Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

rr £79 eyes began to close: then they opened again; and a‘ter a little while, be said, “ Perdition take it, Voitura!—but I do not like to goto sleep! I have 8 presentiment of some evil!” “ Indeed P” said Stefano “ Do vou dread an irruption of the Sienvese sbirri? If so, shall we extinguish the light P” “No,” responded Raguso, “In case of danger we must see who our enemies are, and the best mode of dealing with them. I daresay it is all a stupid fancy on my part.” . “Yes: and you should conquer it,” rejoined Voitura. “I will be vigilant—my ears and my eyes are sharp és “Good!” said Raguso. sleep.” He again closed his eyes; and Voitura thought within himeelf, * He has a presentiment, but it points not tome! Hr susyects me not!” In a few minutes he felt convine d that Raguao slept :—but not for nearly half-an-hour did he move from the spot where be had planted himself: — he watched the countenances of bis two male companions. At lergth he thought that the time for action bad arrived, He stole towards the niche where the portmanteau was deposited ; and he took out of it one of the flasks—at the same time dexterously slipping off the leathern strap by which the haversack itselt might be slung over the shoulder. He concealed the strap under his coat; but tbe flask he kept in bis hand, and applied to his hips, so that if Raguso should happen to open bis eyes, he might fancy that the portmanteau bad merely been visited for the sake of the flask. Raguso’s eyes however continued closed: and Voitura thought to himself, “He is not so ready in awekening as he flattered himself that be should be! He doubtless drank tuo much of the strong spirit !” Voitura now proceeded to get the strap into such order that, by the aid of the buckle, it served as arunniog noose, His back was turned towards Raguso during the few moments that be was thus occupied ; and when be lookei towards him again, be felt certain that be still slept. The mowent for action was now come; and Voitura made a siguifivant gesture; for though be could not see the Princess in the darkness of the cavern's extremity, be Koew full well she on the other hand might watch all his proceedings, as he stuod within the range of the lantern’s beams. It struck him that the significant gesture he had just given, was acknowledged by a slight rustling of the dried leaves at the end of the vault. Slowly and cautiously he shifted his position in such a way as to bring himself nearer to R guso, who was sleeping with his two bands joined together and resting upon his lap, Quick as the eye can witk, Steiano Voitura threw the novse of the strap over the two hunds—pulled it tighi—and at the same instant flung bimself upon Raguso in such a way that bis knee rested against bis chest —and the man was powerless, Villain!” be exclaimed, bis eyes literally flam- ing as they opened up aiuto Voitura’s cuunte- Dauce, * What’s that ?—an alarm !” exclaimed Spezzi, starting up to his feet. “ D re not tu lay a bend upon a pistol,” vocife- Tated, Voeitura, “ur you are a dead map {”’—and “T will endeavour to —— me me oe awe 4 AGNES; OR, BYAUTY AND PLEASURE. be wes now levelling his own pistolat him, while holding Raguso powerless in the manner already described. “ You must surrender!’ said the voice of the Princess, now speaking in S,ezzi’s ear; and the point of a poniard simultaceously pricked his throat “Coward !” exclaimed Ricuso, seeing that Spezzi was so utterly dismayed and bewildered that he seemed as if his very senses had aban- doned him. Si ence!—or I'll blow your brains out!” and the muzzle of Voitura’s pistol was now applied to the brow of the prostrate Raguso. ‘ Princess, look to your man!” “Perdition !” suddenly ejaculated Spezzi: and springing back, he drew a pistol from the breast of bis coat; but the next instant the arm which held it was struck upwards—the pistol explode¢— and Biauca’s poniard was stricken deep down into the heart of ber antagonist. At that very same moment Raguso, with one stapendous effort, accompanied with a yell ot fierce vindictive bate, hurled Voitura away from bim, even at the risk of the pistol that was held aginst his brow sending its contents into bis brain. Another instant—ave, even in the twinkling of an eye, Raguso burst the leathern strap which con- fined his wrist; and seizing the pistol from Voi- tura’s grasp, be dealt him one terrific blow with the butt-end upon the skull, which crashed audibly and feartully, the sound mingling with the last moan of the victim. But everything was now taking place with lightning rapidity, and oue tragedy was followed by avoiher almost as quick!y as thought succeeds thought in the human broein. For down came the blood-stained poniard grasped by the Princess !—down it came, that weapon which had just drunk the lite- blood of Spezzi! —and deep it plunged into the back of Raguso. Precisely be- tween the sboulders penetrated the dagger, to which @ horrible sense of denger aud desperation imparted a tremendous impetus; and it was also with a single muan, xs in the ease of Voitura an iustaut beture, that Ragueo rulled over, a corpse | Aud pow all was acvomplished ! -and the Prin- cess remained the victress on that hideous areoa of battle. Three corpses lay at her teet: two bad fallen beneath the dagger which she _ herself wielded—and the third had parted from lile in a cause that bad taken its origin in ber own mis- deeds. Tbere—ain that lonely spot, amidst the grove-embowered ruins of the ancient castle, in a vault which might have served as a sepulchre— stood that woman whose soul had already been stained with crimes, but who now had added dark treacberies and foul murders to her preceding ini- quities! For a tew moments it seemed tov as if sue bad just awakened from the midst of a hideous anu appal.iog dream: but not lung did she remain (ranslixcd there, with all the purpvses of her wind wrapped up in the spectacle whereon ber looks were riveted. She remembered what there wus to bedone! First of ull, stuoping down, ehe ‘elt in Rayuso’s puckets, and speedily fuund tie key belovging to tue iron box, Turis she opened; and thence she took furtn tue curre;-endence to vbtain which all tde detatls of the receat tragedy bud been euacied. 1t was however with mingled caullup, careiuiness, and terror, that Bisuca Comichboo SCO) im