Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 379: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Srl meddled with the casket, for she bad not forgotten that it was so fashioned as to constitute under certain circumstances an infernal machine. How- ever, it was in safety that she conducted her pro ceedings; and baving secured the packet of letters, she stooped «own for a moment to ascertain whetber the epark of life might possibly scintillate still in the beart of either ot the three individuals that lay at her feet. But there could be no pussi- bility of doubt as to the fact that their souls had teuken wing; and Bianca, baving extinguished the lentern, began to take ber way with all possible rapidity beck to Sienna. There was now a wild jovin her heart—a strange feverish entbusiasm—a fee:ing as if she had accom. plished some praiseworthy deed of self-martyrdom, or bad made come stupendous personal sacrifice in order to save the life which ber own wickedness had in the first instance placed in such fearful jeopardy. She thought not now of the fearful crimes that bad just been perpetrated in order to carry out her views: she was not haunted by the - gpectres of those three persons whose lives had been sacrificed in order that the life ot ome might be eaved! In about twenty minutes she reached the city, towarcs which she was guided by the shining lights; for otberwise she might have lost her way alter emerging from the grove in the midst of which the ruins of the Castle D O.co were situated, The Princess proceeded straight to the hotel where she bad taken up her quarters; and on gaining the apartment, she drank a large draught of water. There was wice upon the table: but she would not touch it. It was now close upon midnight ; and Bianca remembered the appoint- ment which she had given to her sister, Taking a sheet of paper, she enclosed the packet of letters therein : she carefully sealea the envelope and she addressed the packet thus: “To his Excellency General Germini, from the Count of Camerino.” No soon:r was this dune, when Lucia—tull of the most painful anxiety, and cunsequently befure her time by several minutes—made her appear- ance, “ What tidings, sister P”’ she demanded, as she rushed into the apartment, * He is saved, Lucia !” responded the Princess, *Suved! saved!’ cried the Countess: and then springing towards Bianca, she fluog ber arms about her neck, exclaiming, ‘“‘ Ou, ueaven will bless you! heaven will bless you, my sister !—and ali the miscbiet you have previvusly dune isamply atoned for! But bow is be saved ?” * Tuis packet contains the correspondence of Carlo Alberto, the late King of Piedmont, with the chiets of the Seeret Sucieties; and on giving this up to the Comussndant tbe young Hoglisb- man way claim his life.” An exclamation of joy burst from the lips of Lucia: but all in a moment a change came over ber—a gbastiy pallur seized upon ber couutenance —and sve staggered back as it recvlling in dread horror from sume spectacle that affiighted ber. “Guod beaveus! what is it ?’’ cried the Prin- cess. * Blood ! blood !”?—and Lucia pointed in in- creasing horror tu ber sister's gurwents, * Aye, bivoou! blood! to be sure!’ —aend the Princess juugued with scorutul wildness. PL EL TE ET EI LOS OF ELD I EIS ST LE FT ER AO Oe ee E Es why not? To avert the consequences of this one crime I was prepared to commit a thousand ! Sooner than have the innocent blood of that young man upon my head, I was ready to wade knee- deep through the blood of those members of the Secret S.cicty who had cowpelled bim to remain in their midst !” “My Gud! what have you done, Bianca?” murmured the Countess, who tottered to a chair, and felt as if she were about to faint, * No matter what L bave done,” replied the Princess, almost fiercely. “Suffice it for you to know, sister, that these ducuments have been purchased with blood! And now let there be no luss of tine in using them on behalf of him whom they are to save from death! It wasa satistac- tion that I bad promised myself,—the last, last pleasure which on earth I may know: but I feel that Tam not equal tothe task! Tnoere is blood upon my garmeats!—the General might see the tell tale stains !—and Charlee bimself might recuil in horror from the idea of using a talisman of safety when presented to him by the red right hand of Murder! Go you, Lucia ! —go, and couvey the packet to the Guvernor and the tidings of freedum to the youvg Evglishman! You des+rve to become themessenzer of such good tidings! Yes—for you have maintained the purity of your svul and the integrity of your repute turoughout this terrible series of incidents wherein my own happiness and fame have been engulfed as ina whiripvol! Go you, therefore, my sister! But suffer Caoarles to know that 1 had at least sume snare in accom- plishing bis salvation !” P ‘He shall know that you have done it all, Bianca !”’ exclaimed the Countess, with a mo- mentary fervour: and then in a tone that eud- denly changed to sadness, she added, “ But he shall not learn thst you have plunged still more deeply into crime on his account !” * [ leave it all to your discretion, Lucia,” re- sponded the Princess. “ And now go! But return to me so soun as you have accomplisued your mission: for | have something of impurtance to make known uuto you.” Tre Countess di Miluzzo departed. She was absent a little short of an bour; and on her return to the hotel she threw herseli intu Bianca’s arme, proclaiming the result of ber visit tv the prisun. Sue likewise entered into details of what had there occurred: but lnasmuci as we shail pre- sently have to rec.rd them in their proper piace, we will pass them over altugether now. Lucia touud her sister attired in another dress; and there was a buaodle lying upvn a cuair, * Now, come with me,” said Bianca, wuen Lucia bad given her explanatiune, “ Whither are you g ing, sister?” asked the Countess. “At this time of night iudeed it is past une in the murulog!—aud it must seem so strange at the hovel tuat there suvuld be these outyolugs and incowiugs!” “You are abuve pubic opinion, dear sister,” in- terrupted Biauca, “aud 1 am beneata it, Yuu are tuo higu placed upun the peuestal of yuur oWD Cuaracier fur caluwoy to reach you; aod L au su ulleriy debased and degraded thut ov aildi- (loual welgub ol opprubriuw cag crusu we duwa lower than lam. But come, sister!” —and .aklug ‘“* Aud |up the Duudle, the Friucess Cuuceaied 16 Denvata (©) nn) iGbook Se co S|