Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

ad —— | Sh i ie a a 72 AGNES; OB, BEAUTY ANP PLEASURE. The turnkey thrust his bands into De Vere’s - pockets, but found about his person no articles in addition to those which had already been pro- duced. «J have now to inform you,” said the official, «that the other five cells in this building are occu- pied, each containing & prisoner——” « Sh!” exclaimed Charles: “ who are the unfor- tunate beings ?” : «To you,” replied the turnkey, “they are Nombers 24, 25, 26, 97, and 28,—in the same way that you will only be spoken of to them as Number 29.” Our hero felt hig blood ran cold at being thus reminded in so forcible a manner of the complete loss of his identity within those walls; and scarcely even the hope which he had formed in consequence of encountering Father Falconars, could prevent him from sinking at that moment into despon- aeney. «J was about to inform you,” continued the turnkey, “that as you are now six in number, the day will be divided ‘nto as many periods for the purposes of exercise. You will thus have the privilege of walking for two hours daily in that eourt-yard. It is almost unnecessary to warn you against seeking to communicate with any of the prisoners in the same compartment: but yet I may as well add that if by any possibility of acei- dent, oversight, or hazard, there should seem to arise an opportunity for such communication, it were well for your own interest that you yielded not to the temptation. For if discovered, you would find to your cost that the Castle of Bagno possesses dungeons to the subterranean horrors of which this cell is a perfect paradise in comparison. And now one word more! There is a chaplain attached to the fortress. Ab* I remember—you saw him just now in the lobby. You are not compelled to receive the visits of his reverence against your :nelination: but if it suit you to have a spiritual consoler, you can have none other then »” only too plainly apparent that she was still lead- ing an immoral and vicious life. Oh! if he re- gained his liberty, and if he succeeded in pro- curing her emancipation likewise, what measures must he adopt to guard her against a relapse into the ways of error? what saving treatment could J he possibly apply to her? Must he send her back . to the companionship of ber pure and virtuous | cousin? No!—this was not to be thought off But what other influence would redeem her? A couple of hours had elapsed since Charles first crossed the threshold of that cell, and he grew more and more impatient for the coming of Father Falconara. At length the massive bolts were drawn back—the huge key grated in the lock—the door was opened by the turnkey—and the young ecclesiastic was introduced. “Return in half-an-hour,” said Father Fal- conare to the gaol official. The man accordingly departed, having previously refastened the door; for all the regulations of the prison-castle were carried out with the strictest regard to discipline. Now that De Vere found himself alone with the priest, he made a movement as if to grasp him by the hand: he could even have embraced him as & friend whom Providence itself had reared up to succour him in the midst of his misfortunes! Bat to his surprise, and even to his dismay, Father Faleonara drew back, and seemed anxious to avoid any unnecessarily close contact with the pri- soner. « Good heavens!” ejaculated Charles, who sud- denly fancied that he comprehended the cause of the young priest’s coolness; “is it possible that 4 vindictive spite, or else 4 guilty terror has gone 60 far in respect to myself, as to malign and misre- present me——" “J have heard nothing to your discredit,” in- terrupted Father Faleonara. “No one has told me wherefore you have been brought bither, for the simple fact that nobody within these walls knows anything on the subject., Neither am I permitted to inquire.” “ But you may hear my explanation ?” exclaimed Charles eagerly. “ No,” rejoined the young ecclesiastic. I must not even give ear to your explanation.” “ Good God!” cried Charles, his heart now sink- ing within him: “ then it is utterly useless for me to have fallen in with you ! I dare not even hope for the sympathy of friendship,—I who had looked forward to its succour Jz “J have already given you to understand,” said the priest, “that though the duties which I | have sworn to fulfil shall be accomplished to the very letter, yet that no earthly power can stifle the throbs of a Christian heart in sympathy with the unfortunate.” « Ah!” ejaculated Charles, his countenance be- coming animated with delight; “now you speak -n a strain which is welcome to my ears !”—and . he rushed forward to seize the ecclesiastic’s hand. ee a «J shall be glad to receive his visits,” replied Charles, inwardly hoping that it would not be very Jong ere Father Falconara crossed the threshold of his cell. The turnkey now took his departure: bat in 8 few minutes he returned, accompanied by a junior official, who brought our hero his breakfast. This consisted of a tin mug, or pot, containing about 8 pint of weak coffee, and a tolerably large piece of bread of inferior description, but by no means un- eatable. When Charles was again alone, he sat down to partake of the food thus supplied bim ; for despite his mental anxiety, he felt the need of bodily refreshment. The cell was about twelve feet square, of alto- rable height, and with 4 window placed bigh up, and so defended by a range of jron bars sloping up toward the ceiling, that no one, even if climb- ing up thereto, could obtain a prospect of what- soever premises lay beyond. The furniture con- sisted of a bed, a table, a chair, and toilet appa- “No! no!—keep back !” said Father Falconara, ratus. The walls had been recently whitewashed ; | in @ tone 80 peremptory and even stern that again and the place was cleanly enough. Charles) was our young hero transfixed with astonishment thought of Floribel, and wondered how she was | and dismay. besring up against her captivity : he sighed also| “ Good God!” he onee more cried: “you treat | as he reflected that in all the circumstances which | me thus—and yet you say that 1 have not been had thrown them together, there were the proofs | maligned in your hearing ?” | ee ee Se oO COMME OOXSaCOmM