Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

NE RP a AOE nw oe AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. returned Edgar, “sbould leave us at peace in the meanwhile. Do you know whether she be’ re- turned from her villa?” ‘ Antonia has just inquired,” answered Ciprina : “and it does not appear, from what she has been enabled to learn, that Lucrezia intends to come back to the mansion to-day. Perhaps she may be tired of warfare P—she may have withdrawn her- self from the conflict—she is giving us to under- stand that if we on our side will suspend or aban- don hostilities 2 “ Ab, Ciprina!” interrupted Edgar, “how can we possibly make terms with the murderess P” * Well, well, my dear Edgar,” the young lady hastened to exclaim, “ we will nat touch upon these topics now: we will wait until to-morrow, when you will be stronger and better.” *Yes—we will wait till to-morrow,” rejoined Edgar. “But still, my dear Ciprina, there is something that you must do for me to-day.” *€ Speak, Edgar !—what can I dofor you? You know that you have but to express a wish " “You are all kindness towards me,” said the young Frenchman, pressing her hand to his lips, “Listen to me, dear Ciprina. You know how uneasy I have been relative to that unfortunate man, Signor Paoli——” * But what can be done?” asked Ciprina. “It is now four days since he was expelled from Filo- rence by the police ? “And during this interval,” interjected Mar- cellin, “he may have found some means of com- municating with the landlord of the house where he dwelt when in this city. Petroro—for that I believe is the man’s name—was deeply interested in poor Paoli. Paoli himself told me so—and Antonia gave us a similar assurance.” “And now what do you wish to be done?” esked Ciprina. “T wish that Antonia should pay another visit to Petroro, to ascertain if he have received any communication from Paoli.” ‘She shall go at once,” answered Ciprina. “One moment!” ejaculated Marcellin. “If it should turn out that Paoli has not already com- municated with Petroro, he is certain to do so the moment he can find an opportunity. Besides, as yet there may not have been time for such com- munication—beeause we know not to what distance Paoli may have been compelled to betake himself Yrum the Tuscan territory:—he may have been forbidden to halt in any of the neighbouring States under penalty of being pursued by the vengeance of the Tuscan Police, or entangled in the whole Italian network of confederated tyran- nies,” “And therefore,’ said Ciprina, “it may be some days or a week before you can hear from Signor Paoli.” ** This is what I mean,” rejoined Marcellin, “ and consequently [ am desirous of opening some prompt method of communication between his Jandlord Petroro and myself, so that if Paoli shall write to him before I am enabled to leave the sick chamber, there need be no delay in my be- coming acquainted with the movements of the unfortunate Neapolitan refugee and with the place of his present abode,” “ Do you not think it would be unwise,” asked Ciprina,'“to let anyone know more of what has (6 TE Os ee ee or 51 taken place than is absolutely necessary P You have not yet made up your mind what course you mean to adopt towards the wretched Mar- chioness ” “Well, well,” said Edgar, who was as anxious to avoid this topic as Ciprina herself usually felt “arrange the whole business as you think fit.” “Antonia shall tell Petroro,” responded Ci- prina, “ that she will call upon him every even- ing and every morning, to ascertain whether he has received any communication from Signor Paoli.” “ Be if so,” said Marcellin. “And now, my dear Ciprina, let the good girl at once set off.” Antonia, who was in the ante-room, received her instructions accordingly, and away she went. In about balf-an-hbour she returned, having seen Petroro: but this worthy man had received no communication of any sort from Paoli. ** And what did you tell him ?” inquired Mar- cellin, who was reclining upon a sofa in the bou- doir. “‘T said that I would call every morning and every evening,’ replied Antonia, “to see if any tidings came from Signor Paoli. Petroro begged me to come early in the morning and late in the evening, for fear lest such regular and frequent visits on the part of the same person should excite any suspicion: for he is known to be favourable to the Italian democratic cause, and the police have an eye upon him—-so that it would only require some slight circumstance to cause his letters to be intercepted ; and ifit were found that he was cor- responding with Paoli, it might get him into sore trouble.” “Well, then,” inquired Marcellin, “ what are rangement did you make ?” “ Petroro himself suggested the arrangement,” answered Antonia. ‘‘He bade me call every morning between seven and eight, and every night at tea o'clock. I promised that I would do so, and thus the matter was settled.” “Thanks, my good girl,” said Marcellin: and then he thought within himself, ‘“ Heaven grant that you may not be compelled to pay those stealthy visits to Signor Petroro’s for any number of days ; but that IT may be enabled to leave the sick chamber and to take all these matters into my own hand !” CHAPTER X. PETRORO, It was about seven o’clock in the evening when a postchaise drove into the court-yard of one of tho principal hotels of Florence, and a young geatle- man alighted. —moderately tall of stature—of slender figure— and of a perfect masculine symmotry. There was a certain natural ease and elegance about him, which, together with the excellence of his ap- parel and the mode in which he travelled, inai- cated the gentleman. Indeed, our readers are doubtless already prepared to learn that this waa none Other than our young hero Charnes De Vere. Having ordered private apartments, dnd com ee weer) arian <i ene Comicbooks a He was about twenty years of age te eee eo et Se ee ee eS err oe CO 5} ILLINOIS LIBRARY