Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, your smiles. And enmity such as this works in- sidiously, signora: jealousy and envy veil mur- derous thoughts beneath smiling countenances : revenge glides noiselessly and secretly like a ser- pent amidst the flowers that border the walks which your steps pursue. The wine which sparkles the brightest, may contain poison of a vature the deadliest !” “Why do you tell me all these things P” de- manded Ciprina, wondering whether the woman had any particular motive for such discourse—or whether she were merely adopting a usual jargon in the hope of drawing forth something more from the purse of her new client. “Why do I tell you these things ?” said La Dol- fina, assuming a mysterious air of confidence, as well as speaking with a certain decisiveness, as if she knew that she was perfectly justified in the course that she was taking. ‘ You best can tell, | that vibrated in Ciprina’s heart. | ) oy [=e ————s Zit iw which may have caused a serious reflection to arise in your own mind! You best can tell whether your beauty has as yet made you enemies amongst your own sex, or led to disputes between rival aspirants of the opposite sex! You best know whether it were prudent for you to take all possible precautions, or whether it were wise to leave everything to accident and chance !”’ The woman’s words had indeed touched a chord Might she not from recent circumstances incur some danger at the hands of the Marchioness of Mirano P—had she not discovered that Lucrezia was indeed as completely a prey to all the darkest passions of the human soul, as was her prototype, Lucrezia Borgia? Was there not consequently something terrible in the idea of living beneath the same roof with such a character,—exposed at any in- stant to the effects of her malignity or her fear, Signora, whether there be anything in my words | her jealousy or her vindictiveness ? No, 66.—AGNES. Vou, II, (©) lNOOLK 1) co 5}