Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

—- AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, —— =—___. __ man whom he did not know by name. Voitura was the first to perceive that he had recovered and that his eyes were open; and he said in a voice which now struck our hero as being kind and tinctured with compassionate sympathy, “ How do you feel now, signor ?” “According to the laws of your Society,” said Charles, with a bitter irony in his accents, “ was it not the duty of the person who drew the first lot, to kill me as a defaulting brother, after that same person had acted as executioner towards the culprit? Why, then, was I spared? Sooner would I have died 4s * Speak not in such terms as these!” said the Marquis of Ortona; “but rather thank your stara that the first lot was drawn by a high- minded lady who knew how to perform her duty towards the Society to which she belongs by putting to death a criminal, but who experienced an illimitable compassion for you! For believe me,” continued the Marquis, “ if the first lot had been drawn by any one of the male members of our fraternity—Columella or Baguso for instance —you would not now be alive to give utterance to a comment upon the subject !” De Vere felt that whatever his sentiments might be in reference to the deed which the Princess had perpetrated, he at least ought not to reproach her. It was on account of Ais refusal to abide by the laws of the Society that the execution thereof had devolved upon that lady. He was more or less the cause of her taking that course! Yet he felt humiliated to think that he was so placed as to ba disqualified from commenting in full freedom upon what he still regarded as a fearful atrocity ; and he could have wept in bitterness because of the necessity of suppressing his indignation. There was a lony silence, during which he re- viewed his position. He was evidentiy a prisoner amongst ¢he conspirators; and the proofs which he had received of their desperate character were enly too terrible. And not merely a prisoner was he—but likewise included in the ranks of the con- spirators. What was his chance of escape? Only that of landing with them at Leghorn and then trusting to circumstances. But if he assumed a hostile front, looked sullen or indignant, or gave vent to bitter observations,—might he not fare even stilt worse at their hands ? might they not so far mistrust him as to leave him out of the ex- pedition altogether, though at the same time taking effectual measures to prevent him from be- traying it, by thrusting him into some dungeon at Genoa or by keeping him a captive on board the vessel which was to transport them from that city to Leghorn? Or still more horrible, might they not in their desperation put him out of the way altegether by means of murder’s work ? —for when the crisis approached, such bloodthirsty ruf- fians as Columella and Raguso would scarcely be inclined to stand upon much punctilio in order to ensure their own safety. All these reflections passed through the brain of Charles De Vere:—hot, feverish, and almost maddening refiections were they at first; but they gradually became cooler—and he mentally argued the whole subject more soberly and more delibe- rately. He therefore came to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary for him to adopt a con- ciliatory demeanour—to diseemble the feelings that —__— = a 299 a were now chafing his soul—and, in short, to throw the brethren as much off their guard as possibie and lull their mistrust of him asleep, so that be might be placed in a position tu realize his own special views and aims. As for the dread scone which he had witnessed in the subterranean of the Spartivento palace, he made un his mind to retain the seal of silence faithfully upon his lips when he should obtain his liberty : for ha was mindful of the oath which bound him to secrecy in respect to the present proceedings, so long as such secrecy might be neecful to the interest of the cause itself or the safety of the members embarked in it. “ Alas!” thought De Vere within his own mind, “secrecy on this one point will prove indispensable for the safety of the Princess as long as she lives! —for the law would not regard. her as the execu- tive of a legitimate vengeance, but would look upon her as a cold-blooded murderess !”—and he shud- dered as he made this reflection, Having completely settled his plans, and detor- mined upon the line of conduct which he was to pursue, our hero presently broke silence,—and said in a mild friendly voice, “Signor Voiture, you were just now kind enough to inquire how | felt; and I fear that I answered you churlishly—for I was under the influence of those embittered im- pressions which naturally attended the collection of my thoughts on my first awakening from a state of unconsciousness.” * Offer no apology, signor,” said Stefano; “but believe me when I declare that I am rejoiced ty hear you now speaking in a healthier strain.” ** Yes—I feel much better,” observed De Vere; “and I beg that whatsoever rudeness or discourtes\ there has been in my conduct, may be ascribed to feelings that were tensely strung—to the novelty of my situation—to my ignorance of the usages of these Secret Societies is * Enough, my young friend! enough!” ex- claimed the Marquis of Ortona, now breaking ia upon the discourse. ‘I am delighted to be ena- bled once again to call you my friend. No doubt the ordeal through which you have passed wes a trying and a painful one ‘ ‘It might be said,” interjected our hero, “ that for several hours I was kept balancing between life and death,—first menaced with destruction because I could not take a particular oath—next accused of being a spy-—then threatened with capital penalties for refusing to fulfil the duties which the drawing of the lots attributed to me bP] “Well, well,” said the Marquis, “ we will nos roview unplesant things, nor travel again over dis- agreeable ground. It is sufficient that you are in a better frame of mind; and indeed [ never knew a high and magnanimous spirit sueh as yours is, to be otherwise than marveliously elastic!” Our hero by dint of the conciliatory manner which he now adopted, succeeded in replacing himself on good terms with his comrades; and the discourse was continued for some little while longer, but on general and indifferent topics,— until one by one the occupants of the chaise fell off into sleep. Charles De Vere siumbered for some houwre: and when he awoke he felt quite refreshed. it was now morning; avd the Marquis of Ortena intimated to our hero thet in a few minutes they -—_—_e_ (©) Elooolk <—- co 5}