Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

ees tseeeetneescegeene AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 69 “ And what name bore you within the walls of the Mirano mansion?” asked De Vere. “Surely you may now tell me everything P—for I confess that there are so many, many mysteries, I feel myself bewildered, and I fain would catch a glimpse of light to guide me through so much uncertainty and darkness,” “At the Mirano mansion,” replied the young lady, “I bore the name of Signora Ciprina. It is not probable that I shall ever enter that mansion again ; and as for the name—the name es “Good heavens! can it be possible ?’—ejacu- lated De Vere, as a suspicion suddenly struck him. ‘The tones of this voice!—yes! yes! they are evidently disguised! Madam, I adjure you— tell me “T know not, sir, what idea may have struck you,” answered Ciprina, in a cold voice that now sounded very different to the ears of Charles than but a few moments back he fancied it had seemed: “but if you imagine that you ever met me before last night, you are mistaken. And now, sir, worn out and exhausted with fatigue as I am, I would fain slumber for awhile.” Our hero accordingly held his peace; and a pro- found silence now prevailed within the vehicle. Ciprina lay back in her own corner: the veil was still thickly folded over her countenance; and as the dawn was not yet breaking, there was a certain degree of obscurity prevailing in the chaise, though the heavens themselves were brilliant with argen- tine lustre. Charles could not obtain the slightest glimpse of his companion’s countenance: he was _ bewildered by the suspicion which had struck him a few minutes back, and which was diminished, but not altogether dispelled, by the different in- tonations of the voice. He fell into a profound reverie: but it would only be a tax upon our readers’ patience to analyze the multitude of con- flicting thoughts, ideas, and conjectures which now agitated the brain of our young hero. Meanwhile the chaise continued its way, guarded by the posse of sbirvz, At the expiration of about an hour a small posting-town was reached; and there, in front of the tavern where the cavalcade drew up, stood the very identical postchaise whence the captives had escaped some few hours previous! The two sbirrt whom Charles De Vere had attacked and stunned inside that chaise, were partaking of refreshments at this hostelry: but they rushed forth the instant they learnt the welcome intelligence that the fugitives were re- captured. The arrangements, as they at the outset existed in respect to the travelling, were now resumed, Charles and Ciprina were transferred to the post- chaise—the two sbirrs who were their custodians at the first were again placed opposite to them: but now, for better precaution’s sake, a couple of sbirri rode with the equipage, one on each side, and both with pistols in their holsters, so that fire-arms might be clutched at an instant’s warning. When the equipage started, Charles De Vere made some casual observation in French to Ciprina: but the officer of the sbirri at once interposed. “Prisoners, you will maintain a profound silence! If you, signor, violate my commands, I will have you bound hand and foot and a gag placed between your teeth. I have not forgot the blow you gaye me with the butt-end of the pistol; and you can’t therefore expect that I should show you any indulgence.” The fellow had a tremendous bruise on his fore- head : the other sbirro likewise bore the marks of the attack which Charles had made upon them ; and both showed by the fierce vindictive expression of their countenances that they longed for an opportunity to wreak their spite on the young Englishman. Charles saw this, and was resolved to avoid affording them, if possible, the occasion of seizing on any pretext to make him the victim of their petty tyranny. The postchaise pursued its way at a tolerably rapid rate, for it was now drawn by four horses, — it evidently being the intention of the sbirri to get rid of their own responsibility by lodging the captives with the least possible delay in the fortress of Bagno. The morning presently began to dawn above the Apennine hills; and now Ciprina not merely drew the folds of her veil all the more closely over her countenance, but she likewise kept her face continually averted from Charles de Vere. Without appearing to be contemplating her with any degree of attention, he studied her height as well as he could, considering,her sitting posture: he studied her form likewise as well as the muffling cloak would enable him, ‘The suspicion grew stronger in bis mind; but still he was far from arriving at a settled conviction on the point, The equipage continued its way; the sun rose high above the hills in the distance; the travellers were now completely in the bosom of the Apen- nines, All objects were plainly visible ; for the orb of day was rapidly putting forth all its lustre ; and though it was at the beginning of the month of November, yet let our readers bear in mind that the grand luminary possesses in the Italian clime a power which at the close of Autumn he seems to have altogether renounced in respect to us dwellers in a more northern region. But though it was now broad daylight, yet still Charles De Vere was unable to obtain a single glimpse of the countenance of his female travelling-com- panion. She etudiously averted her face; and she still kept the thick veil closed over it. The shirré maintained a profound silence. They did not even speak to each other; and Charles had no inclina- tion to draw down their ire upon himself by vio- lating the mandate which had been so peremp- torily given. In this manner the equipage continued its way until at length a few straggling houses indicated the commencement of a town. Then a street of tolerably imposing appearance was entered ; but the equipage suddenly turned abruptly thence, and pursued its course for some two hundred yards along a broad open road with no buildings on either side. The interior of the vehicle was sud- denly darkened, or rather shaded into semi-obscu- rity ; at the same time that the wheels rolled over an uneven stone pavement which jolted the chaise most horribly. It was an arched gateway through which the equipage was passing ; so that the cap- tives felt assured their destination was reached and that this was the fortress of Bagno. The equipage stopped in a court-yard surrounded by gloomy walls: the door of the vehicle was opened, and the captives were ordered to alight. They were now conducted into a large lobby, or wait- ing-room, the entire aspect of which indicated the —_ Ghbooks (© 5}