"One word--only one word!" exclaimed Agnes in an imploring voice. "Hast thou bartered thine immortal soul----"

"No--no!" responded Wagner, emphatically. "My fate is terrible indeed--but I am not beyond the pale of salvation. See! Agnes--I kiss the crucifix--the symbol of faith and hope!"

And, as he uttered these words, he pressed to his lips an ivory crucifix of exquisite workmanship, which he took from the table.

"The Virgin be thanked that my fearful suspicion should prove unfounded!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Agnes.

"Yes--I am not altogether lost," answered Wagner. "But _he_--the unhappy man who made me what I am---- And yet I dare not say more," he added, suddenly checking himself. "For one year and a half did I follow him as his servitor--profiting by his knowledge--gaining varied information from his experience--pa.s.sing with the rapidity of thought from clime to clime--surveying scenes of ineffable bliss, and studying all the varieties of misery that fall to the lot of human nature. When he--my master--pa.s.sed away----"

"On the 1st of August, 1517," observed Agnes, quoting from the inscription beneath the portrait of the individual alluded to.

"Yes; when he pa.s.sed away," continued Wagner, "I continued my wanderings alone until the commencement of last year, when I settled myself in Florence. The mansion to which I have brought you is mine. It is in a somewhat secluded spot on the banks of the Arno, and is surrounded by gardens. My household consists of but few retainers; and they are elderly persons--docile and obedient. The moment that I entered this abode, I set to work to paint those portraits to which I have directed your attention--likewise these pictures," he added, glancing around, "and in which I have represented scenes that my own eyes have witnessed.

Here, henceforth, Agnes, shalt thou dwell; and let the past be forgotten. But there are three conditions which I must impose upon thee."

"Name them," said Agnes; "I promise obedience beforehand."

"The first," returned Fernand, "is that you henceforth look upon me as your brother, and call me such when we are alone together or in the presence of strangers. The second is that you never seek to remove the black cloth which covers yon place----"

Agnes glanced toward the object alluded to and shuddered--as if the veil concealed some new mystery.

"And the third condition is that you revive not on any future occasion the subject of our present conversation, nor even question me in respect to those secrets which it may suit me to retain within my own breast."

Agnes promised obedience, and, embracing Wagner, said, "Heaven has been merciful to me, in my present affliction, in that it has given me _a brother_!"

"Thou speakest of thine afflictions, Agnes!" exclaimed Wagner; "this is the night of revelations and mutual confidences--and this night once pa.s.sed, we will never again allude to the present topics, unless events should render their revival necessary. It now remains for thee to narrate to me all that has befallen thee since the winter of 1516."

Agnes hastened to comply with Fernand's request, and commenced her history in the following manner:

CHAPTER VIII.

THE HISTORY OF AGNES.

"When you, dear brother--for so I shall henceforth call you--commenced your strange and wondrous revelations ere now, you painted in vivid colors the happiness which dwelt in our poor cottage on the borders of the Black Forest. You saw how deeply your words affected me--I could not restrain my tears. Let me not, however, dwell upon this subject; but rather hasten to explain those powerful causes which induced me to quit that happy home.

"It was about six weeks before my flight that I went into the forest to gather wood. I was in the midst of my occupation, gayly thrilling a native song, when the sound of a horse's feet upon the hard soil of the beaten path suddenly interrupted me. I turned around, seeing a cavalier of strikingly handsome countenance--though somewhat stern withal, and of n.o.ble mien. He was in reality forty-four years of age--as I afterward learnt; but he seemed scarcely forty, so light did time sit upon his brow. His dress was elegant, though of some strange fashion; for it was Italian costume that he wore. The moment he was close to the spot where I stood he considered me for a short while, till I felt my cheeks glowing beneath his ardent gaze. I cast down my eyes; and the next instant he had leapt from his horse and was by my side. He addressed me in gentle terms; and when again I looked at him his countenance no more seemed stern. It appeared that he was staying with the Baron von Nauemberg, with whom he had been out hunting in the Black Forest, and from whom and his suite he was separated in the ardor of the chase.

Being a total stranger in those parts, he had lost his way. I immediately described to him the proper path for him to pursue; and he offered me gold as a recompense. I declined the guerdon; and he questioned me concerning my family and my position. I told him that I lived hard-by, with an only relative--a grandsire, to whom I was devotedly attached. He lingered long in conversation with me; and his manner was so kind, so condescending, and so respectful, that I thought not I was doing wrong to listen to him. At length he requested me to be on the same spot at the same hour on the morrow; and he departed.

"I was struck by his appearance--dazzled by the brilliancy of his discourse; for he spoke German fluently, although an Italian. He had made a deep impression on my mind; and I felt a secret longing to meet him again. Suddenly it occurred to me that I was acting with impropriety, and that you would be angry with me. I therefore resolved not to mention to you my accidental encounter with the handsome cavalier; but I determined at the same time not to repair to the forest next day. When the appointed hour drew near, my good genius deserted me; and I went. He was there, and he seemed pleased at my punctuality. I need not detail to you the nature of the discourse which he held toward me. Suffice it to say, that he declared how much he had been struck with my beauty, and how fondly he would love me; and he dazzled me still more by revealing his haughty name; and I found that I was beloved by the Count of Riverola.

"You can understand how a poor girl, who had hitherto dwelt in the seclusion of a cottage on the border of a vast wood, and who seldom saw any person of higher rank than herself, was likely to be dazzled by the fine things which that great n.o.bleman breathed in her ear.

"And I was dazzled--flattered--excited--bewildered. I consented to meet him again: interview followed interview, until I no longer required any persuasion to induce me to keep the appointments thus given. But there were times when my conscience reproached me for conduct which I knew you would blame; and yet I dared not unburden my soul to you!

"Six weeks thus pa.s.sed away; I was still innocent--but madly in love with the Count of Riverola. He was the subject of my thoughts by day--of my dreams by night; and I felt that I could make any sacrifice to retain his affection. That sacrifice was too soon demanded! At the expiration of the six weeks he informed me that on the following day he must return to Italy, whither important affairs called him sooner than he had antic.i.p.ated. He urged me to accompany him; I was bewildered--maddened by the contemplation of my duty on the one hand, of my love on the other.

My guardian saint deserted me; I yielded to the persuasion of the count--I became guilty--and there was now no alternative save to fly with him!

"Oh! believe me when I declare that this decision cost me a dreadful pang; but the count would not leave me time for reflection. He bore me away on his fleet steed, and halted not until the tall towers of Nauemberg Castle appeared in the distance. Then he stopped at a poor peasant's cottage, where his gold insured me a welcome reception. Having communicated the plan which he proposed to adopt respecting our journey to Florence, he took an affectionate leave of me, with a promise to return on the ensuing morning. The remainder of the day was pa.s.sed wretchedly enough by me; and I already began to repent of the step I had taken. The peasants who occupied the cottage vainly endeavored to cheer me; my heart was too full to admit of consolation. Night came at length, and I retired to rest; but my dreams were of so unpleasant a nature--so filled with frightful images--that never did I welcome the dawn with more enthusiastic joy. Shortly after daybreak the count appeared at the cottage, attended by one of his numerous suite--a faithful attendant on whom he could rely implicitly. They were mounted on good steeds; and Antonio--such was the name of the servitor--led a third by the bridle.

This one the count had purchased at an adjacent hamlet, expressly for my use. He had also procured a page's attire; for in such disguise was it agreed that I should accompany the count to Italy.

"I should observe that the n.o.bleman, in order to screen our _amour_ as much as possible, had set out from Nauemberg Castle, attended by Antonio alone, alleging as an excuse that certain affairs compelled him to travel homeward with as much celerity as possible. The remainder of his suit were therefore ordered to follow at their leisure.

"Oh! with what agonizing emotion did my heart beat, as, in a private chamber of the cottage, I laid aside my peasant's garb and donned the doublet, hose, cap and cloak of a youthful page. I thought of you--of your helplessness--your age,--and also of my native land, which I was about to quit--perhaps forever! Still I had gone too far to retreat, and regrets were useless. I must also confess that when I returned to the room where the count was waiting for me, and heard the flattering compliments which he paid me on my appearance in that disguise, I smiled--yes, I smiled, and much of my remorse vanished!

"We set out upon our journey toward the Alps; and the count exerted all his powers of conversation to chase away from my mind any regrets or repinings that might linger there. Though cold and stern--forbidding and reserved--haughty and austere in his bearing toward others, to me he was affectionate and tender. To be brief, yet with sorrow must I confess it, at the expiration of a few days I could bear to think, without weeping, of the fond relative whom I had left behind in the cottage of the Black Forest!

"We crossed the Alps in safety, but not without experiencing much peril; and in a short time glorious Italy spread itself out at our feet. The conversation of the count had already prepared me to admire----"

At this moment, Agnes' narrative was interrupted by a piercing shriek which burst from her lips; and extending her arms toward the window of the apartment, she screamed hysterically, "Again that countenance!" and fell back on the ottoman.

CHAPTER IX.

CONCLUSION OF THE HISTORY OF AGNES.

In order that the reader may understand how Agnes could perceive any object outside the window, in the intense darkness of that tempestuous night--or rather morning, for it was now past one o'clock--we must observe that not only was the apartment in which Wagner and herself were seated brilliantly lighted by the silver lamps, but that, according to Florentine custom, there were also lamps suspended outside to the veranda, or large balcony belonging to the cas.e.m.e.nts of the room above.

Agnes and Wagner were, moreover, placed near the window which looked into a large garden attached to the mansion; and thus it was easy for the lady, whose eyes happened to be fixed upon the cas.e.m.e.nt in the earnest interest with which she was relating her narrative, to perceive the human countenance that appeared at one of the panes.

The moment her history was interrupted by the e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of alarm that broke from her lips, Wagner started up and hastened to the window; but he could see nothing save the waving evergreens in his garden, and the light of a mansion which stood at a distance of about two hundred yards from his own abode.

He was about to open the cas.e.m.e.nt and step into the garden, when Agnes caught him by the arm, exclaiming wildly, "Leave me not--I could not--I could not bear to remain alone!"

"No, I will not quit you, Agnes," replied Wagner, conducting her back to the sofa and resuming his seat by her side. "But wherefore that e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of alarm? Whose countenance did you behold? Speak, dearest Agnes!"

"I will hasten to explain the cause of my terror," retorted Agnes, becoming more composed. "Ere now I was about to detail the particulars of my journey to Florence, in company with the Count of Riverola, and attended by Antonio; but as those particulars are of no material interest, I will at once pa.s.s on to the period when we arrived in this city."

"But the countenance at the window?" said Wagner, somewhat impatiently.

"Listen--and you will soon know all," replied Agnes. "It was in the evening when I entered Florence for the first time. Antonio had proceeded in advance to inform his mother--a widow who resided in a decent house, but in an obscure street near the cathedral--that she was speedily to receive a young lady as a guest. This young lady was myself; and accordingly, when the count a.s.sisted me to alight from my horse at the gate of Dame Margaretha's abode, the good widow had everything in readiness for my reception. The count conversed with her apart for a few minutes; and I observed that he also placed a heavy purse in her hand--doubtless to insure her secrecy relative to the _amour_, with the existence of which he was of course compelled to acquaint her. Having seen me comfortably installed in Dame Margaretha's best apartment, he quitted me, with a promise to return on the morrow."

Agnes paused for a few moments, sighed, and continued her narrative in the following manner:

"Fortunately for me, Dame Margaretha was a German woman, who had married an Italian, otherwise my condition would have been wretched in the extreme. She treated me with great kindness, mingled with respect; for though but a poor peasant girl, I was beloved and protected by one of the most powerful n.o.bles of Florence. I retired early to rest:--sleep did not, however, immediately visit my eyes! Oh! no--I was in Florence, but my thoughts were far away in my native Germany, and on the borders of the Black Forest. At length I fell into an uneasy slumber, and when I awoke the sun was shining through the lattice. I arose and dressed myself, and to my ineffable delight found that I was no longer to wear the garb of a page. That disguise had been removed while I slept, and in its place were costly vestments, which I donned with a pleasure that triumphed over the gloom of my soul. In the course of the morning rich furniture was brought to the house, and in a few hours the apartments allotted to me were converted, in my estimation, into a little paradise.

The count arrived soon afterward, and I now--pardon me the neglect and ingrat.i.tude which my words confess--I now felt very happy. The n.o.ble Andrea enjoined me to go abroad but seldom, and never without being accompanied by Dame Margaretha; he also besought me not to appear to recognize him should I chance to meet him in public at any time, nor to form acquaintances; in a word, to live retired and secluded as possible, alike for his sake and my own. I promised compliance with all he suggested, and he declared in return that he would never cease to love me."

"Dwell not upon details, Agnes," said Wagner; "for, although I am deeply interested in your narrative, my curiosity is strangely excited to learn the meaning of that terror which overcame you ere now."

"I will confine myself to material facts as much as possible," returned Agnes. "Time glided rapidly away;--months flew by, and with sorrow and shame must I confess that the memories of the past, the memories of the bright, happy days of my innocence intruded but little on the life which I led. For, though he was so much older than I, yet I loved the Count of Riverola devotedly. Oh! Heaven knows how devotedly! His conversation delighted, fascinated me; and he seemed to experience a pleasure in imparting to me the extensive knowledge which he had acquired. To me he unbent as, doubtless, to human being he never unbent before; in my presence his sternness, his somber moods, his gloomy thoughts vanished.

It was evident that he had much preying upon his mind; and perhaps he loved me thus fondly because--by some unaccountable whim or caprice, or strange influence--he found solace in my society. The presents which he heaped upon me, but which have been nearly all s.n.a.t.c.hed from me, were of immense value; and when I remonstrated with him on account of a liberality so useless to one whom he allowed to want for nothing, he would reply, 'But remember, Agnes, when I shall be no more, riches will const.i.tute your best friend, your safest protection; for such is the order of things in this world.' He generally spent two hours with me every day, and frequently visited me again in the evening. Thus did time pa.s.s; and at length I come to that incident which will explain the terror I ere now experienced."

Agnes cast a hasty glance toward the window, as if to a.s.sure herself that the object of her fears was no longer there; and, satisfied on this head, she proceeded in the following manner: