the substitute !” “Enough, enough!” interrupted the Marquis impatiently. “If you will not draw for yourself some one must draw for you: and if the lot fall upon you, and you refuse to obey the decision, you yourself incur the penalty of death.” “Then here all human patience fails!” ex- claimed Charles; “ and I denounce you all, without exception, as——” But he stopped short as he caught sight of the Princess and the Countess, and remembered how they had sought him in the guard-room to offer him the means of escape, even though they themselves became perjured by the fact. “You do well, signor, to cease this style of language,” said the Marquis of Ortona, who was however far from comprehending the cause of that sudden cessation : “or else I should be compelled to adopt coercive means towards you. And now let the drawing of the lots proceed.” While this altercation was taking place, Stefano Voitura had calmly and tranquilly continued to write out the names of those present; while the brother named Raguso proceeded with equal de- liberation to load a large double-barrelled pistol with bullets. Meanwhile the wretched man Ludo- vico Fossano, who was the main cause of all these proceedings, was lying upon the pavement of the subterranean hall, in a state of either torpor or sullenness. The slips of paper containing the names were folded up: they were then thrown into a hat, which was duly shaken about for several minutes ; and then Voitura presented it to the Marquis of Ortona, who averted his countenance in such a way that he could not look into the hat as he stretched out his right hand to draw a paper. “‘ According to the laws of our Society,” said the Marquis, “I am about to draw forth two papers. The first name so. drawn is for the purpose of being in reserve: the eecond individual on whom the lot falls must perform the work of justice. But if this second individual should refuse | go to do, the duty devolves upon the first one | drawn,—and in this case the person who by the defalcation of a brother is forced into the office of executioner against the culprit, is bound likewise to inflict the capital penalty on the defaulting brother himself. These are our laws; and by virtue thereof I proceed to draw the names.” The Marquis of Ortona, still with his counte- nance completely averted over his left shoulder, thrust his right hand and drew forth one of the folded papers. He handed it to Columella, who opened it, proclaiming aloud the name of Sparte- vento. Charles De Vere started with a strong shudder- ing as he flung his looks upon the Princess: but that lady seemed determined to maintain a heroism that was in accordance with the masculine garb which she wore—and she preserved an almost per- fect self-possession : but her sister turned very pale and staggered visibly for a moment. “The second name!” cried the Marquis of Ortona. Again he thrust his hand into the hat—he drew forth a paper, which he handed to Signor Co- 199 Ae See eee eee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLBASURE, lumella, who proclaimed aloud the name of De Vere. Our hero was about to repudiate with horror and indignation the result which so vitally con- cerned himeelf.: but all in a moment a full sense of the terrible consequences which would redound upon the Princess swept into his mind, making him reel beneath the weight of an awful conster- nation and striking him dumb. CHAPTER LII. THE EBXECUTIO¥RS. | Yrs—fearful was the predicament in which Charles De Vere suddenly found himself placed. If he refused to take the double-barrelled pistol and therewith blow out the brains of the wretched culprit, Fossano, the duty of playing the part of executioner would of necessity devolve upon the Princess di Spartivento. But this was not all! The Princess would be compelled to wreak the vengeance of the Secret Society on De Vere also! In brief terms, she must first put the culprit to death, and then perform the same part towards the defaulting brother, who by shirking his own duty, thus entailed the horrible twofold task on the individual whose name was first drawn ! All eyes were turned upon De Vere ; for every one comprehended in a moment how he was placed in the most embarrassing and even awful predica- ment. What would his decision be? Great was the suspense that prevailed. As for the Princess, she was calmly dignified —paler perhaps than usual; while her sister the Countess could but ill conceal the terrible agitation which was torturing her soul. The silence too was awful; and as if to aggravate the deep noiseless hideous aspect of the scene, the wretched culprit had risen up to his feet and was gazing with ghastliest vacancy upon those around him. “ Signor De Vere,” said the Marquis of Ortona, at length breaking the appalling stillness; “ there stands the criminal—here is the weapon—and you are the person appointed by lot to inflict the punishment decreed by the laws of our Society!” Our hero started as if from a horrible reverie; and he said, “I acknowledge not such laws; they level honest men down to the grade of the lowest assassins !” | “ Remember your oath!” said the Marquis sternly. « Ah, yes!” cried Charles; “ appeal to my oath if you will! To what did I swear? That I would in all things obey my superiors in the con- templated enterprise, so long as they ordered me to undertake nothing repugnant to my own feel- ings!” The Marquis bit his lip fora moment; and then as an idea struck him, he said, ‘‘ Beware how you persist in refusing to obey our laws: for if you continue to be thus headstrong and disobedient— thus self-willed and perverse—-you will revive all our suspicions against you.” “How do we know,” exclaimed Columelia, “but that he might have been as much a spy 48 Fossano himself ?” “The word spy in your throat !” vociferated our Comichboo nn} Sal(6@) 5