Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 297 hero; and the next instant Columella was smitten down upon the pavement, “Ah!” thundered Raguso, snatching up the loaded pistol: ‘‘ are we to have violence here P” “Peace, peace! I command you!” cried Ortona. “ Good heavens! under what auspices is our expe- dition to commence!” “My lord,” said Columella, rising up slowly and painfully from the floor, ‘I demand justice against this young Englishman.” “Permit me to observe,” said the Princess of Spartivento, “that Signor Columella was the aggressor. He called Signor De Vere a spy; whereas the charge has been fully disproved.” “With due deference to your Highness,” said Columella, whose countenance was white with rage, “I do not consider that the charge has been disproved. It has only been shown that Fossano is aspy: it has not been demonstrated that De Vere is not! They might have beenacting sepa- No. 90.—AGNEs. \ ‘ » HAS S AAS : SNINS <e SS SS Ay N Looe, A aN AW) rately and severally: then, by a coincidence, De Vere might have addressed himself in confidence to Fossano; and Fossano, thirking to save himself from suspicion, may have turned round upon the Englishman and denounced him.” “Cease this ridiculous prating!” cried Charles. “Here is the proof that Iamnospy! This is the very billet which I dictated to Fossano in the guard-room, and which he tossed into the fire. It was not consumed—and just now I recovered it. Look! it is in the same cipher, and in its meaning is not very different from the second billet which I dictated to Fossano, and which Signor Voitura bore to Captain St. Didier. My lord, read it aloud,” The Marquis took the singed paper, and read the contents as follow :— “No attempt is to be mado for the present: bus LT am leaving Turin to follow up a clue which Vou TI, Ghboo > r ' | ’ S co 5}