CHAPTER XV
Toward six o'clock next morning one of the prefect's servants came andknocked at the door of Orso's house. He was received by Colomba, andinformed her the prefect was about to start, and was expecting herbrother. Without a moment's hesitation Colomba replied that her brotherhad just had a fall on the stairs, and sprained his foot; and he wasunable to walk a single step, that he begged the prefect to excuse him,and would be very grateful if he would condescend to take the troubleof coming over to him. A few minutes after this message had beendespatched, Orso came downstairs, and asked his sister whether theprefect had not sent for him.
With the most perfect assurance she rejoined:
"He begs you'll wait for him here."
Half an hour went by without the slightest perceptible stir in theBarricini dwelling. Meanwhile Orso asked Colomba whether she haddiscovered anything. She replied that she proposed to make her statementwhen the prefect came. She affected an extreme composure. But her colourand her eyes betrayed her state of feverish excitement.
At last the door of the Barricini mansion was seen to open. The prefectcame out first, in travelling garb; he was followed by the mayor and histwo sons. What was the stupefaction of the inhabitants of the village ofPietranera, who had been on the watch since sunrise for the departure ofthe chief magistrate of their department, when they saw him go straightacross the square and enter the della Rebbia dwelling, accompaniedby the three Barricini. "They are going to make peace!" exclaimed thevillage politicians.
"Just as I told you," one old man went on. "Ors' Anton' has lived toomuch on the mainland to carry things through like a man of mettle."
"Yet," responded a Rebbianite, "you may notice it is the Barricini whohave gone across to him. They are suing for mercy."
"It's the prefect who had wheedled them all round," answered the oldfellow. "There is no such thing as courage nowadays, and the youngchaps make no more fuss about their father's blood than if they were allbastards."
The prefect was not a little astounded to find Orso up and walking aboutwith perfect ease. In the briefest fashion Colomba avowed her own lie,and begged him to forgive it.
"If you had been staying anywhere else, monsieur, my brother would havegone to pay his respects to you yesterday."
Orso made endless apologies, vowing he had nothing to do with hissister's absurd stratagem, by which he appeared deeply mortified. Theprefect and the elder Barricini appeared to believe in the sincerityof his regret, and indeed this belief was justified by his evidentconfusion and the reproaches he addressed to his sister. But the mayor'stwo sons did not seem satisfied.
"We are being made to look like fools," said Orlanduccio audibly.
"If my sister were to play me such tricks," said Vincentello, "I'd sooncure her fancy for beginning them again."
The words, and the tone in which they were uttered, offended Orso, anddiminished his good-will. Glances that were anything but friendly wereexchanged between him and the two young men.
Meanwhile, everybody being seated save Colomba, who remained standingclose to the kitchen door, the prefect took up his parable, and after afew common-places as to local prejudices, he recalled the fact thatthe most inveterate enmities generally have their root in some meremisunderstanding. Next, turning to the mayor, he told him that Signordella Rebbia had never believed the Barricini family had played anypart, direct or indirect, in the deplorable event which had bereft himof his father; that he had, indeed, nursed some doubts as to onedetail in the lawsuit between the two families; that Signor Orso's longabsence, and the nature of the information sent him, excused the doubtin question; that in the light of recent revelations he felt completelysatisfied, and desired to re-open friendly and neighbourly relationswith Signor Barricini and his sons.
Orso bowed stiffly. Signor Barricini stammered a few words that nobodycould hear, and his sons stared steadily at the ceiling rafters. Theprefect was about to continue his speech, and address the counterpartof the remarks he had made to Signor Barricini, to Orso, when Colombastepped gravely forward between the contracting parties, at the sametime drawing some papers from beneath her neckerchief.
"I should be happy indeed," she said, "to see the quarrel between ourtwo families brought to an end. But if the reconciliation is to besincere, there must be a full explanation, and nothing must be left indoubt. Signor Prefetto, Tomaso Bianchi's declaration, coming from a manof such vile report, seemed to me justly open to doubt. I said your sonshad possibly seen this man in the prison at Bastia."
"It's false!" interrupted Orlanduccio; "I didn't see him!"
Colomba cast a scornful glance at him, and proceeded with great apparentcomposure.
"You explained Tomaso's probable interest in threatening SignorBarricini, in the name of a dreaded bandit, by his desire to keep hisbrother Teodoro in possession of the mill which my father allowed him tohire at a very low rent."
"That's quite clear," assented the prefect.
"Where was Tomaso Bianchi's interest?" exclaimed Colomba triumphantly."His brother's lease had run out. My father had given him notice onthe 1st of July. Here is my father's account-book; here is his note ofwarning given to Teodoro, and the letter from a business man at Ajacciosuggesting a new tenant."
As she spoke she gave the prefect the papers she had been holding in herhand.
There was an astonished pause. The mayor turned visibly pale. Orso,knitting his brows, leaned forward to look at the papers, which theprefect was perusing most attentively.
"We are being made to look like fools!" cried Orlanduccio again,springing angrily to his feet. "Let us be off, father! We ought never tohave come here!"
One instant's delay gave Signor Barricini time to recover his composure.He asked leave to see the papers. Without a word the prefect handed themover to him. Pushing his green spectacles up to his forehead, he lookedthrough them with a somewhat indifferent air, while Colomba watchedhim with the eyes of a tigress who sees a buck drawing near to the lairwhere she had hidden her cubs.
"Well," said Signor Barricini, as he pulled down his spectacles andreturned the documents, "knowing the late colonel's kind heart, Tomasothought--most likely he thought--that the colonel would change his mindabout the notice. As a matter of fact, Bianchi is still at the mill,so--"
"It was I," said Colomba, and there was scorn in her voice, "who lefthim there. My father was dead, and situated as I was, I was obliged totreat my brother's dependents with consideration."
"Yet," quoth the prefect, "this man Tomaso acknowledges that he wrotethe letter. That much is clear."
"The thing that is clear to me," broke in Orso, "is that there is somevile infamy underneath this whole business."
"I have to contradict another assertion made by these gentlemen," saidColomba.
She threw open the door into the kitchen and instantly Brandolaccio, thelicentiate in theology, and Brusco, the dog, marched into the room. Thetwo bandits were unarmed--apparently, at all events; they wore theircartridge belts, but the pistols, which are their necessary complement,were absent. As they entered the room they doffed their capsrespectfully.
The effect produced by their sudden appearance may be conceived. Themayor almost fell backward. His sons threw themselves boldly in frontof him, each one feeling for his dagger in his coat pocket. The prefectmade a step toward the door, and Orso, seizing Brandolaccio by thecollar, shouted:
"What have you come here for, you villain?"
"This is a trap!" cried the mayor, trying to get the door open. But, bythe bandits' orders, as was afterward discovered, Saveria had locked iton the outside.
"Good people," said Brandolaccio, "don't be afraid of me. I'm not such adevil as I look. We mean no harm at all. Signor Prefetto, I'm your veryhumble servant. Gently, lieutenant! You're strangling me! We're here aswitnesses! Now then, Padre, speak up! Your tongue's glib enough!"
"Signor Prefetto," quoth the licentiate, "I have not the honour of beingknown to you. My name is Giocanto Castriconi, better known a
s the Padre.Aha, it's coming back to you! The signorina here, whom I have notthe pleasure of knowing either, has sent to ask me to supply someinformation about a fellow of the name of Tomaso Bianchi, with whom Ichanced to be shut up, about three weeks ago, in the prison at Bastia.This is what I have to tell you."
"Spare yourself the trouble," said the prefect. "I can not listen toanything from such a man as you. Signor della Rebbia, I am willing tobelieve you have had nothing to do with this detestable plot. But areyou master in your own house? Will you have the door opened? Your sistermay have to give an account of the strange relations in which she liveswith a set of bandits."
"Signor Prefetto!" cried Colomba, "I beseech you to listen to what thisman has to say! You are here to do justice to everybody, and it is yourduty to search out the truth. Speak, Giocanto Castriconi!"
"Don't listen to him," chorused the three Barricini.
"If everybody talks at once," remarked the bandit, with a smile, "nobodycan contrive to hear what anybody says. Well, in the prison at BastiaI had as my companion--not as my friend--this very man, Tomaso. Hereceived frequent visits from Signor Orlanduccio."
"You lie!" shouted the two brothers together.
"Two negatives make an affirmative," pursued Castriconi coolly. "Tomasohad money, he ate and drank of the best. I have always been fond of goodcheer (that's the least of my failings), and in spite of my repugnanceto rubbing shoulders with such a wretch, I let myself be tempted,several times over, into dining with him. Out of gratitude, I proposedhe should escape with me. A young person--to whom I had shown somekindness--had provided me with the necessary means. I don't intend tocompromise anybody. Tomaso refused my offer, telling me he was certainto be all right, as lawyer Barricini had spoken to all the judges forhim, and he was sure to get out of prison with a character as white assnow, and with money in his pocket, too. As for me, I thought it betterto get into the fresh air. _Dixi_."
"Everything that fellow has said is a heap of lies," reiteratedOrlanduccio stoutly. "If we were in the open country, and each of us hadhis gun, he wouldn't talk in that way."
"Here's a pretty folly!" cried Brandolaccio. "Don't you quarrel with thePadre, Orlanduccio!"
"Will you be good enough to allow me to leave this room, Signor dellaRebbia," said the prefect, and he stamped his foot in his impatience.
"Saveria! Saveria!" shouted Orso, "open the door, in the devil's name!"
"One moment," said Brandolaccio. "We have to slip away first, on ourside. Signor Prefetto, the custom, when people meet in the house ofa mutual friend, is to allow each other half an hour's law, afterdeparture."
The prefect cast a scornful glance at him.
"Your servant, signorina, and gentlemen all!" said Brandolaccio. Thenstretching out his arm, "Hi, Brusco," he cried to his dog, "jump for theSignor Prefetto!"
The dog jumped; the bandits swiftly snatched up their arms in thekitchen, fled across the garden, and at a shrill whistle the door of theroom flew open as though by magic.
"Signor Barricini," said Orso, and suppressed fury vibrated in hisvoice, "I hold you to be a forger! This very day I shall charge youbefore the public prosecutor with forgery and complicity with Bianchi. Imay perhaps have a still more terrible accusation to bring against you!"
"And I, Signor della Rebbia," replied the mayor, "shall lay my chargeagainst you for conspiracy and complicity with bandits. Meanwhile theprefect will desire the gendarmes to keep an eye upon you."
"The prefect will do his duty," said that gentleman sternly. "He willsee the public order is not disturbed at Pietranera; he will take carejustice is done. I say this to you all, gentlemen!"
The mayor and Vincentello were outside the room already, and Orlanducciowas following them, stepping backward, when Orso said to him in anundertone:
"Your father is an old man. One cuff from me would kill him. It is withyou and with your brother that I intend to deal."
Orlanduccio's only response was to draw his dagger and fly like a madmanat Orso. But before he could use his weapon Colomba caught hold of hisarm and twisted it violently, while Orso gave him a blow in the facewith his fist, which made him stagger several paces back, and come intoviolent collision with the door frame. Orlanduccio's dagger dropped fromhis hand. But Vincentello had his ready, and was rushing back into theroom, when Colomba, snatching up a gun convinced him that the strugglemust be unequal. At the same time the prefect threw himself between thecombatants.
"We shall soon meet, Ors' Anton'!" shouted Orlanduccio, and slammingthe door of the room violently, he turned the key in the lock, so as toinsure himself time to retreat.
For a full quarter of an hour Orso and the prefect kept their placesin dead silence, at opposite ends of the room. Colomba, the pride oftriumph shining on her brow, gazed first at one and then at the other,as she leaned on the gun that had turned the scale of victory.
"What a country! Oh, what a country!" cried the prefect at last, risinghastily from his chair. "Signor della Rebbia, you did wrong! You mustgive me your word of honour to abstain from all violence, and to waittill the law settles this cursed business."
"Yes, Signor Prefetto, I was wrong to strike that villain. But I didstrike him, after all, and I can't refuse him the satisfaction he hasdemanded of me."
"Pooh! no! He doesn't want to fight you! But supposing he murders you?You've done everything you could to insure it."
"We'll protect ourselves," said Colomba.
"Orlanduccio," said Orso, "strikes me as being a plucky fellow, and Ithink better of him than that, monsieur. He was very quick about drawinghis dagger. But perhaps I should have done the same thing in his place,and I'm glad my sister has not an ordinary fine lady's wrist."
"You are not to fight," exclaimed the prefect. "I forbid it!"
"Allow me to say, monsieur, that in matters that affect my honour theonly authority I acknowledge is that of my own conscience."
"You sha'n't fight, I tell you!"
"You can put me under arrest, monsieur--that is, if I let you catch me.But if you were to do that, you would only delay a thing that has nowbecome inevitable. You are a man of honour yourself, monsieur; you knowthere can be no other course."
"If you were to have my brother arrested," added Colomba, "half thevillage would take his part, and we should have a fine fusillade."
"I give you fair notice, monsieur, and I entreat you not to think I amtalking mere bravado. I warn you that if Signor Barricini abuses hisauthority as mayor, to have me arrested, I shall defend myself."
"From this very day," said the prefect, "Signor Barricini is suspended.I trust he will exculpate himself. Listen to me, my young gentleman, Ihave a liking for you. What I ask of you is nothing to speak of. Just tostay quietly at home till I get back from Corte. I shall only be threedays away. I'll bring back the public prosecutor with me, and then we'llsift this wretched business to the bottom. Will you promise me you willabstain from all hostilities till then?"
"I can not promise that, monsieur, if, as I expect, Orlanduccio asks meto meet him."
"What, Signor della Rebbia! Would you--a French officer--think of goingout with a man you suspect of being a forger?"
"I struck him, monsieur!"
"But supposing you struck a convict, and he demanded satisfaction ofyou, would you fight him? Come, come, Signor Orso! But I'll ask you todo even less, do nothing to seek out Orlanduccio. I'll consent to yourfighting him if he asks you for a meeting."
"He will ask for it, I haven't a doubt of that. But I'll promise I won'tgive him fresh cuffs to induce him to do it."
"What a country!" cried the prefect once more, as he strode to and fro."Shall I never get back to France?"
"Signor Prefetto," said Colomba in her most dulcet tones, "it is growingvery late. Would you do us the honour of breakfasting here?"
The prefect could not help laughing.
"I've been here too long already--it may look like partiality. And thereis that cursed foundation-stone. I must be off. Signorina del
la Rebbia!what calamities you may have prepared this day!"
"At all events, Signor Prefetto, you will do my sister the justice ofbelieving her convictions are deeply rooted--and I am sure, now, thatyou yourself believe them to be well-founded."
"Farewell, sir!" said the prefect, waving his hand. "I warn you that thesergeant of gendarmes will have orders to watch everything you do."
When the prefect had departed--
"Orso," said Colomba, "this isn't the Continent. Orlanduccio knowsnothing about your duels, and besides, that wretch must not die thedeath of a brave man."
"Colomba, my dear, you are a clever woman. I owe you a great deal fromhaving saved me from a hearty knife-thrust. Give me your little hand tokiss! But, hark ye, let me have my way. There are certain matters thatyou don't understand. Give me my breakfast. And as soon as the prefecthad started off send for little Chilina, who seems to perform all thecommissions she is given in the most wonderful fashion. I shall want herto take a letter for me."
While Colomba was superintending the preparation of his breakfast, Orsowent up to his own room and wrote the following note:
"You must be in a hurry to meet me, and I am no less eager. We can meetat six o'clock to-morrow morning in the valley of Acquaviva. I am askilful pistol-shot, so I do not suggest that weapon to you. I hear youare a good shot with a gun. Let us each take a double-barrelled gun. Ishall be accompanied by a man from this village. If your brother wishesto go with you, take a second witness, and let me know. In that caseonly, I should bring two with me.
"ORSO ANTONIO DELLA REBBIA."
After spending an hour with the deputy-mayor, and going into theBarricini house for a few minutes, the prefect, attended by a singlegendarme, started for Corte. A quarter of an hour later, Chilina carriedover the letter my readers have just perused, and delivered it intoOrlanduccio's own hands.
The answer was not prompt, and did not arrive till evening. It bore thesignature of the elder Barricini, and informed Orso that he was layingthe threatening letter sent to his son before the public prosecutor. Hismissive concluded thus: "Strong in the sense of a clear conscience, Ipatiently wait till the law has pronounced on your calumnies."
Meanwhile five or six herdsmen, summoned by Colomba, arrived to garrisonthe della Rebbia Tower. In spite of Orso's protests, _archere_ werearranged in the windows looking onto the square, and all through theevening offers of service kept coming in from various persons belongingto the village. There was even a letter from the bandit-theologian,undertaking, for himself and Brandolaccio, that in the event of themayor's calling on the gendarmes, they themselves would straightwayintervene. The following postscript closed the letter:
"Dare I ask you what the Signor Prefetto thinks of the excellenteducation bestowed by my friend on Brusco, the dog? Next to Chilina, heis the most docile and promising pupil I have ever come across."