Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

i i en. AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. cole O27 tional evidences of the fact that there was some one residing in the subterranean, There were broken victuals—a bundle of herbs—two or three bottles containing water—e few little articles of erockery—and some cooking vessels. There was also a small canister of coffee, and a bottle half filled with spirits. Wondering who the tenant of the place could be—or whether there were more than one—and haviag his dagger in readiness to use in case of | necessity—De Vere issued from the room, and cautiously opened the door at the extremity of the passage. He now found himself at the foot of an | ascent of stone steps; and he at once concluded | that this led up towards the suite of Crimson Apartments, at present occupied by the Princess of Spartivento, But where was the individual— or where the persons, if more than one there were ! —of whose tenancy in that subterranean such ample proofs had been discovered? Was tkere some place which had hitherto escaped our hero’s notice P or had the person or persons issued tem- porarily forth by means of the secret contrivance of the summer-house P—or, on the other hand, did this stone staircase at the foot of which Charles now stood, lead up to some other room besides the boudoir of the Crimson Apartments? Charles was determined to ascertain the point. He accord- ingly ascended the steps: all was still; there was | no door on either side—no room, uo recess where | any one could be concealed; and thus he crept | notselessly up until his farther progress was barred by a door at the top of the staircase. He looked for the spring; it was there—and he therefore knew that he had reached the door leading into the boudoir, and that on the other side of the wooden barrier which now opposed him, there was the superb mirror reaching to the floor. Froma sense of delicacy towards the Princess, our hero was about to beat an immediate retreat from the Vicinage of the boudoir, when certain words which suddenly smote his ears riveted him to the spot. . * And the poison will be of the deadliest kind ?” —it was thus that the voice of the Princess her- self was speaking. ‘‘ You are sure that you are not deceiving me?” ‘““ Why should I deceive your Highness?”’ asked a voice which to the ear of Charles was utterly unknown. ‘‘ Have you not promised me gold ?” “True!” ejaculated the Princess; “and a dis- guise to enable you to depart from the awful soli- tude of that subterranean where for nearly a month past you have been hiding yourself. And now took you! $0 so0on as my object shall have been accowplished—so soon as my vengeance shall have been wreaked —in short, so soon as the deadly venom which you, woman, undertake to provide, shall have done its work, then shall my promise to- wards yourself be kept! When am [I to have this poison ?” * To-morrow, without fail,’ was the woman’s response. ‘This night will I brew it.” ‘‘But have you the meansP have you now all the ingredients that you require ?” demanded the Princess, ** Last night I stole forth and procured the vari- ous herbs that I wanted; and now that your Highness has furnished me with the article that you promised to obtain in the town “ Well then,” interrupted the Princess, “ we thoroughly understand each other. Provide me with the poison that shall give me the vengeance I seek; and when its effect shall have proved to me that you have not deceived me, then shall my word be kept with you, But boware how you trifle with me! You said yesterday that we were in each other’s power: you forget how much more you are in my power than Iam in your’s. For look you! this very day have I read a placard which is posted up in the adjacent town, offering a reward for your discovery ‘ “Well, I know that such a placard is issued,” interrupted the woman. “I myself told your Highness that there was a reward set upon me,” .“ Nay, but there is even more than that,” inter- jected the Princess. “What mean you?” demanded the voice of the woman. ‘Some fresh placard P” “It may be one which you have not seen, though it appeared to have been posted for at least sevoral days. It is to the effect that whosoever may har- bour you, becomes subject to the same pains and penalties as those whereunto yourself aro liable 2 “Oh, is that all?” said the woman’s voice, “Every proclamation for the capture of offenders contains a similar warning.” ‘But still that is not all,” pursued the Princess, “Listen! If any person who has become amenable to the law for any offence save that of murder, shall prove instrumental in handing over La Dol- fina to justice, such person shall become purged and acquitted of the crime whereof he or she may have been culpable (murder still excepted). Now, woman, do you comprehend how completely you are in my power, and how little 1am in your’s ? If you trifle with me or deceive me, I hand yon over to the grasp of justice: and by so doing [ have aright to claim full pardon and forgiveness for the part which I took in the invasion of tho Tuscan territory. Yes—it is thus that you and I stand towards each other; and if I have explained unto you all these facts, it issimply that there may be no mistake between us, but that you may be fully sensible of what the consequences may be if you in any way trifle with or deceive me.” ““And the Minister of Justice has issued such a placard as that!” said the woman in a tone of concentrated bitterness. ‘‘ Why, ’tis the same as hunting one to death with bloodhounds! I could not have believed it!” “No matter to you,” responded the Princess, “if you serve me faithfully, and thus ensure the means of effecting your escape. Now, in one word, when shall you be prepared to restore unto me that phial which I have given you ih “This phial which you have given me empty,” answered La Dolfina, “ you shall find upon your dressing-table to-morrow, when you seek this bou- doir for your diuner-toilet. It will then be full of a white fluid, a few drops of which poured into the drink of your enemy, will be sufficient. And now I will ask your Highness, when may I hope for the realization of the promises you have made tome? If there be any delay in avenging your- self upon your enomy, whoever that enemy may be, you may try the efficacy of the poison upon e dog—a cat-—a rabbit ——”’ “ Baough!” interrupted the Princess. ~ Yon lNOOLS : C©) C© 5}