Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

' } ee | aod PES ee ~« I have obtaized.’ ‘You-will hear foom meindas | “Signora” axthuisad Ghee barame & You will hear from me in due course, when I shail know more. It is needless to watch the Spartivento palace: indeed, it were rmouch better that there should be no espionage in that quarter.” “ In good sooth,” said the Marquis of Ortona, after he had read the billet, “ we are bound in all honor and justice to acquit this young English- man.’ “I will stake my life upon his innocence !” said Voitura, emphatically. De Vere thanked him with a glance: but Ste- fano’s demeanour was still cold and inscrutable, as he said, “At the same time it is impossible to ebsolve De Vere from the responsibilities and Nabilities whick are entailed upon him by his con- nexion with our Society.” ““ Once for all, young man,” said Ortona, “ will you do your duty ?”—and he pointed first to the pistol and then to the culprit. “There was a moment, when I was a prisoner in the guard-room,” said De Vere,—“ a moment in which I thought that even with my own hand I could take the life of the man who so basely and falsely accused me! But now [ shrink with loathing and abhorrence from the bare idea of an act which seems to me nothing less than one of foulest assassination.’ “Then Ist De Vere himself die!” exclaimed several voices, amongst which Columella’s was the loudest. “ Hold!” said the Princess of Spartivento, step- ping forward ; and her mien was uunaturally ag “There is strife amongst us !— we stand upon the verge of disruption and ruin— and the cause of Italy “will be sacrificed to private feuds and personal animosities! This must not be !—and it is reserved for a woman to recall you to a sense of your duty. Lead the criminal acide.” Thus speaking, with a species of cold, glacial heroism which produced an overawing effect, as if some supernatural feeling had seized upon the listeners, the Princess took up the pistol. Her sister made one step forward as if about to clutch the weapon from her grasp: but she restrained herself, and then stood motionless. “My God! what would you do?” cried our hero, horrifiel almost to madness by this new phase of the hideous secene—a phase more fright- ful and appalling then all the rest! “What would I do?” said the Princess : then she added coldly and sternly, “ My duty.” “Your duty,” exclaimed Charles: “ your duty to whom? Will you forget your duty towards God in the false notions which are here incul- cated? Ifit were the cause of real patriotism it would be different! But it is not for the sake of the oppresced millions * Enough, signor — enough!” interrupted the Marquis of Ortons. “We are not going tu discuss that question anew.’ “Unhand me! let me go!” yelled forth Fossano, now galvanised ioto new life, as several of the brethren seizea upon him and were dragging him towards the farther extremity of the hall. “Wretch, be silent!’ cried Columella, who was one of those who bad bold upon him. “ Your doom is sealed!” and AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Signora,” exclaimed Charles, BES like ooe distracted towards the Princess, “I beseech your Highness to reflect well on what you are doing! Ob, signora!”—and now be flew to the Coun. tess; “intercede — remonstrate—entreat — com: mand = “Seize upon this madman!” thundered the Marquis of Ortona, now losing all patience. Half-a-dozen men obeyed the mandate as if they were sc many tigers springing upon the same Victim; and notwithstanding the desperate re- sistance whieh our hero made, he was quickly overpowered. He gasped for breath, and his eyes stared wildly. A horrible scene now took place. Fossano, still shrieking and struggling, yelling and entreating, was dragged into a corner of the hall. “Spare me!” he cried. ‘* Mercy! merey! as you yourselves would hope for merey at the great day of ju¢gment! Help! help! Murder! Let me go! Ob, I have a wife and children! —little ehildren that will be asking for their father! Let me go! Ah, the wretches! I willkick! I will bite! Murder ! ! Death! Let me go!” And while the miserable wretch was thus giving vent to the awful agony of his feelings—and while Charles Da Vere was powerless in the arms of the men who held him—the Princess of Spartivente was advancing with a pistol in her hand towards the shrieking, yelling, imploring culprit. ‘'aen, just as she zeached him—just as her fine form habited in mesculine apparel cast its shadow upon the wall clos» by where the miserable being was battling and screaming, shrieking and entreating in the ‘midst of his custodians—Charles De Vere, recovering his breath, cried out, “No, no! for God’s sake do it not!” The words were still vibrating through the sub- terranean, when there was a loud report, the sound of which could not however penetrate beyond the massive walls which beat it back. There was not even so much as a groan—for the muzz'e of the weapon had been placed close to the wretch’s head: and there he nuw lay a corpse! A dizziness came over the eyes of Charlies Do Vere—a faintness seized upon him—and his head fell beck. He endeavoured to rally himself—but he could not; and consciousness abandoned him, He had gene ‘through so much during the last few hours—bis feelings had been wound up to so fear- fal a degree of tension—that, high-spirited and full of fortitude though he were, he could not meet with impunity that suecession of shocks, the last of which was the most fearful of all. And thus he sank into a state of insensibility. When he came to himself he was inside a post- chaise that was proceeding at a rapid rate. It was a beautiful moonlight night; and he found that he had three companions. At first he felt as if he were just awaking from a horrible dream : but as his recollections rapidly came back, and all the details of that horrible closing scene rose up like ghastly phantoms in his brain, he shuddered from head to foot, and he would have given half the remainder of his life to know that it was in- deed alla mere dream! It was some time before he spoke; and in the meanwhile he ascertained who were these. three companions. Next to him was the Marquis of Ortona; in front of him was Stefano Voitura; and the other was a young SSS — Comichboo A} S (E(0) —— oo. =