Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-08
Countess uarOla.
By wILKIE COLLINS.

AAoo. AA..o VI time come alreadyl' she said, ill low awe stricken tones. "Give me little longer re- spite I haven't done my writing yet"
 Size dropped on her knees, and held out her clasped hands, entreatingly. Agnes was far from paving recovered, after the shock that she had suffered in the night; her nerves were far from being eqnal to the strain that was now laid on chem. She was so startled by the change in the countess that she was at @ loss what to say or to do next. Henry was obliged to speak to her, Put your questions while you have the chance, he said, lowering his voice. "Seel the vacant look Is coming over her face again."
 Agnes tried to rally her courage. "Yon were in my room last night'- she began. Before she could add word more, the count ess lifted her hands and wrung them above her head, with q low moan of horror Agnes shrunk back, and turned if to leave the room Henry stopped her and whispered to her to try again. She obeyed him after all effort. II slept last night ill the room that you gave up to me-" she resumed "l saw"-
 Tue countess suddenly rose to her feet. No more of that" she cried. "Oh, Jesu Maria! Do you think l want to be told what you saws Do you think l don't know what it means for you anl for mea Decide for
 
 Are you we'll assured that the day of reckon ing has come at last2 Are you ready to fol- LOW me back through the crimes of the past, co the secrets of the deads'
 She turned again to the writing table, with put waiting to be answered. Her eyes flashed; she looked like her old self more she spoke. It was only for moment Tie old drdor and impetuosity were nearly worn out. Her head sunk; she sighed heavily as she u locked a desk which stood on the table. Opening a drawer ill the desk, she took out leaf of vellum, covered with faded writing. Some ragged ends of silken thread were still attached to the leaf, as if it had been torn out of a book.
 Gan you read Italian2" she asked, handing the leaf to Agnes.
 Agnes answered silently by an inclination of the head.
 "The leaf," tho countess proceeded, "once belonged to a book ill the old library of the oa,ace, while this building was still palace. By whom it was torn out you have no need to know. For what purpose it was torn out you may discover for yourself, if you will. Read it filst-at the fifth line from the top Of the page!"
 Agnes felt the serious necessity Of compos ing herself. Give me chair," she said to Henry, "and will do my best" He placed himself behind her chair So that he could lools over her shoulder and help her to understand the writing on the leaf Rendered into Eng llsh, 1t ran as fellows;
 q have HOW completed my literary su vey of the first floor of the palace. At the desire of my noble and gracious patron, the lord of this glorious edifice, I next ascend to the second floor, and continue my catalogue description of the pictures, decora- tions, and other treasures of art therein, contained. Let me begin with the corntr room at the western extremity of the pala'.e, called the Room of the Caryatiies, from the statues which support the mantelpiece. This work is of comparatively recent execution: it dates from the Eighteenth century only, and reveals the corrupt taste of the period ill every part Of it. Still, there is a certain in- terest which attaches to tho nantelplece: it conceals d ceverly constructed hiding place between the floor of the room and the ceiling of tie room beneath, which was made during lhc last evil days of the Inquistion ill Venice, and which is reported to have saved an ances- tor of my gracious lord pursued by that terrible tribunal. The machinery of this curious place of ooncealnlent has been kept il good Ordep by the present lord, as species of curiosity. He copdescended to show me the method of working it. Approaching the two
 
 (ndway between the eyebrows) of the figure which is OH your left as you stand opposite 10 the Grep ace, then press the head inward as if you were pushing it against the wall behind. By dCiug this you set ill motion the hidden machinery ill the wall which turns the hearth S. one on pivot and discloses the hollow place below. There is room enough ill it for Q man, to lie easily at full length. The method of closing the cavity again is equally simple. Place both your hands on the temples of the figure; pull as if you were pulling it toward you-and the hearthstone will revolvo into its proper position again."
 "You need read no further" said the countess. Be careful to remember what you | have read"
 l She put back tho page of vellum in her | writing desk, locked it and led the way to the l door.
 "Come!" she said, "and see what the mock. | ing Frenchman called The beginning of the end.'"
 Agnes was barely abe to rise from hel chair; she trembled from head to foot Henry gave her his arm to support her. "Feal nothing," he whispered; II shall be witt you"
 The countess proceeded along the westward corridor and stopped at the door numbered Thirty eight. This was the room which had heen inhabited by Baron Rivar ill the old days of the palace; the room situated immedi ately over the bed chamber in which Agnes had passed the night. For the last two days 1 it had been empty. The absence of luggage in it when they opened the door showed thai ! it had net yet been let.
 "You see," said the countess, pointing tt 1 the carved figure at the fire place; ''and yol
 know what to do Have deserved that yo.
 should temper justice with mercyp' she wen
 on, ill lower tones "Give me few hour, more to myself. The baron wants money-l must get on with my play" | She smiled vacantly, and initiated the ac ton of writing with her right hand as she pronounced the last words. The effort ol 1 concentrating Der weakened mind OH other and less familiar topics than the constant want of money ill the baron's lifetime, and she vague prospect of gain from the still un finished play, had evidently exhausted hel poor reserves of strength When her request had been granted she addressed no expression: of gratitude to Agnes; she only said: "Fee no fear miss, of my attempting to escape you. Where you are, there l must be til ,he end comes".
 ! Her eyes wandered round tho room witt last weary and stupefied look. She re turned to her writing with slow and feeble