Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

OS LL LLL LLL Ec ttre nat ’ for me, AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. to a terror. He again retreated ; and in a few minutes he descended into the main cabic. There the gamiog with cards and dice was still in pro- gress; and the atmosphere was hot, oppressive, and noxious with tobacco-smoke. He returned to the deck; he leant over the bulwark—the next instant somebody was by his side—and the moon- beams reappearing revealed the countenance of the Princess of Spartivento. “You have shunned me,” she said, in a cold voice—and yet Charles fancied that it trembled : “you have shunned me,” she repeated, “ and if I consulted my own dignity I should not seek an interview with you.. But it is hard to suffer in the estimation of those whose—whose’—and here her voice quivered unmistakably—‘ whose friend- ship one would be inclined to covet.” Charles knew not what to say. He could not deny that he had shunned her; but of course he would not confess it. ** Because I performed a duty,” continued the Princess, in a low earnest voice, “ you have con- ceived an abhorrence forme! Ab, but even in the performance of that duty might I not have had some hidden ulterior motive ? and without this motive should I not have shrunk from the accomplishment of such a deed? I scarcely know why I thus choose to justify myself in your esti- mation; but let it suffice that I feel the necessity of doing so. Listen! The first lot fell upon me: the second upon you. You shrank from the task which i¢ entailed. I might also have shrunk ; end as a woman an excuse would have been found But what would have happened to you? Death would have been your portion! It needed but a volunteer to take my place; and if I bad surrendered it, your doom would have been sealed! Was not Columella panting for revenge?—would he not have gladly played the part of executioner in reference to Fossano, that he might have after- wards performed the same part towards youP Well then, if I had flinched, you would have perished! Yet think you if it had not been to save your life I could have taken that of Fossano? No—by heaven, no! It was to save you that I thus sacrificed myself !” “My God! is this true?” murmured Charles, seizod with the deepest compassion towards the lady who was thus addressing him. “Can you doubt it?” she asked: “does not the tale speak for itself? And now, therefore, will you continue to loathe and hate me?” “No, no—not hate you!” ejaculated Caarles: “I did not hate you! I had not forgotten that you came to me in the guard-roum to save me ”? “Hush!” interrupted the Princess. “ My sister was talking to you just now. You did not mention the visit to which you have just re- ferred ?” “No,” replied Charles. ‘I considered it to be @ sacred secret even from your sister |” “And it is su. But now tell me—tell me, Signor De Vere,” continued the Princess, “do you still regard me with loathing and abhorrence? Or if you look upon me as a murderess,’—and she shuddered visibly as she spoke the word—“ will it not to some extent mitigate the strength of your horror and aversion to know that I became a murderess for your sake?” — i es ee ees “IT owe you my life,” answered Charles; “ and that is saying everything!” “lt is sufficient,” rejoined the Princess: and taking his hand, she retained it for nearly a minute in her own, at the same time bending upon him a look so earnest and peculiar that he could scarcely comprehend it: then slowly suffering him to dis- engage his hand, she turned and hurried to another part of the deck. : Our hero did not wish to fall in with the sisters again; and wrapping himself in a cloak, he lay down in a convenient spot, where after a while he fell asleep. He was awakened by a hand being laid upon his shoulder, and a voice saying in a friendly tone, “It is time, my young friend, to rise and arm!” Deo Vere started up: Ortona was by his side. It was daylight; but the position of the sunin the Hast showed him that it was yet early. All was now bustle on board the ship, above and below; and the deck was strown with arms and weapons, offensive and defensive. There were muskets and rifles — pistols and blunderbusses — swords and sabres—side-arms and cross-belts: there were vast - quantities of gunpowder and all requisite ammu- nition. Immense was the excitement which pre- vailed ; and Charles could not help thinking to himself that if this were a patriotism of the true sterling character—democratic and republican, in- stead of monarchical and aristocratic—it might indeed go far towards accomplishing a grand re- volution in the affairs of oppressed and trampled Italy. All the conspirators were now armed, cach according to his own particular fancy and the skill which he possessed in the use of particular wea- pons. Where were the sisters? Charles looked around. The Princess was at the moment ap- proaching him with a belt and the Countess with asword. They gave him the morning’s greetings with cheerfulness and cordiality ; and as he suffered them to arm him, he perceived that they main- tained the most complete propriety of demeanour, neither of them even so much as venturing to look in his face until they had again retreated to a dis- tance of a few paces, ‘They were armed with swords: they now each grasped a rifle; and they bade him take one likewise. This he did in order to avoia suspicion: but in his own mind he had not the slightest intention of taking a human life otherwise than in self-defence. Leghorn was soon in sight ; and the eonspiratore sent up atremendous shout as if the sea-port of Tuscany were already in their possession! But indeed they considered themselves almost as good as virtual masters of the place ; for their informa, tion had been positive to the effect that the inbac bitants were ripe for revolt and would receive them with open arms; so that they felt convinced they would only have to show themselves upon the quay — perhaps overpower the first military station—and then raise the ery of the Solidarity of Italy in order to bring the whole population out to welcome them. Indeed it was a speech to this effect which the Marquis of Ortona addressed to the conspirators as they were all assembled upon the deck, and when they had sent up that loud enthusiastic shout as they descried the buildings of Leghorn in the distance. The breezo still continued favours able—the vessel prrsued its rapid way—and in co 5}