Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

eee lee 308 : AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLBASUBE. a littie a-head, motioned them impatiently to hurry forward. They quickened their pace: the build- ings of the town were now reached; and they entered a street along which Nino Corso led them rapidly. He still kept a-head; and thus our hero had no opportunity of putting any questions to him. All of a sudden Nino turned under the arch of a gateway; and thither Charles with his two fair companions followed. In the court-yard to which the gate led, was a postchaise, all in readi- ness for travelling; and the postilion was in the saddle. “Quick!” said Nino, as he held open the door for the ladies and Charles to enter the vehicle. “Are you coming with us?” inquired Charles hastily. “No. Here is your itinerary.” Nino Corso thrust a paper into De Vere’s hand, and closed the door of the chaise. The equipage rolled out of the court-yard, and rapidly made its way through the streets of Leghorn. It was with the utmost curiosity that Charles opened the folded paper which had been thrust into his hand; and he found that it contained the following list of names:—Terricciola, Volterra, Sienna, Asciano, Pienza, and Camerino. This was the itinerary; and he immediately displayed it to the eyes of the. Princess and the Countess, exclaiming, “Our destination seems to be Camerino! “Tis strange!” * You knew the late Count well?” said Lucia di Milazzo. “I heard you and the Marquis of Ortona speaking of the circumstance the night be- fore last at Turin.” “‘'Yes—I knew his lordship well. But for what earthly purpose can we be on our way to the town where he has found a sepulchre ?” * We are as unable as yourself,” said the Princess di Spartivento, “to afford any solution of the mys- tery. What did you know, signor, of that Nino Corso who has so effectually yet so mysteriously succoured us?” “‘T knew him in Naples. He was then the driver of a public vehicle—devoted to the cause of which your ladyships are likewise the votaries. He was also a faithful friend to the interests of the Count of Camerino. Nothing surprised me more than to encounter him so suddenly as we ere now did: methought he had washed his hands of all con- spiracies—for I know that he had faithfully pro- mised his wife Benedetta that he would in future lead a more tranquil life.” “Yet you feel confident,” said the Princess, “that Nino Corso is to be thoroughly trusted?” “Oh, sister!” exclaimed the Countess; “do not facts speak for themselves? If he had meant to play us false ig “True, Lucia! it was so easy for him to do it! And therefore, signor, under all circumstances,” continued the Princess, turning towards our hero, “you will pursue the itinerary which has been placed in your hand?” “Yes,” answered Charles; “for assuredly it cannot be without a motive that we are directed to the town of Camerino. I know enough of Ita- lian geography to be enabled to estimate that it is about seventy miles distant. It is now eleven o'clock,” continued Charles, looking at his watch. “ Just one hour,” interjected the Princess, with @ deep sigh, “since the boats put off frow the ship! How many hearts that were then full of hope, are now either cold beneath the touch of death, or else reduced by discomfiture to despair !” “I suspected from the first,” said Charles, “ that the expedition was a mad one; but it is now use- less to retrospect regretfully !” “T fear,” said the Countess, in a soft tremulous voice, ‘‘ that the whole series of adventures will be fraught with many bitter reflections for you, signor ; —and not the least poignant must prove that phase of Columella’s treachery. We beheld it on the Mole 45 “Tt was infamous! it was abominable!” ex- claimed the Princess vehemently. “To turn against you thus!” “He was righteously punished,” said Charles solemnly ; “and yet it grieves me deeply toreflect that I should have been compelled thus to take the life of a fellow-creature.” “Let us change the subject,” said the Countess quickly. ‘Yeu were telling us, signor, that the distance from Leghorn to Camerino is about seventy miles P” “And though we are going at a rapid pace for the present,” observed Charles, “we must pre= sently reckon on travelling at the rate of about eight miles an hour. Allowing for indispen- sable stoppages, we shall be ten hours ere we reach our destination.” While thus speaking, Charles thrust the itinerary paper into one of the pockets of the postchaise; and his hand came in contact with something which he at once drew forth. It wasa bag the contents of which gave forth a metallic sound ; and on opening it, it proved to be full of gold coin. The object for which the bag had been placed in the chaise was so self-evident that Charles at once exclaimed, “Even the very expenses of our journey are provided for! This becomes more and more astonishing! Nino Corso could not have done this of himself! But by whom was he em- ployed ?” At this moment the equipage stopped at a bar- rier where there was a police-station for the pur- pose of examining the passports of travellers entering the city; but it was very seldom the cus- tom (only in times of disturbance) to adopt this formality with travellers issuing from the place. The ladies exchanged uneasy glances and drew their veils closer over their countenances: but Charles assumed an air of the most perfect self- possession. ' “Your passports, if you please,” said a sbirro, opening the door of the chaise. “ Well, this is a pretty proceeding!” bawled out the postilion; “to shut the gate and bar the way in this fashion! I thought officers in the army were differently treated !”” “T beg your pardon, signor,” said the sbirro to Charles, whose uniform he now observed: “ but the orders we have just received are so stringent that I must see the passports.” Our hero dared not speak ; for he knew full well that his foreign accent would prove him to be no Italian, and suspicion might have been excited. Despite all his presence of mind he felt utterly bewildered how to act, when the Princess suddenly ejaculated, as if smitten by a reminiscence, “ Were not the passports given to the courier? To be sure they were!———My good msa,” she wont on Comichboo SS (©) 5}