CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
AT THE CHATEAU PAOLI.
"To-day is Wednesday," commenced the count. "On Sunday evening last,just as it was growing dusk, I was informed that Bell' Demonio requestedan audience on a matter of great import. I accordingly descended to thelibrary, into which this extraordinary woman had been shown, and oninquiring the nature of her business she informed me that on theprevious Wednesday--a week ago to-day, in fact--a detachment of her bandhad attacked and destroyed a party of French troops, who had with themas prisoner a young Englishman--yourself of course. She stated that inthe attack you had unfortunately been wounded, and your wound havingbeen left unattended to for some hours, fever had set in. She nursedyou as well as she could up to Sunday, when finding that no improvementin your condition took place, she grew alarmed, and having learned fromyour disjointed ravings that you had some business with me, determinedto come on to the chateau and request that I would take you under mycare. I of course assented at once, and in a couple of hours more youwere brought here, strapped to a stretcher--that being the only way inwhich you could be kept sufficiently quiescent to prevent irreparableinjury to your wounded arm.
"Circumstances did not permit of my sending into Ajaccio for aphysician, but most fortunately my daughter's old nurse Maria is wellskilled in matters relating to medicine and surgery, and her serviceswere at once called into requisition. She soon discovered that theunskilful treatment of your wound was the chief cause of your illness,and with infinite difficulty, for you were very violent, we succeeded ingetting the limb reset, and the wound properly attended to. This done,the fever soon yielded to the influence of the medicines which the goodsoul administered with rigorous punctuality. In the meantime, however,you spoke several times about certain papers concerning which you seemedto be singularly anxious, and at length by patiently listening to yourrambling utterances we were enabled to make a shrewd guess as to theirwhereabouts. I set out in search of them, and discovered your bag, withthe papers intact, safely concealed beneath a pile of brushwood in thecorner of the old hut on the moor."
"Then I have been ill a whole week?" I exclaimed in considerabledismay.
"Exactly so," replied the count. "How long did you imagine your illnesshad lasted?"
"About two days," I replied.
"Well, it is just a week," remarked the count. "I hope you are not inany very serious hurry to leave us. In the first place I doubt whetherMaria will consent to your rising from your bed for at least anotherweek, and after that you will be some time regaining a sufficiency ofstrength to enable you to travel, and in the next place I am anxious tocultivate the acquaintance of one who has done so great a service to usCorsicans."
"You are extremely kind, count," said I, "and under other circumstancesthere is nothing I should like better than to remain your guest as longas I could find a decent excuse for so doing; but my ship, the `Juno,'has gone to the north end of the island, where we all expect there willbe some very smart work shortly, and I would not miss being with her foranything I could name."
"Ha, ha! not very complimentary to us, eh, Francesca?" laughed my host."This young fire-eating English sailor-officer would rather be where hisbrains would be ever in jeopardy than enjoying the _dolce far niente_ uphere among the hills. What very pugnacious animals you Englishmen are,to be sure!
"But do not fear, my dear boy, nothing will be done there yet for alittle while, and, if you lake great care of yourself, it is quitepossible you may yet be able to rejoin the `Juno' in time to get yourfull share of the hard knocks to be had there, and which will doubtlessbe plentiful enough to suit even the most impetuous of your countrymen."
"Which do you think will be my quickest way to rejoin my ship, when I amable to do so--by land, or by water?" I inquired.
"By water, I should say, certainly," replied the count. "The entireisland is in a perfect ferment, and you would find travelling by land aslow and wearisome as well as a highly dangerous process. We areperfectly quiet here, it is true, our situation being an isolated one,and in the very heart of the hills; but in and about all the towns theFrench troops literally swarm, while the woods and more secludedvillages are haunted either by bands of Corsican insurgents or banditti,both of which would be likely to regard a stranger with as muchsuspicion as the French; and although you might be able to travel for afew miles to the northward from here in comparative safety, you wouldfind your difficulties increase with every additional mile of youradvance. And it is only fair to mention that I cannot assure you ofabsolute safety even here. I have reason to believe that I am verystrongly suspected by the French of being favourable to theinsurrectionary movement now in progress--as indeed I may admit to youthat I am, my brother being in command of the insurgents--and I feelsure that, could a particle of direct evidence be secured against me, myarrest would instantly be attempted. This I should stoutly resist inthe present condition of affairs, as my life would not be worth amoment's purchase were I to fall into the hands of the enemy; but it isvery doubtful whether the chateau could hold out beyond an hour or twoagainst a determined attack, every man I could possibly spare being awaywith my brother."
"Would not your own countrymen help you in such a case?" I inquired.
"There is no help available, except that of the banditti," replied thecount, "and, with the single exception of Bell' Demonio's band, I wouldalmost as soon throw open my gates to the French as to them. If Bell'were at hand at such a time, we should be perfectly safe, but one cannever tell where she is to be found; her movements are as uncertain asthose of the wind, and it is quite probable that she is now at the northend of the island, co-operating with my brother."
"Who is this Bell' Demonio?" I inquired. "Is it possible she can bethe beautiful woman I saw in the camp to which I was taken after beingwounded, and where I fell ill?"
"The same," answered the count. "She is the leader of the band intowhose hands you fell. Poor soul! her story is a very extraordinary aswell as a very terrible one; the mere mention of her name is sufficientto excite a Corsican to frenzy at the remembrance of her wrongs.
"Six months ago Isabel di Solzi was one of the happiest girls in allCorsica. Her father, Count Robert di Solzi, a descendant of the mostancient and most distinguished family of all the Corsican nobility,idolised her, and gratified her every whim, no matter how extravagant itmight be, and she ruled the chateau as its absolute queen.
"Her lover, as handsome and gallant a young fellow as maiden could wish,doted upon her, as a matter of course, and she returned his love withall the passion of her fiery and enthusiastic nature, and the prospectbefore her seemed to be one of almost perfect human happiness.
"Her father, fond as he was of her, and reluctant as he was to part withhis only daughter, nevertheless viewed the match with unqualifiedfavour; the proposals had been formally made and accepted; thepreliminaries were all arranged, and the marriage was fixed for acertain day.
"Time passed on, slowly enough, we may be sure, to the impassionedlovers, and at length the day arrived on the morrow of which the weddingwas to take place. Isabel's lover rode out early to the chateau,ostensibly for the purpose of concluding the last trifling arrangementsconnected with the ceremony, but doubtless it was in reality to enjoyone more interview with his inamorata before the performance of thoseholy rites which were to make her his for ever. The Count di Solzi wasabsent when he arrived, and the young couple, anticipating no evil,wandered away from the chateau, and at length in their preoccupationentered a wood through which runs the road from Ajaccio across to theeastern side of the island. They sauntered along this road for aconsiderable distance, when they heard the tramp of a party of soldiersbehind them, and looking back found themselves in the presence of adetachment of French infantry.
"There was a great deal of ill-feeling existing even then between theCorsicans and the French, though it was not of course anything like whatit is at present; hostilities had not as yet broken out; the flame whichis so fiercely raging to-day
throughout the island being then no morethan a smouldering spark.
"Still, the _rencontre_ was disagreeable, and to shorten it as much aspossible Isabel and her lover turned back with the intention of passingthe French in the opposite direction. But by the time that they hadresolved on this, the French were upon them, and instead of courteouslypermitting them to pass, the officer in command ordered them to halt andgive an account of themselves.
"They had of course no option but to obey, which they did. The Frenchofficer, however, either doubted, or affected to doubt, their story, andannounced his intention of taking them both as prisoners into Ajaccio.
"Isabel's lover remonstrated, entreated, and threatened by turns, invain; and at length the officers, turning from him, began to assail thetrembling Isabel with jests of the coarsest kind. This was more thanthe hot Corsican blood could endure, and suddenly breaking from hisguard, the frantic lover rushed upon the commanding officer, who seemedto be the chief offender, and with a single blow struck him senseless tothe ground. The next moment he would have been impaled upon thebayonets of the soldiery, had the other officers not interfered; theyknew their chief, and knew too that they would never be forgiven, didthey not preserve their victim for a punishment to be inflicted byhimself.
"A halt was immediately called, they being at the time in perhaps themost lonely part of the road. A strong guard was placed over theprisoners, the rest of the men piling their arms, and vigorous effortswere at once proceeded with for the restoration of the injured officer.
"The injury being slight, they were soon successful, and a mock drum-head court-martial was then instituted, by which the male prisoner wastried and convicted; sentence was passed, and the ruffianly band at onceproceeded jeeringly to carry it into execution. The unhappy lover wasstripped and firmly bound to a tree; the shrieking Isabel was thendragged before him, and in her presence he was scourged to death withthe soldiers' belts. The miserable girl was then released, the troopsshouldered their arms and marched merrily away, safely reaching in duetime their barracks in Ajaccio.
"Meanwhile the day passed on; Count Robert returned to the chateau, andas was his custom at once sought his daughter. Failing to find her, hemade inquiry among the servants, and then learned that the lovers hadleft the domain some hours before. This intelligence made the countsomewhat uneasy, and remounting his horse, he set out in quest of thetruants upon the road which he learned they had taken. He penetratedthe forest for some distance, and at length was startled by hearingshrill screams of maniacal laughter.
"Imagine if you can his horror and distress, when, on reaching the spotfrom which the sounds proceeded, he discovered his daughter seated uponthe ground, with her dead lover's head upon her lap, uttering peal afterpeal of blood-curdling laughter, as she strove to bind up the bruisedand lacerated body in strips of linen torn from her own clothing.
"On approaching her, the poor girl appeared to recognise her father in aconfused sort of way, and with a little difficulty he at lengthpersuaded her to allow him to lay the murdered man across the horse'sback, and to accompany him home.
"It was of course patent to the distracted count that a fiendishatrocity of some sort had been committed, but it was quite impossible togather any particulars or even the most meagre hint from the poordemented girl by his side; he therefore made the best of his way back tothe chateau, whence immediately upon his arrival he despatched a coupleof mounted servants--one of whom had charge of a note conveying a hintof the catastrophe to the friends of the murdered man, while the otherhad instructions to find and bring back with him to the chateau thefirst medical man in Ajaccio. By nightfall the chateau was full ofself-invited guests, attracted thither by the rumours which had reachedtheir ears concerning the events of the day, and all sorts of surmisesand suggestions were made as to the probable perpetrators of theoutrage. The doctor, too, as well as the friends of the murdered man,was there, and the former had on seeing his patient lost no time inadministering a powerful opiate with the object of procuring for theunfortunate Isabel a temporary relief from the unnatural excitement ofher overtaxed brain.
"When at length the drug had done its work, and the poor girl laystretched upon her bed in a state of unconsciousness, a generalconsultation was held, at which it was resolved to spare no pains todiscover and punish the authors of so atrocious a crime, and with thisunderstanding the visitors on the following morning departed on theirseveral ways.
"For days the efforts put forth to discover the offenders resulted in acomplete failure, and in the meantime poor Isabel lay tossing restlesslywith brain-fever. At length one night an intoxicated French soldierblurted out the secret in the hearing of every one of the occupants ofthe tavern, and a little judicious questioning, mingled with occasionalexpressions of incredulity, extracted from the fellow the full detailsof the crime. These were promptly communicated to Count di Solzi, whoimmediately called upon the officer who had been named as the chiefculprit, and taxed him with it.
"The wretch scornfully admitted his share in the outrage, and scoffed atthe agonising grief of the poor old man. A challenge followed, as amatter of course, and a meeting was arranged for the following morning;but when that morning dawned, the French officer was found dead in bed,stabbed to the heart. The count was immediately arrested on suspicionof being the assassin, and though all the neighbouring nobility knew thecharge to be as monstrous and ill-founded as ever was brought againstmortal man, and did all that lay in our power to have the matterproperly investigated--and though soon after his arrest one of his ownservants came voluntarily forward and confessed that it was he, and nothis master, who had done the deed--poor Isabel's father was summarilytried, sentenced, and hanged over the gate of his own chateau.
"This act of base and cruel injustice, coupled with the previousoutrage, caused the smouldering spark of discontent and disaffection toblaze forth at once into a devastating insurrectionary flame.
"The most ruthless reprisals were forthwith resorted to on both sides;assassination, secret and open, became the order of the day; theCorsicans flew to arms, and the struggle commenced which is now beingwaged, and which can never end until the hated French have beenextirpated from off the face of the island."
"And how fared the unhappy Isabel meanwhile?" I inquired.
"She was on her father's arrest brought here at the imminent risk of herlife," replied the count, "and while she still lay delirious, herfather's execution took place; the chateau was then sacked, and when thesoldiers had loaded themselves with every article of value which it waspossible for them to take away, they set fire to the place, and, drivingback at the point of the bayonet all who approached for the purpose ofextinguishing the flames, stood by until it was burned to the ground.It was late at night before all was done, and the officer in charge ofthe troops who had carried through this shameful deed of murder andspoliation was imprudent enough to camp for the night close to the sceneof the outrage. Sentinels were duly posted, and everything was, as thisman thought, made perfectly secure; but he was fatally mistaken. Thesentinels were surprised in detail, and despatched without having had anopportunity to give the alarm, and then a band of upwards of 100 armedCorsicans stole in upon the defenceless camp and slaughtered every oneof the sleeping Frenchmen--not one survived to tell the tale.
"Isabel, contrary to expectation, rapidly recovered both her health andher reason; but it soon became apparent that a terrible change had beenwrought in her, though _how_ terrible we did not realise untilafterwards.
"Of course it was not to be expected that a girl who had passed throughwhat she had would ever be the same again, but there was a change inher, apart from what might reasonably have been expected under thecircumstances. Her reason appeared to be completely restored; shetalked calmly and rationally enough upon all subjects, not exceptingeven her misfortunes; but there was a coldness and reserve about her,even with us, her most intimate friends, which we found it verydifficult to understand. At length one day we missed her, andapprehens
ive of a recurrence of the temporary aberration of intellectfrom which she had so recently recovered, we searched for her in alldirections for three whole days without success, at the end of whichtime we received a note from her, thanking us for what she was pleasedto term our great kindness, and informing us that she had taken steps tocarry out the sole purpose of her future life, which was vengeance uponthe authors of her wrongs, and the enemies of her country. We knew notwhat to make of this statement at first, but we soon afterwards learnedthat it meant she had formed a guerilla band at the head of which shehad placed herself--the avowed object of which is war to the knife withthe French, as long as any of them remain in Corsica.
"And most terribly has she carried out her purpose so far, for alreadynearly 300 Frenchmen have perished upon the weapons of her band, andfourteen French officers have met their deaths at her own hands.
"The adoption of so vindictive a purpose has gained for her the title ofBell' Demonio, a title which she has accepted as perfectly appropriate,and as indicative of the relentless vengeance which her enemies may lookfor from her."
"What a terrible history of wanton wrong and of merciless retribution!"I exclaimed, when the count had finished his narrative. "It is horribleto think that beings claiming to be civilised can be capable of suchmonstrous deeds, but it is so, as I can testify from the conversation ofthe Frenchmen who took me prisoner, and by the bye that reminds me that_you_ were the subject of their remarks. Have you any reason to supposeyourself in any sort of danger?"
"Well, no," replied the count; "I should scarcely say that I considermyself in absolute _danger_; of course it is only reasonable to supposethat, since my brother has placed himself at the head of the insurgents,I should be regarded with a certain amount of suspicion; but thatoccasions me no anxiety whatever, for I have no one about me but thosewhom I can implicitly trust, and even to them I confide no more than Ican possibly help, so I think I may say I am reasonably safe frombetrayal. At the same time I omit no precaution, because I have strongreason to suppose that my actions are being watched, as I believe I havealready mentioned. But perhaps you will favour me with a recapitulationof the remarks made by the French concerning me? I have hitherto had nomeans of ascertaining exactly in what estimation they hold me, and anylight on the subject would be especially valuable just now."
In accordance with this request, I related the substance of theconversation which had occurred among the Frenchmen while I was beingconveyed toward Ajaccio. The count listened intently, neverinterrupting me once, but I could see by the expression of his featureshow powerfully he was moved, especially by the remarks which hadreference to his daughter. When I had finished--
"Thank you signor--how shall I call you?" said he.
"My name is Ralph Chester," I replied.
"I thank you sincerely, Signor Ralph, for the very valuable informationwhich you have afforded me. It gives to my position an altogether newand somewhat alarming aspect. It is true that I am safe, so far as thepapers which you brought are concerned; they are out of my hands, and,even if discovered, contain nothing which could possibly compromise me;but what you have just told me appears to indicate a decided _desire_ onthe part of the French to find some excuse for molesting me.Personally, there is nothing I should like better than an opportunityfor holding the chateau against an attack from the French. I hate themwith a deadly hatred--heaven knows it is not without ample cause!--butif the day were to go against us, I shudder to think of the inevitablefate of my darling child. But, signor, she should never fall into theirhands alive. I would rather blot out her innocent young life with theseunarmed hands than leave her alive at the mercy of those fiends. I havealready told you somewhat of what they can do, but they are capable ofeven greater refinement of cruelty than that which poor Bell' Demonioexperienced at their hands. I am glad to have heard what you have justtold me, but it greatly increases my anxiety; could I only placeFrancesca in safety it would not greatly matter, but as it is--yes, Imust endeavour to find a secure retreat for my child, or I shall have nofurther peace of mind. The more I think of it the clearer does itbecome that the chateau is no longer a fit place for her."
We conversed for some time longer, and then Maria made her appearance,and, with the licence of an old servant, unhesitatingly expressed herconviction that I had conversed far more freely than was at all good forme in my feeble condition, and asserted decidedly that unless I were atonce left for the rest of the day in perfect quiet, the direstconsequences would surely follow. Upon this the count abruptly took hisdeparture, with an elaborate apology for what he chose to term his wantof consideration.
For the remainder of the day a strict embargo was laid upon my room bythat stern old disciplinarian, Maria, and on the following day the countwas only permitted to enter for the purpose of making a few brief butkind inquiries as to my progress.
I spent the time chiefly in meditating upon the charms of the count'slovely daughter, and in hoping for the happiness of a visit from her;but to my intense disappointment she remained invisible. Maria mountedstrict guard over me, and when circumstances necessitated her absence,the dark-eyed Angela was called in to relieve the watch.
The latter was evidently willing enough to chat with me, but it soonbecame apparent that she had received her orders from Maria, and thatshe entertained too wholesome a dread of that individual lightly todisobey her. Under these circumstances the time dragged on wearilyenough, so that when on the fourth day I received permission to risefrom my bed and change my room for an hour or two, I regarded theinflexible Maria with feelings of gratitude almost akin to love.
The experience of a sick-bed is unfortunately so little a rarity thatmost of my readers will be able to realise for themselves the delightwith which, after a refreshing toilet, and clad in the easiest as wellas the most gorgeous of dressing-gowns, I passed out through the door ofthe sick-room. The sprightly Angela was my guide, and also to a greatextent my support, as we passed down a short corridor and turned into asmall but elegantly furnished room single glance round which wassufficient to assure me that I was in the favoured abode of beauty. Atable littered with a variety of those flimsy trifles which ladies arewont to dignify with the name of "work" occupied the centre of the room,a harp stood in one corner and a guitar in another, an easel supportingan unfinished sketch in water-colours stood by one of the two windowswhich lighted the room, and a small bookcase filled with elegantly-boundbooks occupied a niche in one of the walls. A tiny riding-gauntlet ofembroidered leather trimmed with lace, and a gold-mounted riding-switchlay upon a most inviting-looking couch, while an open book, placed facedownwards, occupied a low-seated reclining chair, which faced the otherwindow; some small but choice water-colours graced the walls, andagainst that which faced the windows stood a small chamber organ. Inaddition to these evidences of taste and luxury there were a few smallbut exquisite statuettes supported on wall brackets; delicate alabastervases of choice and sweetly-scented flowers, and a cage of gailyplumaged birds.
"There!" said my guide, as she deposited me in the most comfortablechair in the room, "is that to your liking, signor?"
"Perfectly," I replied. "But see here, Angela, have you not made somemistake? Was it understood that I was to occupy this room? If I mayhazard a guess, I should say it is your mistress's own especialapartment, the one to which she retreats when she desires strictprivacy."
"You are quite right, signor, it is my lady's boudoir, but the count'sinstructions were that you were to be taken to the most comfortable roomin the chateau; and though there are many larger and more grand, I knowof none where you would be quite so comfortable as in this."
"I have no doubt you are perfectly right, little one," said I; "but Igreatly fear that in taking possession of this apartment I shall beintruding--"
"It is very unkind of you to think any such thing, signor; no one whohas suffered as you have in the cause of my countrymen could ever bedeemed an intruder in _any_ of the apartments of the Chateau Paoli,"said a
clear, silvery voice behind me. I turned and saw that the ownerof the apartment had just entered at the open door in time to hear myremark.
The beautiful girl looked more lovely than ever, I thought, as shesomewhat shyly congratulated me on the progress I had made towardrecovery.
She playfully scolded the unabashed Angela for not putting the room insomewhat better order before introducing me to it, apologised for thestate of confusion which it was in, and finally asked me if she could doanything to add to my comfort. With all the boldness of a Britishmidshipman, I at once replied that my comfort and happiness would becomplete if she would but condescend to favour me with as much of hersociety as possible.
The dear girl blushed, laughed, called me a bold boy, and then, at myearnest request, placed herself in a chair near me, and, after a slightpause of embarrassment, commenced a conversation, the theme of which wasthe struggle upon which the Corsicans had just entered.
This, of course, was all very well and highly interesting; no one couldhave looked at and listened to so lovely a creature unmoved as shedescanted in feeling language upon the wrongs from which the Corsicanshad suffered so greatly at the hands of the French; but, to tell thetruth, I felt just then too weak to take more than a languid interest inthe subject, it was too exciting for me in my invalid condition, besideswhich, I perceived that the theme was a painful one to my companion; Itherefore gradually drew the conversation into a lighter channel, and wewere soon deep in the discussion of poetry, music, and painting,subjects in which we both seemed to be equally interested, and ourenthusiasm upon which speedily broke down the slight barrier of reservewhich had interposed itself between us at the commencement of theinterview. The result was that when that objectionable old party,Maria, came to announce the arrival of the moment when a return to myown room was judged advisable, she found us both comfortably establishedupon the same lounge, sitting very close to each other, and deep in thebeauties of a portfolio of choice engravings which rested upon ourknees; moreover, we had grown so confidential that by mutual agreementour usual formal style of address had been discarded, my young hostesspromising to call me "Ralph," if I would address her as "Francesca."
From this date my progress toward perfect recovery was rapid. A fewdays more were passed in Francesca's boudoir, in the enjoyment of herdelightful society, and then came the happy moment when supported by herarm, I was able to move slowly and for short distances about thesuperbly laid-out grounds of the chateau. These delightful walks, whichbecame more extended every day, naturally resulted in the establishmentof still more intimate relations between us, and in a very short timeeach knew all about the past history and the future prospects of theother. The latter were eminently satisfactory on both sides, for, withall the assurance of a boy and a midshipman, I speedily announced myintention of winning my post rank in the shortest possible amount oftime, chiefly as a desirable preliminary to my return to Corsica for thepurpose of claiming the lovely Francesca's hand in marriage.
The sweet girl laughed heartily at me, at first; though younger thanmyself, she was more of a woman than I was of a man, and she assumedwith me a great many of the airs of a senior; but upon my vehement andrepeated protestations of the seriousness and permanent nature of myintentions, her laughter ceased, she became embarrassed and agitated,and finally, after much pressing, assured me, her face crimsoned withblushes the while, that if I ever came to claim her, she would be mine.
Now I am quite aware that my conduct in this respect was wrong. I wastoo young, and my prospects were far too vague at that time, to justifyme in speaking of love to any woman, besides which, in sounceremoniously laying siege to the beautiful Francesca's susceptibleheart, I might, for all that I could tell, be seriously interfering withthe count's plans for his daughter's future. But at the time neither ofus thought anything of this, or of any thing or being but ourselves; wewere perfectly content with the state of things as they were, happy inthe present, and quite agreed as to the future, to which, however,neither of us gave a single serious thought. I do not think Francescawas to blame in the matter, she had never had a mother to teach herprudence, but _I_ certainly acted very wrongly, for, though little morethan a boy, I was old enough to know better.
I offer no excuse for my conduct, it was quite inexcusable, but as I amtelling the story of my life, I feel that I should not be dealing fairlywith my readers did I attempt to pass over my faults and misdeeds insilence.
A day or two more passed swiftly away, I was rapidly regaining strength,my fractured arm-bone had knit itself firmly together again--though ofcourse it was still quite useless, the splints not having been removed,and the use of a sling promising to remain a necessity for some littletime longer--and I was revolving seriously in my mind the question ofwhat would be the best course to pursue in order to rejoin my ship, whena little incident occurred which immediately diverted my thoughts in anentirely different direction.
Francesca and I were sauntering slowly down the broad tree-bordereddrive which led from the main road to the chateau, when a man passed us.Francesca stopped him, to ask a question or two, and to give him somedirections, and I thus got a full view of his features for perhaps quitethree minutes. To my intense surprise I recognised in him theindividual who had betrayed me to the French troops, and who had withoutdoubt betrayed them in turn to Bell' Demonio's guerilla band; in a word,it was Guiseppe.
When our eyes met for the first time I saw in a moment that he not onlyrecognised me, but also that he was most anxious to know whether Irecognised him. I had it on the tip of my tongue to tax him with hisperfidy, and to threaten to denounce him; but there was a something inhis glance which gave me the idea that he was meditating furthertreachery, and I instantly decided that the most effective means todefeat his plans, if he entertained any, would be to throw him off hisguard, and watch keenly the course of events; I therefore assumed acalmness and indifference of demeanour which I certainly did not feel,and looked at him as though I had never seen him before.
Waiting until the fellow was well out of ear-shot, I asked Francescawhether he was one of the servants at the chateau.
"Well, no," she replied, "he is not exactly that. He is merely a kindof hanger-on; his father died in our service, and this man was, in hisyounger days, one of our stable-boys, but he left us about a year ago tobecome a wood-cutter and charcoal-burner, and since then he just comesand goes when he likes, finding board and lodging when he requires it,and giving in return any trifling services that may be required of him."
Nothing more was said about the man at that time, but I resolved tospeak to Count Lorenzo about him at the first opportunity.
This presented itself the same evening, on our return to the chateau. Irecalled to the count's mind the conversation which had passedrespecting him among the French soldiers, and also directed hisattention to the fact that the subject of my remarks had been referredto in terms which seemed to leave no room for doubt as to his treachery.
"But the individual of whom you speak was called Guiseppe, was he not?"remarked the count, when I had said my say.
"Certainly," I replied. "What is the name of this man?"
"Matteo, Matteo Bartolozzi is his full name," replied the count. "Ithought there must be a mistake somewhere; you have evidently beenmisled, my friend, by an accidental resemblance. Matteo a traitor!Pardon me, my dear Signor Ralpho, but if you knew the poor fellow aswell as I do, you would recognise the absurdity of the supposition. Ihave known Matteo all his life, and I should have no hesitation intrusting him with _anything_, ay, even with my daughter's safety."
"Heaven forbid that such a necessity should ever arise," I ferventlyexclaimed. "It would be better to confide her to the protection of apack of starving wolves. I am _not_ deceived by any accidentalresemblance, I feel as sure of the identity of this man, whom you callMatteo, with the traitor Guiseppe, as I am of my own existence. Believeme, count, I would not speak so positively, did there exist the faintestpossibility of doubt."
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p; "But, my good sir," returned the count somewhat tartly, "I assure youthat what you say is quite impossible. I repeat, I have known the manall his life, and I have done him nothing but good. I have befriendedhim in a thousand ways, and I know he would lay down his life ratherthan bring harm to me and mine."
I saw that my efforts to undeceive the count were worse than useless,and I therefore abandoned the attempt; at the same time his argumentsutterly failed to convince me that I had been mistaken, they did noteven raise the most transitory doubt in my mind; I therefore determinedto simply wait and watch the course of events.