The Roman soprano, or, The captain of the Swiss guard
page: (TitlePage) [View Page (TitlePage) ]THE [ BY CHARLES G. R1 NBERG. "A NEW YORK: EUVBtiSHED BY SAMUEL 121 NABSAU STREET. FRENCH, *j(~ ~ j~' ,gjf I ~ I~ ~ K2~ 4 I CAPTAIN OF THlE SWISS GUAR. 21' ii page: (Advertisement) [View Page (Advertisement) ] A ~ ~ ~ 4 I a A)~ ~q J~ASrW 4It~ ~(~*~4~33 1u~sic5 ~t4 GLEASON'S PICTORIAL RECORD OF THE D~ AND USEFUL IN AET. The object of this paper is to present, in~the moat ~ieApt Bd available form, a weekly literary melange of notable events of the dhy. Its columns are devSted to original tales, sketches and poems, by the the BEST AERUICAN AUTHORS, and cream of the domestic and foreign news; the whole well spiced with wit and humor. Each paper is RAUTIFULLY ILLUST~ATB3 with nun~erous accurate engravings, by eminent artist., of notable objects, current events in all parts of the world, and of men and manners, altogether making a paper entirely original in its design in this country. 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Corner of Bromfield and Tremont Streets, Boston, Mass. WHOLESALE AGENTS. S. FRENCH, 121 Nassau, Street, New York. A. WINCH, 116 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. HEN1~Y TAYLOR, Ill Baltimore and 5 South Streets, Baltimore. A. C. BAGLEY, corner of Fourth and Sycamore Streets, Cincinnati. J. A. ROYS, 43 Woodward Atenue, Detroit. E. K. WOODWARD, corner of Fourth and Chesnut Streets, St. Louis. THOMAS tUNN, 40 Exchange Place, New Orleans. *1 I I I, page: [View Page ] * IT was a lovely evening in the latter portion of the month of March.~-but that March was an Italian one. The freshwindsof a Roman spring caine across the intervening houses, laden with the p~uxiies stolen from the choice exotics ani rare shrubs flourishiog in the gardens of the pal. ace inhabited by the wealthy banker, Torlogna. A broad and beautiful amber covered the heaven which was spread over the rooi~ of the Ete~na1 City, and, stole in with the reflex of the setting sun, through the large and plated windows of the Barberini (~afe4 Two young men were seated at a table in one of these windowe~engage4 ii~ earnest co~versa- tion. A 1~ottl~ of lMryrna Chri~ti s~$ before them; bnt it was m~r~ than half full, while their glasue& were empty. Oigar., too, weing~be~ side them; but the 4ight in one of themwas e~- tingni~hed, whil~ji~ faint streak of enloke wb~s?.l~ from time to time cu4ed from the ether, inti- mated that it was about to follow the example. Their conversation had, for the. moment, o!en- poweredtheir love for the weed. "You caq~ ~ idea," said the &~st, wh~ was very evide young milit fm~n, ~'how much I suffer, and am still suIF.riu&ft~xn th~s idle flincy." ' Dut you are not ill," replied the other; "on the contrary, your eyes gbw, and yi~r cheeks burn with a fair augury of your reaching your hundredth year." This g~nt1ema~i was a dashing young fellow, and was sWredwith an extravagant s~mpli~ity. lie might have seemed to be aRoinan nobleman, did we n~t inviteoarr rst~1laten to his as- cent; this betrayed j4'~ to be a Pied*nontese. In fact, we wilt at once make him acquslhted with them. His name ,was Bernardo Dells Torre, and he had been~for the last two months residing in )~ume, wbe~ the wealth of bi~ father -a Genoes~ n~erchas~ who was known to be enorinouslyitchv~ivb~in an endessemeut' which procured hini the ad~ilssion into the ~e~t s~ci~ty. "0, y~s; tI~ey gLow an~ 4JUm ~npn~h~" an- swered the first speaker. "Iv i~t,.X ~ buru- V I CIIA~PTE~ I. TUB TWO TRInNDs. 4 5. page: 10-11[View Page 10-11] 10 THE ROMA~ lug from head to foot. But it is all right; you are my star of luck." "How, Guiio ~" "You always have such capital ideas. But, Bernardo, I am about to trust you with every- thing. You are the first man to whom I have said anything of my adventure; but you are a good fellow, and an honest friend. I don't mind telling you the whole of it, Bernardo." "Well, well, GulIjo; explain yourself." "You remember the Jew i" "What Jew2" "Him whore I saved, some weeks since, from a broad-shouldered and thick-fisted scoundrel, who was tormenting him in the street leading to the Ghetto, and who would, apparently,-.but that it i~as somewhat too early for such an ope- ration,-have rejoiced in relieving him of his purse, whish, you may ~nesunie, was tolerably well lined with scudi." "Yes, I remember him; but how on earth, Guilio, could a Jew mix himself up with thy fancies." "Who said that it was a Jew, Bernardo2" "You did." "Nonsense, maui-it is a Jewess, or an angel, of whom I am about to speak." "A Jewess! Ho! ho 1" said Bernardo, "that is a vary different affair." "Ah I how your cheeks flush, and your brow crimsons with pleasure. But, Bernardo, the first discoverer of treasure c~ugh~o be Its lawful possessor." "Arid s~ you shall be. ~oWever, let us have your tale." "Well-4ake it. It is but 'a few days si~ice that I was wandering In one of my dreamy moods near the Ghetto, when I catfie clbe to the entrance of that filthy, but wealthy quarter of the cltj. I should scarcely have ~b~etved it, had not the soldier, whb stood on duty at the gate, presented antis. I looked up' and passed my hand to the brow of say helmet mechanically, but, *. I did so. I chanced to eatch a glance of a group of baatlfal and btaek.eyed ~lrls, who were standings bin the narrow street." "Jewa..sl" "Of coarse. ~1nair S~sblng black eyeq and raven hair might a. Once have settled that ques- tion. No sooner bad I seen thorn than I deter- mined upon entering." "I could have .wqrn It," said Bernardo. "Such a cu4pvs ~i1aee as It 'was. 'fleresehit Dara ~hohIui' Was heard from this window, SOPRANO. while 'Come buy~ come and buy,' was shouted in my ears from the one below it. However, trade had the best of the day-religion only came in second. The houses almost jostled each other across the way-It would have been no great difficulty for them to do so-in their desire to find a purchaser. Around rae, at the shop-windows, hung old clothes, umbrellas, paint- ings, pots, tin pans, and worn out gowns. Have you ever been in Inghilterra "" "Never." "I was going to say that it was a complete 'rug fair,' on a more extensive scale. Well, I passed on among iron ware and tinsel, rugs and dirt of every description, while my ears were half stunned with "What will you buy I Excelleaza! Look here! Excelleuza! This is very cheap! What do you want? Excelleuza!' I could not even pause to notice a pair of beautiful and dark-eyed children who laughed te me from one of the doors, without having a faded coat thrust under my nose by a red-whiskered dealer in frip- pery, who informne4~ that I might have it fot' twelve seudi. Imy head. He instantly dropped one of t'~. and then another; and' had I chosen to bargain with him, I believe I might have had the coat, and a couple of waist- coats, too, for a brace of seudi. It was a wan- dering Puici might have written marvels of, when, all at once, an aged Jew emerged from a doorway, and bowed himself to the ground be- fore tm~e. If I had been the ~1ioly Father, he could not have shown me greater reverence- 'Rxcdllenza I' he uttered; 'thtice noble saviour of tey life, blessed be the hour in which I saw you!' I ~tared at him. Who thcdeu~e washe I And, as he proceeded to pour ibrth a long rig- marole, whiph I did not. half nnde~ttand and ednutot at all remember, I gradually recalled him to spy recollnition." - "Your acquaintance I" asked Bernat-do. "You are right. 'Here Is my hiUnble dwell- ing,' he continued, 'but how can I ask ydu to do me the honor of dtussing its threshold!' lie comme)101d kissing 'my hstndt and ~lress. I wante4to get a~vay, forthe whole poj)nlation of the Glidtt6 seemed t~ havecrs~Wded into the nar- row sts'eet for the express purpose of looking as us. Bitt, just as I was going to release my hands and turn from him, I chanced to~eastmy eyes uponthe hbmtse, on~l-" "Bawa co pie Of bla&sparltlers; taeun hair; red lipa; roty ckscks---" "You are quiteWtong, ~ernaido. Isaw the 9Q~MW~- t fe.ires4 apdmos~ b~~jfiil ~cqd that I~&sv~ ever seen. Ito hi eyes tliaye ~c~r~d4~ very he~ ~ ~ ~ '~es- edilQ ~pom pr~~ng; ~ pie ~to enter, spud, w$~hput ~ stepped ji~to his d~~lipg. ~~pase ~wps dark and narrow, and the ston~ps~ 49b1ed to the~wMen~llery gq~n~l. qsq ~p~l ~9urt, were ~ visibility ~ gression. We at last entered a long and low room. This did not seem so much amiss; but the girl was not there. Then the antique com- modity who was with me poured forth a quantity of gratitude in Eastern similes, which would have charmed a poet. I did not care a quarterpf a paolo fgr them. She will come at last, thought I to myself. Still she came, not. Meanwhile, the old Jew had started an idea, which you, probably,-abominable spendthrift,-would have hailed with rapture. I might occasionally want money, yet have no great superabundance of it. Consequently, I might ~e need to fly to com- passionate souls, who ~nted their love to me at varying percent thirty to fifty: So he told me-it is a miracle, I admit, but you have it fr6m him to whom the offer was made- he would lend me money without taking any per- centage at all." "You accepted it; pulled out your port-fenilie, filled up a blank stamp, and__" "Not at all, caro inio 2" responded Guilio, with a light laugh, "I did not want money." "But I always did, and always do," said Ber- nardo. "Give me the address, my friend, of the benevolent old money-changer." "He is no money.chauger, Beruardo; but let me go on with my story. He next asked me to taste his wine. I scarcely know what reply I made him; but this I do know, that he went into the adjoining room, and returned, accompanied by one of the loveliest maidens I have ever look- ed upon., The light of her beauty filled the gloomy chamber, and almost blinded me. Blur hair was as soft and as fair as the finest and palest, thread spun by the silk worm; her blue eyes swam and flashed like diamonds. But, what are you smacking your lips at?" he in- quired curiously. "At your descdptioniGuilio." "She filled my glass with some splendid tine of Cyprus-'--at least, so it seemed to me, as I 11 tsptedit l~epe~fh, hqr eyes. You s~so,,i44. have heard her speak, when 4e tho~nlted ~ne for my kindness to the old man. It ~id not p~ex~as 'if 1he.wzer~ fr~r Ker. ~er voice *as like a rush of tuarvellous and heavenly m~spc th~ she vanished. The old ~n r~masnea b4.i~s&ta- ble, the flask an&urj~swere still 1sta4~i4;.bnt all around was da~k 1,' "B~vQ~ "jc4d~eunasdo. "You do not k'n~,wt~wrainoe.th~t .ipom~ut, I have torn ;howIlsa~e j~dada thousand schemes, and then again destroyed them, for meeting this daughter of Jerusalem. I 'went two days after to borrow money, which I had never wanted. I took~fifty scudi from old Isaac, for a week, but she was not there. On the third morning I returned to him, with his owns money unchanged. He, Jew-like, not having so entirely relied upon my boasted honesty, smiled, and rubbed his hands with satisfaction. I went into ecstasies with his wine of Cyprus, and he produced me a second bottle; she, however, did not appear; it was he who poured it out for me with his meagre and trembling hand. I peered into every cornet-, but she was not to be seen. At length I was forced to leave him. As I went down the steps, I looked up at the house, and it seemed to me that a curtain, which hung across the window where I had first seen her, moved. A rose dropped at my feet, and I pick. ed it up. 'Adieu, signora,' I exclaimed. All was, however, still; not even a stray curl floated from behind the green silk. And now, Berua- do, I cannot and will not give her up. What am Ito do? Strikeoutabrilliantideafor me. 'Amico ado! Be t~me as the Venus who led Dido and JEneas into the lonely grotto." Beruardo laughed. "What is it that you would have me do ?" he asked. "Anything and everything." ' Pshaw! try and talk common sense." "The Hebrew is a meet beautiful language; a poetical picture-world." "What of it?" "Study it, Berasrdo." "Study iii" "Yes. I have no taste for learning. Take the old Jew for your teacher, and ru pay for the lessons. Old Isaac belongs to the morelearned portion of the Ghetto. When you have won him, you can make the acquaintance ~f his daughter. Then you ean introduce me-" page: 12-13[View Page 12-13] I I, l~' SOPRANO. "I will tell you to-morrow, when I have thought over the matter At present, Guillo, let the mattez~drop. Finish the Lacryma." He lifted the bottle, and filled his own glass. "Smoke out your cigar, ~r order fresh ones; these areburnt out; and then we will go to the Aliberto. The new soprano makes her first alp- pearance to-night." As he said this, Dernardo emptied his glass, leaned back in his chair and yawned; the truth was, his companion had somewhat wearied him. CHAPTER II. T VI#POPULAR 3fANAG~a.-TU~ DiSOTHEiSS. was in the Teatro Aliberto that a great musical event was on that evening to come off, 'This was the dei.ut of a new vocalist. In the North we can have no idea of the sensation pro- yoked by such a chance in the warmer and more ideal South. Italy is the land of song, and it was in Italy that the new singing-bird was to make her appearance. The amateurs of Rome were, consequently, in a fever of anticipation; nothing was talkedof but the approaching event; was it to be a~uccess or a failure? The mana- ger was no gr~at favorite, and it may easily, therefore, be divined which way public opinion tended. This, however, made no difference on the attendance in the Aliberto; the theatre was crammed to repletion. Above the audience, rose the magnificent~ selling, with its hovering muses floating; as it seemed, in an aznre sea, on which the glorious sun appeared reflected in gushes of, golden light; ~he curtain, with ell its tainted 01 ,and the gilt arabesques on the boxes, were then entirely new. In each bf these last, lights were burning, and illuminate the world of loveliness which filled thehi. Della'rorre, with his friend and two other gentlemen, were sitting ina box, hear the stage, upon the second. tier. The overture commenced; and to this the au- dience seemed to listen simply for the pleasure of~ finding' fault wish the musicians. The un- popularity of manager is generally visitedupon the shoulders of the artists who areengaged, by him. "What an atrocious trombone is that," said one. "I think it actue heavenly when I compare it with those viii trumpets," ejaculated another. "You mean the horns; they are, in truth, execrable," said Della Torre. "Nay! they are well enough when you only rank them," muttered Guillo, "with the double bases." "Or the tenors!' "Or the first violins. They are playing false, now!" exclaimed Bernardo, pressing his handt to his ears as he spoke. No one was spared by these critics but the drummer; he was in the regiment of 'Swiss Guards, belonging to the Pope. Guillo Castelli held the rank of captain in the same tegi. ment. At length the overture *as at ~n eid, and the curtain rose. First came the choruswhich ) 12 THE ROMA I "Aftot I am head-over-heels in love with her You are mad, Guilio I" * "To be sure, I am." "I have not the slightest inclination to deal with the dead languages." "I forgot that, entirely." "Besides, I am no scholar." "0, that matters nothing." "And, besides all this, never was, and what is more, never wiN be a student." "What, then, will you do for me 'i" f t 1' 4 page: 14-15[View Page 14-15] I! ri U 14 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. public opinion had long since decided, was mis. erable; then came the baritone, who really was not so good asRonconi. lie was joined by the tenor, who had a beautiful voice, and sung with more than ordinary ability. He used it in the style of Duprey, and chancing to fail that night on the attempt to reach his highest note from his chest, the unfortunate vocalist was hissed. All this was to be laid on the back of the man- ager. Fortunately, it was a sufficiently broad one. Then the scene changed, and the debutante made her appearance. She stood on the stage before her judges-a delicate and graceful crea. tare, infinitely beautiful and intellectual in the character of her physiognomy. Long, fair hair -we had almost grown poetical and said, like woven sunbeams-was braided round her exqui- site and gracefully-shapen brow. Her eye was full of intense and rapt expression; her whole face was such as Delaroche might have dreamed of for one of his Madonnas. A loud outbreak of stormy applause was suddenly heard; ~it wa~ to beauty, and beauty only, that the homage~wa. tendered, for as yet she had not sung a note. A crimson flush bathed her cheek and brow, and colored her whole neck and bosom, as ulieliei& before that expression of popular admiration; thanwith a timidbut:beantifiuLat~ces~t~w&ton, ghe~so~&m~aced herrecitatine. the firotrew asomauts aftes4harap7pmir' ~aeeOullle had been ~tastag ~atAier ~s flswdl~ ant his whole teal were'absorb.d in the ~eoa~ temptation of her singular loveliness. Then, 55 the .flrst fiecetits 'of her ~elee~ oe"mi his ears, the spell which und him seemed to break, and eturandr de~diointeh&l1iis Manaeagerlyby~thehh er~ "Beruardo 1" '~Well, what the'denne Is the matterr4~~mut. tared Della Torre, h~tiently, as heieleu~s6ft his s1ionlde~. from Castdli's1nipi~kent~dutch. 4 "~nnOt y~~u allaw ma to listen to't1ds~nW* nisrhtlngale"' ,tsit~ople is mine, Della~To~re," an- swered (~4~11i. "Yours I,' " She, ~j.m I told .yoa oU' ~sIi~ i~euinot~ be "'i- Thu;'vury ~oi05i$ hers, too; how well I remember it; and 1*,,&t *amst~b. disposable. ~ke'aur.1y ~uno#he~the saste~" Here an impatient murmur rose from the par- quette, which compelled him to silence. Then her voice, which had been slowly gathering cour- age through the recitative, burst into song, and poured forth in a gush of melody, all of that wondrous and pure emotion which, borne upon the wings of sound, escapes from the ~hunian breast. It was a burning passion which found' utterance from her lips, and rose towards the ceiling of the theatre as if to invoke di. muses, whose painted eyes were turned upon the stage. Then the last long and lingering note fell upon the tura of the audience, and, as it did so, through the whole of the house rang an universal ex- clamation; her triumph was complete. It will be unnecessary to follow 'her through die rest of that evening; suffice it to say, that her duet with the tenor was declared by the Diario de Rome, which was published two days after, to be "absolutely perfect and incompar- able;" and that when the curtain fell, she bad ~l$e~re4 a triumph, and stamped her image upon tlni peatinnate and impressible heart of the Ro- man public. ~ '1.Aww.! Aunti Wbellal I3ellissima Anna! Anna! Anna incomparable 1,' were the cries that rang for some minutes through the Aliberto. ~Fhen 4the curtain arose, and she stoodon the st~sge, crimson with 'exdtement, and ben4ir~g With ~timidity. FloWers rained upon her; she preasedher hands upon her bosom, and tbenjthe utirtain fell. It must rise again. "Anna! Arms is bella I" again Was roared ~y its dious&tid tuouths ~through the wholee of 'the ~vast pt4pon. ~A.gain the appeared, and this *is5ke *iti~ the tenor who1radbetu~hissed, '1~he ati~uencehow- SVtr, were coiwuls~d with en4ussrtsm Yet, egain and~again~ they thouted lbrlitr isiuds~hen ~ke f~r the Itat thue~ appearedd, 'th~ stage was 'litetally salt~ might seetti, haa~ted With ~ floral nltgr, 'whxehhnd been reared to the enchantress 1W the mght. Wearied qut~diefr lwtpsms yes at ls~gt~ 5,!lo~it5(~: ~ ofl~ger, and 4n141 .~r~g~ii-fOr ~rep~me ot'dwtr~li- ~n& voc~Iiatv~-was~low~ a~r~7 . 4~r~ss. ~Q# yet,4s~ y ~ th~ ,ov~ ~ ~ ~bui1djag to ~ oy,~4~rhic~ ~ wa~wa~tr~ "Tak. out' the horses!" screeched a rough 15 voice from the e~o*d, arid; inunother tiints score 'or't*o of esielted ~ung~nhtid'~iroWd~d around them, dst&mined ~, :~g~ h~rise. It was in vain that'the v~tti4rino remonstrated. ~I~he-h6rses were almost 'instaittly removed, and us ~uey were sp, "In hella Anna" emerged from the d&or-of the theafu~e. 'the ~au~sed'aim~it in aifright, as Della Torre sprang lluinig'h die ctSwil,~nd addttssedlj~r. "~e'lltu signora," he said 'to 'ber, "be not frighteiied by'die hbmage.ivhich is offered you. These miWaps only ~uhenn to 'do you 'honor.' Be pleased to accept thOir tribute 6f '~.dthira- tion." He took her by the band, and led heruaresist- ingly towards die carriage. Still trembling, she entered it. Della Torre mounted on Its steps in order to re-assure her, and to have die pleasure of still gazing into her matchless eyes, for the moon was at its full, and flooded the street~ with a whiter light than that of day. ~Then the maddened crowd of her admirers dragged the carriage, its driver, "la b~lla~ Anna," and Ber- nardo, to her home. Guiio gazed after her, and. fbllo~tsd: amongst the crowd. lie saw his friend haudhtr from the carriage Into the house ~whsre Itliud stopped, 'the door closed upon them. Thea theniob gradually're~eded from it, leaving ~ha uaf~rt~ nate attendant to disanosintand returrr*toflnd his horses. What did they care for the driver S 'Ooe~ hoWever, stilt lingered. 'I't'nsedwcmiesly beadid tkat'this was (Sisilie ~'an nndelnabterjoal; ,ua~ Wee bussing ~ithln, him~ HsfrIezid~ye, it was his ri~Ard"wtko had sistered with her. Probably, they were eVen thou in couverastiba; on that'Yer~r morsent~he'migIntbe pouring'fdrth hisleve to~'tser. 'As'theseiheughta'~erossed his ml~nd,'ilied~or~ iscond rime 4ened~End~)elia TOs4~canded:the'stepaof the h4iuse. Gulllio "~Whhr;are~tiu~tiere"" ~uiIdW4'niniid;in'he tOok the y~iuu'n'ahn,~il~h6ui' pa4*~h~&ithi~h~i!eCfrMste. ~'~ss. 1~s1f isis t~At '~6~u~~iow ~ my lovel~y ~it ot3uda~sm." Della"Thrre. "In th4'fi#i~'phiz~e; site turirot be a Jewess. Had you only oI~~1ai~ini5' as closely 551 have doui~'*tdhe4etb4~en 14 a 14 'ebiMfteed that bets 'is Oot Jewish bloed~ 11cr featuresdrelhr tQo prrelyltaliiui; her ll~tIhair anidhlsre eyes haVe not the slightest tries in them of that unhappy race; her speech and accent, 'tOO-" "rherryoir have talked Wlth:her~ Bsnwdo9' "Of ~buirie." - "~Aud 1ff 'What"' nsktmd Guilie. "'~tVliy, of'wh'at should I talk, 1~it other sue- dens, .'a~~d her uinexauipled brtlliahey; her su- ;pei~b'taisnfa; the enthusiasm of theatidlence, as heelt 'as ray own." "I said thAt X should not so far presume on the slight service which I had rendered her, as to imagine that I had become an acquaintance, until I could legitimatize my knowledge of her by a more ~ibrreal introduction." "And then-" "Why then! inquisitor mio, I made ray b~w, sad with it took my departure." "You tdmlre her !" '~Would it be possible not to do 'sO"" ~' Bernardo," said the young Roman, in' 'a sharp an4 hurried manner, "whether 'Is bells Brigni be a Jewess or not, she is the same girl X" saw at old Isaac's, in the Ghetto., I lOve. ler, and love her with tuy whole heart. it~'fsmiot, and cannot be, may friend, ~ re, who intends now to stand betweOn 'we. and her." "' You are dreaming, verysure~y," rep1i&~ the Genoese, as they reaeh'e~l the "$isce, in Whose dismubitied glorie~ lodgings weredien siruat- ' ed, and he turned~uptly beneath its broad and irin'tbte ghteway~ Adieu, ~ariashhb I" Castelli saw him enter, and with a convulsive aetion'of'rnge, clenched his hands as he'dld'so. He then turned away, muttering to himself, 4tAnd such i~ftIemtdlhl~5!" '~ ' Wrapped in his own a~~r'tholsghtsIr'estrode ulongto hiu~uarcera iii "tb~"Wtiean; f6~iuilio (~Arid1li'Waeia'oftlcer in4h~P~palrGuar~1. An Illegitimate son of the PA1mc~Roaghebe, he had becir attendnd'by a'singulai~luek~omk hltamsllrauce Iiit~,4ife Jf~ *as d'nOW4Srie bybiSprinee~ ljpnt,~'t1ntWsa"a1sbths ehetitlied and boSom friedd 1~f his actual ~bi-6t1sdr,'the 'yoiitt~Er&i~- ghese. The primsceai;'ii heed, regarded hbw*lth scant favor; but this was nothing, or contstedfor nothing In 'the 'seals. His dither hed~ pushed page: 16-17[View Page 16-17] THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 17 T SOPRANO. * 16 THE ROMA him, at an early age, into the Swiss Guards of the Pope, where he now hdld the rankof captain, and hiobrother had taken him by the hand and introduced him into fashionable life. From the first, he had an ample allowance. What was wanting was made up at rare intervals-for Cas- tern was no spendthrift according to the com- mon acceptation of the term-by a word or, two from the second to the banker, Torlogna Con- sequently, his purse was never empty; while, singularly enough, the spot upon his birth in no wayinterfered with his standing in society. Sup- ported by his family connections, that man must have been very sure of his own position, who would have ventured either to breathe a slur up- on his character, or on account of his birth, t6 put a-slight upon the young officer. As he opened the door of his chamber, a young man, who was slight in person, and attired in the extreme of fashion, looked up from the chair on which he was sitting, and said: "So you're here at last, Guilio i have wait- ed for you for the last hour. Where have you been "' "My good Federigo," uttered the young offi- Ca', as he bent forward and kissed the brow of his -brother, for it was the Borghese who had been waiting (~r him, "why did you not tell me that youwlshedtoseeme4 You knowmetoo well to dei~bt~ that I should have hastened home- wards." - "How coulill have told you what, some four hours earlier I did not know myself. I have this evening been to the era, Guilio, and am- "Say it not! Borghese; thrice miserable shall I find myself to have lost not only a friend, but to lote my brother on the score of my unhap- py passion." Federigo Borghese stared upon Guilio as if he could not comprehend him. "What is the matter, my poor boy V' he said, as he lifted his hand and swept back the cluster- ing curls from his brother's bro~w. "I come here simply to tell you that I had determined upon bestowing my tediousness upon you for the rest of the evening, when you declare that you are 'thrice miserable,' ai4 end by talking of 'your unhappy passion.' What does it all mean, Gullio1" - The young man bent his brow upon his out. "One of us. What the deuce, Guilio, if your mother was nobody, a Borghese was beyond any question your father. Look in the mirror; if the relation be not apparent, tell me that I am a fool, and forswear my friendship !" As he aaid this he had caught Guiio round the waist, and dragged him in front of a large glass which was set into the walls of the apart- ment. The light of a lamp which hung from the ceiling fell upon theni. As the two broth- ers gazed upon their reflection upon its polished surface, a mutual and passionate feeling of broth- erhood rushed over them; the same chestnut hair swept in long and glossycurls around the brow of either.; the same faint and silken mous- S tache curled around their upper lips; the same dark, full and glowing eyes flashed from either forehead. Almost alike in stature,-Borghese was somewhat taller,-youth and beauty, they gazed upon the mirror. Then they turned t9 each other; the prince opened his arms, and Guile rushed into them. "Is it agreed, my brother ~" "Yes, my own Federigo! But Torlogna-" "What of him I" "Does he know bet I" "If not, I will give him twenty-four hours to make her acquaintance. Never fear. His new title wants to be accredited; he will do any- thing I ask him." 1- spread hands; flunghimself on a chairbeside his brother, and burst juto a passionate fit of tears. "Child 1', continued Federigo, as he drew away one of Castelli's hands, "this is foolish. Tears belong to woman; they are her only weapon4, But when a soldier weeps, pshaw! Were ~ou not my brother, I would tell you that you must be a coward 1,' "A coward !" answeWd Guilio, raising his eyes, flashing with a sos~brejight through the tears that still stood in them. "No! Pederigo, you know that I am no coward. But, Federigo, for the first timein my life-" "Which l~s scarcely been so very long an ex-~ istence; has it ~" "I am in love." "Good !-we U.ti~twjinAe er. I have bees~f0iir'o~g*. -' I-no. I never reniember wei4 -~ endured 'in belle passion.' With wh~ Guillo 2" The question was sufficient to loosen the llp~ of the young C~astelli, and l~e poured forth the whole of his brief love-dream into the ears ef his brother. "And is this alP!" "Yes, all!" "Well, Guillo, your habit of painting every chance with the palette of a ~embrandt, has misled you. I do not love Deil~ Torre, and have always regretted that you should have made him so' constantly your companion; but how you could have dreamed that his chance ac- quaintanceship with the -Brigni argued a passion for her appears incomprehensible to me. Love in modem timus is not the passion engendered - by a moment, which poets and-" "Mine was, Federigo." The prince felt l~e was wrong. However, he did not own this, but entered upon a learned examination of the nature of love which, we wilf not inflict upon our readers, begging them to remember that th~ noble lecturerwas barely twenty'two years of age, and this, the more es- p~ially, as the termination of it was the euly portion to which Guilio listened with interest. "Wait until the morning, my boy. Torlo~n~s shall introduce both of us, and we sb~all soonsee whether the sigitora does not prefer thaadmira. ton of the best blood in B~me to that of ied. montese money-bag" "But I, prince, am-" page: 18-19[View Page 18-19] Tim banker, Torlogna, had done all that the young Borghese had required of him; he had presented the two young men to the enchantress who had crazed all musical Rome, to the intense disgustof that portion of it which was immersed in the politics of the papacy, and who kindly consigned her and he~ adorers to the lowest pit of purgatory, as the slightest possible reparation for her popultirity and their madness. If a group chanced to be standing before the Laocoon, they were not lost in admiration of that marvellous piece of sculp~ie-they were talking of the new soprano; if you wandered in the Coliseum at midnight, and stumuiled over two friends, they were speaking of "labellaBrigni." Did you stand in the nave of St. reter's during the hours of morning muss, you might count upon hearing her name ten times in a minute, at the very least, from those who passed near you. What wonder was it, that one of the most pious of all the cardinals..-.member, though he ~ of the Borghese famuly,-expresaed his a~tonish. zuent that the cupola did not fall, and extinguish, for the moment, her name and their admiration! If the Brigni drove out, her carriage was sur- rounded and followed by the whole of equestrian So~ae. The young Colonnas would be on one side; Borghese and his brother-when the latter was not on duty-would be upon the other Della Torre, and scores of the fashionable idlers in the capital of modem Italy, would swell out the cavalcade. If she went to purchase half a yard of cambric, her cortege would give you the idea of a regal procession. When she passed her handkerchief over her brow, the beggar who stood in the Piazza del Popolo murmured a bless- ing. Once she threw a paolo to a poor cripple, and the gold and silver that rained upon him from the hands of her admirers, made him a wealthy man. Amongst them, however, were two who had the envy of all the rest of young Rome; indeed, we might have said three, for there were few who had the chance of seeing the distinction which she drew between the Borghese, with his brother, and Bernardo Della Tone. To the three, she was always "at home ;" but within her apartments, a very clear and tangible dis- tinction existed. From the first moment that she knew Guilio, she had liked him; and when he was presented to her by Torlogna, she told him, with a winning rankness, that there was no necessity for his pro. curing an introduction, and that she should have been glad to have welcomedhila as one towbom she had been personally indebted. As yet, how- ever, he had never been alone with her, and had not found an opportunity to solve what was still I. 1O a rfddIe~ to Mm-Iter~cOnnet~tion wlt!t the Je*~ hltjad~~~g~ i~Igcl* ~sfr~d~with IAhab. With thO y~u jwlu~e, site ~Y~t~tfe~t1y rich lace, beOmn~her edki1r~b1y~ M she~ an. frauk ~nd open; she treated bhI~ nlsoas friend, tek~d the sahyter; the oId~?khce ~6r~se dahe- *IiIte DellA! 1~ftte *~a nO Iko akafi~cquain- ted hir, and led her forward t~ presenthe56 tance. the ~frmncess~ P6d~rigo jsI~Ou& a ehafr i~Wier, *~b s~one~ he~f(~tilhid seen 'Andfelt this; than and bn vet~her, Iaughto~ and sinflInga5~ S1i~ he at onlol aive'andf6rgot thet*hivhhA-ljkd laid passed Ill~~wlthe*zt Oran nonieln~wke~ f~ciell. Tlicfd~iid~hip of thety~ang 1k broken he aided. V&Ier1~c~ beckoned to him; but he ~th' aiich-farikty dfad~reiwaitkd~wIth etreh as~e~ tt~rued~ a liy aWay teid, as he did so, felt a that it woigd seeni in the majarlt~' 6iaidn~es sll~hi e~Mrteon1iit arm. Re looked uj~. tO~b6~tO~j:ivihe~, a*& a coastal one, than "~ealous.pafe I"' whispered Della Torre, that abiding association which is shape in ma- "only see how it is. When I had a first inter- tlitOtyears. ke ~hfr us Itniky the 4'Owxice view with her, yon woitid have cut my throat if more friends; they waimd their Ie'UIK'ti ~ach ~'h~dgiven you a fair chance t Sh~ snijies QU other, aM spore tfiklly' of' their ~-a~ ~ed~r~go B~rrghese, and you-" his tionitll~ ittah he calI~d, and ~S'S~tt~ '~ 0, ofcourse, Iknoit~you wQuld not think of era! o2risldOred, hiafrfeiid; ~org~Ase~h&dseeti ~ttidg his thr~at~-~he throat of your fhther'a thiitiMAmacy re.uni~e, aid had toetitteinid~it to ~ ~ Ce~tainlj~ n~t, zniocs~o. )lut-" Guilio a few days a4br~tlidy- hadbtie~ ~rA~entod 6ii~je~ts are not to my taste, Signor Pellit to the Signora Bhgiu, glike ii~ 'Thrrei" sai4 Castella sharply; ahid turkiieg proach~and Guilio had evad~d ~ reply; 53? dtU' away he crossetthe saloon. sug thhlastfcwdaiysautrangelelillg bed crept Della Torre follewtd him, and they emerged It s~Otftdkt to GhlIi6 that tlit~ tlfirv'ocalist had uponthe bettei~.y, which overlooked the prinvipa1l ~ by' his tnither ~ court. Castelli l~aned over the railing turned his his hei!talent a beauty With'tdo ~rt~ihpt~ ieAdi~ bead from companx9n~, 3tetB. ~6hisj6a1otisaye-forwheu *as the'eye '~WhicIi were I*st~" muttere4 ~emaA* t@ Vo~htsthai, than a jealbu~ ou~-1t a~re~l hitasoli~ :" Aq rican e*~ily he madq. ~t that the Borghedo subtilitted ~ ~ lie! )3oi~hxese would boa m4stdangerous rival." he? ItiThtetihe. lib is~ould have repelled ~ An&~aathernurmure headed awaylwlamwd tIioti~he; biz~ukert hikuseif as he niig'ht lt's~orrld beside Castelli. rOtlirti npMi him. o~ "Dear Quilic I" he said, as he threw hi. asm had itikpOlltld him to t~uest1on Fed~rigi~; unfbr- around the nec~of the yopng ~iaa~ "listew to' tUinitely, heha4 rucolledtronid6hr~ ~. ~ When X ~rst saw thia wQsnasr, I fauciad A week had nowpaesed; aM tIar&i~rvl'hltd ~ ~ ~ lter~' I 4~sgeis ~ ash so deArly dutAblished her poAition~ tliat~the'ir~an- ~ were right In feel~g#ngq w~tlzme, for op tioA~ 6~the i~tenain~ndhility W~re afr~y ~ thAfirStimpuase ~ W*~ *traitor~o you." A grand soiree had been given at the Borgheae "But witat wdrdzny sins agaizkst you,1n~porn~ luce OtAaixds~ covered witit pitch, burned ilAtlsOn wittily tht~in of year 'oi~a brAther? Of before the manalun; the terri~, *iti~~ badb~ eotsrsej he uies yer~r sessioni for.he~,.a1t&ougk ukbef6ne ritA Aai*lakes of th~ gisosta, were ~OU, in all pioliallility, have toM him Iethibg." *tt~cIt Into Ikoti heAAk~ets against the wail,~Isieh "I h~fve~D6UaT6~." ae~e& ~eted With %ne huge eA.*adkoffl~ A ftetceaxpression of 'tl~inntph ~hahed ftem A' ~a~e ~o~er~ taadpa~ti. ~hd eyeA of the'1?iedmnetitese~ dolul~A I~III~A. 11 flfd eArners of ~he~iaedhs~ "He knows it all." pbotA~, oii~the ~an& tafrease, ~Wot1 ordtij~ "Theh he is.-.-l)Ut, lietwen forgive me, I trek betiding under the lastyear'sftulti~eh mtibt not say everything. Re~ is your ~*a stood yellow and thickly upon them. brother, ny own Guilio !-he is the son of your The Brigril was on this occasion splendidly father." beautiful. Her hair was plainly dressed, bu~ its The young man remained silent. silken tresses were, in the eyes of the young, "You must endeavor to forget her." fairer than the most costly tiara of diamonds; "I cannot." ii * CHAPTER 111. THE BRIONI AiB THE BROOAR. I page: 20-21[View Page 20-21] 20 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "Nay, Guilio, but 1you must! Think how greatly you have been Indolited to the kindness of the Borgh.ese family; to the old prince you owe~verything; your very birth is .-" ~' One of his kindne~ses," broke out Castelli. "Yes, truly owehim all; you'areright; yes, you are right," and with a violent oath, he re- leased himself from the arm of Dernardo, strode along the battery, and entered the saloon at its further end., As he did so, he did not hear the mocking laugh which rang from the lips of his late companion. At the request of' the princess, the Brigni was about to sing and the whole of the company in those vast saloons were silent in expectation. A skilful musician was seated at'the piano. Beside him stood the soprano, and at no great distance from her stood the young Borghese. In his present temper, it appeared to Guilio, that the whole expression of his~face breathed and spoke of love. The musician touched tire keys and played a brief jrelnde, after wl4~k her matchle.ss voice broke into song. A change came over the wayward spirit of the listener. As Guilio listened to her, the suspicion which had pre- viously agitated him, melted from his seul. He remembered every word of kindness she had breathed tohiui; he retraced the brotherly love which had bound him to one whom he had so lately faticied his rival; he denounced himself for those s4splcions which wereawept away and obliterated in the rush of that wondrous voice; he had already drawn nearer to her. Then he thought of the first time he' had ever seen her, and called 'to mind the ~pressure of those tAper fingers when he had first visited her under the wing of Terlogita. Still he drew nearer; all his jealousy had passed away; he was again the willing slave of 'her beauty and her song. Longere she bad concluded, he had beat his 'way, silently and almost timidly, towards her, and found himself standing side by side with his brother. Federigo nodded to him, and smiled as (*uilio took his hand and pressed ii ,-4ha one was listening to her with the ear of a 'musician, the other heard her through the soui of a lover. As she concluded the aria which she had beer singing, thers was a general and rQtureru murmur of applause.. The Princess Borghese rose, leaned forward, pnd pressed her lips to the cheek of the Brigni. "What would I not give," said the Banker Torlogna, "to purchase such a kiss I" "They may not be bought, old money. broke" murmured~, Federigo, in his ear. She had dropped her handkerchief. Gu.flio stooped, picked it up,, and stepping forward, presented it to her. As she saw him, a slight flush colored her cheek. "I thank you, signor; I faneied~my friend had deserted me, for I had not' seen you." There was such an indescribable accent of kindliness in her voice~ something which chid hizu so aweetlyand unconsciously for his suspi- cions, that Guilio colored beneath her glance. "Signora," he replied' "I have been present since you first entered the saloon." A slight laugh caught'his ear; he felt that it was the laugh of Della Torre. "And what excuse can he offer me, prince I" she said, turning to the younger Borghese, "for putting upon me so gross a neglect as this ~" ," None," answered Pederigo, gazing upon Castelli, "unless it were that possibly he feared to intrude upon the time which was so pleasant. ly occupied in listening to the praL~ea and receiving the flatteries of others." An hour afterwards, Guillo accompanied the Brigni to her carriage. After handing her in with the elderly lady, whose chaperonage pro- tected her from malevolent rumors in the almost universal laxity of Italian manners, she bent forward'tohinl and said: "Were it not for the reproaches I should incur for dragging you away from your friends, I might perhaps have asked you to accompany us." Scarcely had the words quitted her lips, than the lover bounded into the carriage. "Signora, I accept your invitation eve you have well breathed it ;" and,,in the next instant, the carriage was pullingg out of the 9ourt-yard of the Borghese place, while he was sitting in it, gazing upon those beautiful eyes which beamed upon him from, the darkness that almost imine- I diately surrounded them. CHAPTER IV. JEWISH CHAniry AED CIIIIISTIAN LOVE. k A DELICIOUS little supper was that which awaited Castelli-for he found himself almost alone, for the first time, in the society of her whom he adored, as the old lady, true to her functions as a chaperone "of necessity," ate and drank, and scarcely uttered a single word. A hundred questions which he longed to put to the musical syren flashed across his mind; but he was alike unable to muster the courage either for framing or uttering them. "Were Della Torre or Federigoin my place,"hethought, "how soon would the queries be put to her which are hovering on my tongue. Why is it that I cannot sneak"' Then he would make up his mind to do so; but ~ro sooner did he look up and meet her eyes, than the words which he had just framed seemed to die upon his tongue. At length the supper was terminated, and Anna laid her hand gently upon his arm; the touch thrilled through him. "You wish to ask mc something," she said. "Why is it that you will not do so I" "It is my doubt, signora, in how far your kind- ness may pardon the impertinence of my quarry, that prevents my giving it an utterance." "If so, you must let me tell you what you 2 r 20 wish to know, ~without exposing you to the chance of a reproof." Castelli thanked her with his eyes. "Your glances have so often questioned me, that I feel I shall not be comfortable until you know the whole of my little history. You have imagined that I was a Jewess I" The young Roman bowed in assent. "It is not so; although I am indebted to a Jew for that kindness which but few Christians would have shown to an unfriended child. My father was a scholar, and dwelt in Bologna, where he occupied the chair of modern languages in the university, The Rabbi Isaac is also a singular master of the modern tongues. Chance made them acquainted. As you perhaps may know, the learned have not those prejudices which are so common in the rest of Italy-reli. gious prejudices. Their acquaintance ripened into esteem; that esteem alternately became a warm friendship. My father died while I was no more than a mere child. He had not shown that care over his worldly affairs which he had expended upon the duties of his position. The world knew nothing of the existence of my moth- er and myself-how or why should it' trouble about us ~" page: 22-23[View Page 22-23] 22 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "And had you no relatives 2-none whom purely personal considerations might have forced to assist you ~ "0, yes; my parent wrote to her only brother, who was a married man; he sent her ten scudi." "The abominable wretch!" ejaculated Guilio. "But these ten scudi were accompanied by an admirable letter of advice; that is to say, it would have been admirable could she but have followed it. She wept bitterly. I saw her weep, and cried with her; then I jumped up and clapped my hands together. My mother dried her eyes, and looked at me. "'Why do you not write to the man with the black eyes and long beard, who came so often to see my father'!"' I asked, impulsively. "She knew whom I meant, thought a little, and then did so. Five days after, Isaac arrived in Bologna, lie sold off all the furniture, and ls~ought us back with him to Rome. We now lived in the Ghetto. It was four years after this. that my mother died. After my tears had begun of thems4lies to dry-for I was still ,scarcely more than a child,-Isaae spoke with me. He told me that he considered me as his daughter, bitt that he was far from being wealthy. Learn- ing can rarely gather wealth. Moreover, I was a Christian, and he gave me to understand that I must not marry a Jew~" "The excellent old man I" "It would consequently be necessary for me to do something to ensure my future. I then had a beautiful voice, whatever 'it may now be, and it was his advice that I should cultivate it. But he did more than to advise this. He placed me under the care of a Christian lady,-she is now sitting beside us,-~nd sent me for the fol- lowing three years to Florence to study, under the tuition of Ronconi. Twice a year be came to see me, for the purpose of settling our ex- penses, and the result is as you have seen. Is he not a noble man2" "One of God's own making," was the impet~ uonsan4 very un-Italian.likn.answer ~f Castelli. While she had continued speaking, he had'lia- tened %o her with a strange- feelii~ of deligiit. Qac bar in their union, which he. had hitherto believed irremovable, gradually 4ias~lved be- twe~n them; and as she finished, he felt that thog already stood nearer to each other. She w~ppf the same creed.as hin~self, a44 adQred in the same temples, which were open for his own worship. An irrepressible gladness enfolded his soul; lie would then have opened his heart to her, and had he doneso, how great a sorrow would have been saved to them both. But, bolt upright at his left hand, sat the Christian dame, to whose supervision 'Isaac had entrusted her, and the chill of her presence was upon both of them, although Anna was as yet unconscious of it, for she was as yet in heart no more than a child-we, of course, mean an Italian child. Castelli's mouth was consequently closed. His eyes, however, fell upon her, and there was a b~rning light in them which could not be mistahett, and her's sank before them. He felt that in that look he had told her all his love, an4 that she had listened to him. What a pity It was that he could not conquer his liver-like shame-facedness, and tell her. all that was then struggling within him. Happiness generally comes ~o an end more rapidly thiin sorrow. The old lady passed.iter hand up 'to vermouth; it was unmistakable; she was wearied with him. Yawning over theirlove, she was pining for her bed. Guihio was young, and obeyed the hint which she had given him. As he took the band of Anna Brigni, and pressed his lips upon it, he felt that his love had mastered his whole soul. The door of the house opened, and he went forth. As be stood upon the steps leading into the street, the moonlight, which 'had just risen and fell across the tops of the houses, caught upon a crumpled lot of white paper which was. lying before him. Without knowing why he did so, he picked it up, and bounded down the steps. This night he was off, duty at'the Vaticau~ and had arranged to sleep in hi~ old chamber at the Borghese palaces As he passed th*nsgh the arch~ws.y leading into the interior, the last carriages of the guests werede- parting, and he mounted the broad staircase to inquire for Federigo. He was not to be found; but theold prince told him that he had:quitted the saloon , some half hour since, in company with the.younger of the Colonnas, and Bernardo DellaTorre. Re then looked atGuilio witl~an inquiring glance. "But, my boy, what's it that has chan~eed to you? Your cheelcs are flushed with pleasure, and your eyes seem to be dancing with some su- preme joy." "Prince, it isuothing," answered GUi1IO Cas- telli, s~ he colore~l deeply beneath his parent's THE ROMA scrutinizing look. "It is only the excitement of the evening which makes it appear so." Even as he replied to the old man, his eyes fell for a moment-it was no moz~-.upon the crump- led piece of paper which he still held in his hand. It was a lette d as he caught the address, a strange exp of rage flashed over his coun- e bed recognized both the hand- writing and the name, which had been inscribed upon it. Controlling himself bya violent effort, he turned once more to the Bor~heee, an4ln a troubled voice implored his 4~stpg. I~wss x 4 l~1 SOPRA~W. 28 given him; but the prince gazed on hi~ agitated features with astonishment. A passionate and deep earnestness bad spokert in the boy's accents which filled him with so~thingapproachJng to fear. Ere, however, he had resolved upon ques- tioning him, Guillo had pressed his lips upon the hand of the old nobleman. Immediately after, he had quitted the saloon, and taking a light from one of the domestics, ascended the staircase leading to his chamber. For same moments, the prince gazed after him, lost in~thought, and then retired to his own apartment. 4 "~1 I 17 page: 24-25[View Page 24-25] FT B k IT THE ROMAI 4 '4. 4 CHAPTER V. I ~ n those wondrous sunsets which c~lor the skies of evening above the waters of the blue .~gean. "And so I thought it best to leave hire to him- self. When he has recovered from his present moodiness, signora, you may certainly count upon seeing him." The Easter sunday had at length arrived, and Anna had consented to accompany the Bankers Torlogna to the cathedral of St.'Peter's, to see the Pope bless the people. The young Borghese had been invited to make a third in Torlogna's carriage, and had readily agreed to do so. The sable curtains which for five long weeks had covered the pictures in every chapel an4 church which seem to dot Rome, had now fallen, and throughout the city, its Easter gladness. Jiad awakened. The bells were ringing; cardinals and ambassadors rolled abroad in their pompous equipa~es; the carriages of the nobility and wealthy foreigners, surrounded by the intermin- able crowd of promenaders, filled the long and narrow streets. From the castle of St. Angelo, waved that great flag which bears upon its folds the painted image of the Madonna and the papal arms; music was playing in the Square of St. Peter's; the fountains dashed their gigantic col- umns of spray upwards to the heavens; on the benches, beneath the colonnade, crowds of per- sons were already sitting; and then from the portals of St. Peter's, issue~l as huge a throng. A sea of human beings filled the whole of that vast space, heaving and swaying to and fro. Peasants and boys climbed the pedestals of the statues, in order to behold the Pope when he is- sued from the church. At length he was borne from its portals, sitting in a magnificent chair, supportedd by six stalwort priests, who were arrayed in robes of black silk, and the two younger priests, who preceded them, waved fans of colossal peacocks' tails on ashen staves, ornamented with silver. Vessels of in- cense swung before him; cardinals and bishops surrounded him, and the Swiss Guards filed after them, c~losing the procession. "H~e is very pale," said the Brigni, whose lorg- non was bent-so it seemed, at least, to Torlogna -upon the Pope. The Borghese caught her meaning more rap- idly, for his glass soon discovered Guilio, and enabled him to peruse the features of his brother. "Well," said the banker, "itis natural enough; the old man-I mean his Holiness-must be very weary." Neither of them replied to him. SOPRANO. 25 Scarcely had the ps~ieossion, emerged from the doors of the church, than the choirs, stationed around it, received it 'with a butst of triumph. The Pope was horrt~ u~ tha hiftysteps which lead to the gallery in front of the cathedral. Here he advanced, encircled by the cardinals, and all present dropped upon their knees. Women and children, priests and peasants, the soldiers, the nobles, and the populace bent before him; only the Protestant stranger, whom curiosity had drawn there, stood erect; and there in the midst of the universal silence which had fallen upon that vast multitude, the aged priest spread out his hands and blessed them. Then two papers fluttered down from the balcony; one contained a forgiveness of sins to the faithful, and the other was a written curse upon the enemies of the Church; the populace who were immediately be- neath the gallery, contended for the smallest scrap of them. Once more the hells of all the churches rang, and the crowd had risen from their knees. Mu- sic mingled itself in the general joy; the Pope retired from the gallery, and all was over. As they drove back with Torlogna,-for they were to pass the day at the banker's mansion, -the ~rigiil and Federigo were both silent; the pale face and wan cheeks of Guilio seemed to / chase every gentler and happier thought from them. For the first time they wished to be alone, together, and Dorghese reproached him.- self for not having insisted upon Castelli's visit- ing the signora. She had wondered at his ab- sence, and still more did she marvel at the change which had come over him. Scarcelyinore than a week since, she had seen the color of youth and health on his cheeks; now this was blotted out, and he seemed whitened with suffer- ing. His brow had been knit; not a muscle of his face had played with the emotions ~of joy and love which had formerly made it a picture she could not tire of gazing on. When he had kneeled to receive the papal blessing, the action was rather that of a machine, representing life, than a human being. The day gradually wore through. 2~he dinner was unexceptionable; the wine excellent, and the company well chosen. This of course had its effect, and scarcely was it more than half over, era the Eorghese recovered his spirits. He laughed and jested with the Brigni, and partially succeeded in dispelling her uneasiness. Once she found en opportunity of questioning him, and instantly seized upon it. As he listened to U LovE's QUESTION. DAY after day rolled gradually along. It was Frenchman, her incipient likingfor Castelli, while now the week before Easter Sunday. Anna with a native Italian subtlety, he had at once re- Brigni had seen no more of the young Castelli solved upon the means of weaning Guilio from since the evening upon. which he had attended her society. her home from the Borghese palace, and he had The week previous to Easter bad necessarily -for so it would seem-abjured the circle of closed the Aliberto. She was consequently at her fascination. Della Torre, however, was al. liberty, and had been very desirous of seeing most constantly with her, and so was the young Castelli. Once, indeed, she had hinted as much Borghese. Indeed, so continually was the first to Federigo, and he had told her that he was of these to be met with in attendance upon her, totally unable to account for the evil spirit which that he had acquired the soubriquet of "her shad- would have seemed to have obtained possession ow." It was certain that he did not model his of his brother. On the morning after the party, bearing exactly upon the tranquil and silent char- which has been mentioned, had been given at the acter of a shadow. His conversation was to the Borghese palace, he had repaired to his quarters face as lively and amusing as it had ever been, in the Vatican, and had totally excluded all his although there were times when the Brigni de- former friends. Only once had Federigo been tested a covert meaning in his attentions which able to gain adffiissiosi. He had then endeavored she was far from encouraging. With the Bor- to bring him to her, but had been coldly answered ghese it was different. She felt at ease with the that he had no desire for any society. young prince; he enjoyed her society, it was "In fact," continued the Borghese~ "the un- tru~e, for he had liked her from the first moment fortunate boy must be in love." in which Torlogima had introduced him and "In love 3" murmured Anna, and it was in a Guillo to her. This liking was not, however, the love which was preying upon his brother's subdued and inquiring voice that she did so. heart; neither was it that more silent desire for "' Yes," replied Federigo, "in love," And as her love which had mastered Delia Torre, al- he repeated this, he cast a curious and penetrat- though it was most carefully concealed-for no ing eye upon the Brigni, and which brought the sooner had the Genoese seen them together, than blood rushing over her cheek and forehead, he had traced with the clear-sightedliess of a dappling them with the crimson glow of one of 'Ii page: 26-27[View Page 26-27] 0 Iii Al 26 T~B 1~A~IA&~ her, the smile which ~*d beep upon his lips passed from "i cannot e,"J~e.s~d. "$aet is tr9~ling him; so4~a& ~ thanlhadimag- ine~1; me,, e is Uty brother,-and to- iight I will seeb She was pacified with this proi~ise. was the evening of the illumination of St. Peter's. Who that has once gazed upon that facade of fire can ever forget it? The whole of that gigantic dome is traced in a burning Qutirne upon the blue heavens. It actually quivers with light, and when the fiery structure-for so it seems-is seen from the bridge of St. Augelo, reflected in the yellow Tiber, it strikes upon the eye as a huge transparency; so mighty snd im- posing in its outlines that it would almost appear the work of some supernatural and fairy hand. And then, when the ~ignal is given for the change, and the thousands of men stationed on its roof touch the pitch garlands hanging around them with flame, the enormous structure be- comes a blaring temple, towering over the impe- rial city which lies and breathes around it. "Only think," said Anna, "of the danger en- countered by the miserable individual who hin- dIes the topmost light on the erpas of~he cupola." "With what pride he msz~t gaze on the blazing sea of light beneath him,~'jeplied Fede~igo. "J3esides thinking very sgreeably of the twen- ty scudi which pay him for the danger, and are theuprobably, in his breeches' pocket," added the banker. After fasting their eyes on the scene before them, it was proposed that they should drive up the~onte Pinejo, and gaze upon it from a great- er distance. So the vetturi,~received his orders, and the carriage, after a drive of half an hour, drew up at the little inn on the side of the hill. From this point, the view of the cupola was glorious; it seemed hewn from a burning sun. Such might apoetfancy was tire masonry of Par- mUse. The front of the temple was nQt yisiblu, but this only added to the general effect, and the dome' seemed floating on an ocean of blazing light; the music and the rhiging of the bells SOANO. reached them, but around them was 1iun~g a two- fold nigl~t, and the very stars twinhied ~vgis a dimmer and fainter radiance in the da4cened indigo of the ~ Federigo hung pver the signora; for that mo- ment, arched in by that singular scene, uppor- alleled for its splendor in the world, it ~ees~ied as if the influence of its magic beauty liq4 melted him to love. ,He whispered to her of it~ loveli- ness; he talked to her of its wonders; and her lips replied ~o him ,in a tremulous accent, ~s if she, too,,had warmed to him under theruagic power of the ~c~ene. As for the bank9r-why, he was aniap of nsiddle age,-he had ye~ly en- joyed itt.t~om his boyhood. He leaned from the carnage, and beckoned to a man who was stand- ing nearit. The shadQw5 of the poplars before the inn streau~ed across the spot where he stood. In the darkness~ which rendered it impossible to trace his features, Tprlogna ispagined tli~t he was a servant of the $pn. "Bring me a glass of water." The man did not stir. "Do you not hear me I" 'ejaculated Torlogna. Federigo turned to him, and said: "I will procure you and the signora some re- freshment ;" and without remaining to hear the banker's. disclaimer of giving him so snuck trouble, he leaped from the carriage and passed into the little ipn. The man followed him, and in another mo- ment, voices were heard from the interior of the house. They grew louder, and the Brigni recog- nized the accents of Castelli. She caught hold of Toriogna's wrist. "Do you hear?" "What ~" "That is the voice of the brother of Bor- ghese I" As she said this, a sudden flash illu~inated the passage *hich led intothe interior of the hos- telry, and as it did so, a pistol-shot. rang on the spot. Anna Brigni bounded like a startled fawn from the carriage, and rushed into the interior of the inn. CHAPTER VI. THZ uxnxrxcrzn rstxsnxcz. I "Smiling on her, and whispering to her, and have heard her voice murmuring its accents of love in your ears-" "Guillo I Gudlie! you are wrong !" "Peace! far you shall hear me! As I listened to her, a chtngeeame ot~fr me; the fatality of my passion mastered me." "Mad boy !-listen to inc I" "Federigo, I must die I" "You are dreaming, Guilio." "Slay me, my brother I-or must I kill uiiyself this night before you I" Federigo started back in horror; but the li&nd of Guillo was still faMened upon his wrist, and he was unable to flee from the presence of the maddened boy. Panting and scared by the glowing passion of that monotonous volta, he was forced to listen to him. "Take the pistol and consummate my mur- der I Probably, I should have killed myself this night; now you shall slay me I" "Guilio I my brother Guilio, let me speak I" "I will not !-t.ake it !" And still grasping the wrist of his brother, he extended the weapon to him which he had plucked from the bosom of his dress, without a change, either in his hoarse, bitter voice, or in the death-like expression of his face. "Why should I, Guilio?" "Rave I not told you? Take it." V Wunar Federigo had passed into the inn, he had soon found the waiter, and had directed him to bring some refreshments. He then returned through the narrow passage, which was only lit by ai~ oil lamp hanging at its further end, when he saw a figure standing before him. It was that of his brother. A short cloak, which was flung hack from his shoulders, hung around him. It was black, and even in that vague and gloomy light formed a strong contrast with the deathly pallor of his countenance. The expression of his features was fixed, and he stood there like a shadow returned from that Hades which the old Romans peopled with the dead. For the mo- meat, Federigo recoiled, or would ha~e done so, had not Guiio thrust forth his hand, almost me- chanically~ and grasped him by the wrist. His eyes were glaring from the immobility of the rest of his countenance with the delirium of fever. "Federigo 1" His voice was so hollow and so unmodulated, that it struck on the ears of his brother like the voice of a dead man. "You have strewn my life with the ashes of bitterness and misery, Federigo! Yet had I re- solved to permit it all to pass-to forgive you, and to die! Now that I have seen you bending over her-" "My brother 1" -a page: 28-29[View Page 28-29] 28 THE RO~LAN SOPRANO. if V "Come with me to her! Madman 1" "Take it! take it!" and Castelli attempted to thrust ~he pistol into the hand of the young Bor- ghese. "That she may loll you how truly she loves you.~~ "And that I may again find a letter addressed by you to the 'divine Anna I"' responded Cas. telli. "A letter!" "Ay." "It is false !" "Of course! of course! Take it." "Come with me, Guilio." And as he said this, he laid his hand upon the shoulder of his brother. "She shall convince you that you have indeed been dreaming." Guilio pushed him rudely hack, but Federigo was determined to lead him to the carriage. There was a short, sharp struggle, and then a report was heard. For a moment the confined passage was filled with smoke, and a cry of pain rung on the sti~lnesa of the night. The smoke cleared gradually away, as Federigo staggered back and sunk upon the ground. Castelli reeled back against the wall. For a moment he was blinded mid deafes~ed by the an- guish resulting from that fearful chance. Then he heard the voices of the people of the house around him, and a wild exclamation of: "Santa Maria !-what is this ~" It was the voice of the Brigni. "Federigo I" he shouted in despair, and would have cast himself uponthe body; hut Anna was already upon her knees beside it, endeavoring to' afaunch the blood that welled from the wound in his breast. She lifted her head, and fastened a steady look upon (luillo's convulsed and terror- stricken countenance. "Unhappy man I" she murmured, and then she again looked down, and the tears from her eyes rained upon the senseless bosom of Federigo Borghese. Torlogna caught the hands of the young Cas telli, and bade him save himself. "I am innocent I" he cried aloud. "Tell them, Federigo, that I am innocent of this I" He waited a moment; he gazed passionately upon the face of his brother; but no sign of con- sciousness woke on the countenance of the wounded man. "I would have slain myself!" he continued; "but Heaven knows that I dreamed not of taking thy life ,We both loved thee, signora. I de. spared and wished only to die I" She wrung her hands as she listened to him. "Wretch that I am, to cause thee even one tear! And now thou wilt shed many; but too many I" "Away I" she stammered, making a rapid gesture with her hands. He fancied that it was to forbid his approaching her. "Yes, you must fly I" muttered Torlogna, as he dragged him towards the door of the little inn. "Anna, farewell I" As he said this, she bent her head over the countenance of theapparently dying man, while her light and golden tresses, loosened in that moment of terror and agitation, swept her cheek. "Here are the gens d'armes I,, was jhoizted from the front of the hostelry, as Torlogna pushed him from the doorway. "She loves him. Yes; she loves him I,' was the stormy thought that swept through the brain of Guilio, as he leapt over the hedges, crushed through the tangled underwood, and climbed over the stone walls that bounded the vineyards with which the side of the Monte Pincio is cov- ered. The light from the fiery cupola of St. Peter's streamed over the country, like a second and morebleging day, as he fled, like amadman, from the spot on which he had steeped his hands in a brother's blood. CHAPTER VII, UnnXl-EcTED COMPANY-run MOMAN uRIGANDs. THISnn or four hours had already elapsed, similarly attired, emerged from the mouth of the when the fugitive at length reached the Tiher. tomb, and stood beside him. The river ran on darkly in the night, save "I need a boat," replied Castelli, "to carry here and there where the rippling eddy of its me across the Tiber." generally sluggish stream caught the light from "Ha! ha! Carlo," said the individual who had the illuminated dome of the mighty work of An. addressed him. "He wants a boat; he should gelo, and dashed it back in a thousand bright have brought one with him." sparkles. He sat down upon the bank, and "Perhaps he has gold enough in his pocket to buried his head in his hands; but scarcely had pay for the building of one," answered his nearer he done so, than a rough grasp was laid upon his - shoulders, and a harsh voice called out: companion. The three strangers laughed "Halo, friend; what brings you here ~ "Night-walking is scarcely safe, signor, unless (~uilio turned and saw a tall, wild mid musen- you happen to be well armed." lar.looking figure standing beside him. At a "See what I have !" observed the first speaker, lttle distance was the month of an ancient tomb, lifting his gun from his shoulder, and th owing and near it three horses were tethered, devouring aside his sheep-skin eoa~ to the tail and coarse herbage which early spring ~ beh. point at the pfskp~siu had not yet withered in the Campagna. The "Yes, and here is a capital little case-knife !" dress of the man who had spoken to him, con- jocularly said the third, as he plunged his hand listed of one of those large sheep-skin coats, in his belt, and drew from it a long, bright and which are so common among the Roman peas- sharp dagger, which he tossed up in the air and anery. The wool, which was dressed outwards, caught with a singular dexterity by the point. was much worn and frayed. A conical and "Stick it again in your girdle, you fool I" in- pointed hat coypred his bead, ahd aide4 the sur- terposed the first. "You see the geatlezn~n is rounding gloom in completely~ coi~eealing his already. 1554 conscious that you are speaking to features. On his shoulder was a misaket, of a him." fashion which was little adapted to serve as the "What is working him 2" fowling-piece of an American sportsman. "How should ~~now ?" he replied, clenching Scarcely had he spoken than two other figures, as he said this, his broad and heavy hand on the p page: 30-31[View Page 30-31] Ii It' THE ROMAN SOPRANO. shoulder of Gujijo. who had again relapsed into profound an honesty; but his lip writhed as lie his bitter revery. attempted to do so. Guilio rosfi to his feet as he did so, and again "You wish to cross the Tiber'?" confronted the speaker. "Yes." "What will you "' "If you do not go with us, you may wait on "Give us your money, signor! We will keep its bank for a long time." it for you; with us it will be quite safe 1" "How can I accompany you V' For a moment, young Castelli looked at the "Seat yourself behind me on my horse. Swim- man as if he was struggling to recall himself to ming it will scarcely conduce to health or corn- his senses. Then he took his purse from his fort." pocket, and let it drop on the ground, saying as So saying, he strode out, and loosening one he did so: of the tethered horses, mounted him. It was a "Take it; and then kill me 1" strong and fiery animal. He then bade Guilio "Kill you !" answered the man. "Why, what to mount behind him. do you take us for By the Madonna! we are "Now let us go I" honest peasants. Come and take glass of wine." He then shook the bridle of his steed, which So saying, he pointed to the purse, which was slowly descended the bank and advanced into immediately picked up by one of his companions, the stream. It tried every step before it took it, and transferred to the breeches pocket of that as though it were conscious of bearing a double individual, as h~ drew Guilio into the interior burden. Very soon did the water reach its of the tomb. saddle.bow, and then the powerful animal began A fire was burning there. Flasks of wine to battle with the rushing stream. The freshness stood on the ground, and some of them were of the water and the vigorous action of the empty. From one of these he filled a horn.cup horre, completely restored Guilio, and when at which was lying near them, and extended it to length they reached the opposite shore, he leaped Castelli. Eagerly did the young Roman seize to the ground and began to tlu~nk his companion. it, and quaffed its contents with his parched and "Why, what is this, young fool'?" asked the burning lips. peasant. fiercely. "Do you imagine yo~ are "And now tell me," said the individual who going to leave me'?" had conducted him there, and who appeared "~dost certainly I am," answered CiW~lli. from his manner to maintain some speeses of "Hark ye, boy! We are now in did Cam- authority over the other two peasants, "what is pagna, and our band has long roots. The Holy it that has compelled a nobleman to begin such Father has only hurt his fingers in attempting to a journey sa this in so strange a fashion I" dig us n~. You must ride with me." The tone of authority in which this was s(Poken~ "I will not !" combined with the wine which he had just drunk- "Fish, you are mad I" said the brigand, as he en, for the first time brought the consciousness of leaped from his horse and closed with the young the young man back to the world in which lie Castelli. still moved. The struggle was a brief one, and Guillo was "Without ahat; your cloak gone; blood upon flung upon the ground. your press; money in yw~r pocket, and no arms "Give me a rope !" to~take care of it !" continued the peasant. It was thrown to their leader by one of his Guilio knit his brow; then he stretehed outhis rolio'wers, who had reined in their horses and re- hand. to the flask, and bringing it to his lips took mainedlaughing at the unequal struggle. The a long draught from it. He then said: hands of the Roman youth were bound tightly "That is my secret." behind him; then he was tossed like a bag of "Per Dacco 1" muttered one of the two others feathers across the shoulders of the horse by his who were standing near; "but the young cock muscular opponent, who sprang lightly behind is a game bird !" him. As the latter once more shook the reins, "Well,'~ replied the first, "you can Iteep it if the animal ~lai~ted off, and in another moment you will. We are men of honor lm~e, and re- was bound~ug like the wind across the Cam- spect a man's property !', '~" pagna. ~tIId ~ng curls of Guillo were swept Guilio would have smiled-f~rhe felt thattheir back on thd breast of his captor. They sped previous demand upon him scarcely argued so past the gravestones which spot that aide of the 80 Vi' ~' tawny sVeam, on whose lianks are the rexn~tins and winding defile. At length they pi~de a of her who was the mistress of the world. pause. Then Castelli heard a long and low Then the.moon rose as red as blood, slowly whistle, and in)mediat~iy afterward~ door4n the above the horizons while the light and damp side of the rock, which was masked with weed mists, which are almost invariably pla.yip~ over and earth, slowly opened. Tire brigands flis- the surface of the Campagna, veered around mounted, And he who had seemed their leader, them. lifted Guilio from his horse nnd placed him on That he had killed Federigo; that he was pep. the ground. lie then took him by the arm and rated from the Brigni; that he was now lying led him in the passage. They descended A few bound in the arms of the brigand, ~nd spee~ng steps deeper, and then the handkerchief was un- him across the Campagna, seemed to Guilio knotted from the brow of the prisoner and re- linost a dream. Why was it that he could not stored to the neck of the captor. Castelli ~oQked awaken, and feel that those images of terror had about him. passed from him I And in his agony he closed It was a spacious vault in which he was then his eyes, and felt only the bleak breezes that standing. On a long and low table, rudely fash. came from the mountains, playing across his joned from unpainted pine, which occupie~i ~he cheek. centre of the cavern, stood two brass lamps, tjse "We shall very soon reach our hiding-place," fitful and yellow glare from whose wicks flashed said his captor. "Is it not a capital horse on upon the sombre and expressive countenances of which you are riding'?" the brigands-for they were expressive, although Guilio did not answer him, their expression was very decidedly rascally- "What the deuce ails you'? Is it anything so who sat around it. They had been playing at very miserable to be under my guardianship'?" cards. Before them stood dried boar's flesh, He was still silent. broken bread, cups and bottles. Very little as. "0, well, sulk away; it's no matter! Be tonishment seemed to be excited by their arrival; dumb if you choose. However, as it begins to bat the commander of the party, who had car- grow - light, and we are now nearing the hills, ried off Guilio, went and spoke a few words with perchance the eyes of the amiable signor may him who seemed to be the chief of that rude suffer. I will protect them." band. Both looked at the peasant. The latter As he said this, the brigand unknottcd a silken then pointed to a stool, and bade Guilio seat him. handkerchief from his neck, and twisted and tied self. His captor came again to him and released it very carefully around the eyes of Castelli. his hands from the cords which still bound him. Soon afterwards the horses began slowly to It was no wonder that the poor boy had been un. ascend. The difficulty of the pathway they were able to resist him in their brief and violent strug. now following told the prisoner that they had gle-the whole model of the man was as coarse * already entered the mountains, and were now and grand as that of the Farnese Hereules. piercing one of the numerous defiles with which "Who are you'?" asked the chief. they abound. In less than half an hour they "A child of the Borghese." again descended i~apidly; they were among the "What! Federigo~" rtsins of the ancient Tusculum. Wild roses and ANo~Guilio Castelli." thorns had rooted themselves among the remains "Hal ha!" laughed the captor; "that is lucky, of the ruined amphitheatre. The, entrances of though scarcely so lucky as if you had been the the vaults, which have in vanished ages been cut young Borghese." into the sides of the hills around it, are now "I suppose," said the captain, "fifteen hun. overgrown and concealed by the rich and luxu. dred or two thousand scudi will be all that we riant growth ~'grass. underwood and ivy. In can ask for you'?" the distance, the hill of the Abruzzi shot up "Nay," replied Guilio, gloomily, "the only athwart the valley, gray and sombre in the mists ransom which you are likely zo obtain for me, is of the early morning. A barrow cleft in the the sum which the law may award you for my mountajn.....aimost shut Out from the sight of the capture." casual observer who might have obtwded upon "What do you mean, boy'?" the apparent loneliness of the spot, ~y the quan "Simply this-that I have killed Federigo tity of evergreen and every species of shrub that Borghese !" grew athwart it-admitted the robbers to a small "Killed him !" eJaculated the brigand. THE RQ2~iAN 8OPJ~4w. / 4 31 1 page: 32-33[View Page 32-33] II I Jr.,- M 1 22 THE ROMAN '~y the Virgin !-btit he is a brave boy, after all," said his captor. "Yes," murmured Guilio, "I have just killed Federigo Borghese I" "You were afool," said the captain, turning to his lieutenant-as it may be presumed that Gui- ho's captor was, "not to have left him where you found him." "flow, per Sancta Maria, was I to know all this "' retorted the latter. "lie would tell me nothing." "Well, it cannot be helped. However, you, Signor Castelli, may have in Rome some maiden who would give up her watch and jewelry to ob- tain your freedom-" "None 1-give me up to the law, and take ~rhitt the law offers you." SOPflA~O. "Come, come; that is a merry wish-that we, the law breakers, should profit by another breach of it I No, no, my boy I you will think better of it to-morrow. Lie down and sleep, now; there is a bed." So saying, he pointed to a heap of straw, which was lying against the wall of the cavern, and tossed Guilio a sheep-skin coat which was lying beside hi~n. "This will serve you for a covering." The young Romltn obeyed the implied com- mand, and threw himself upon the unwanted pallet which had been shown him; he closed his eyes, but he was unable to sleep. ,CHAPTE12~ VIII. ritn PnxrjC~ A~I THB DRIOA~ij. A WEEH had elapsed since the events recorded th.e further end of the apal-tmcnt, uttered a sigh in our last chapter had taken place, and we must that came to the ears of Federigo. request our readers to accompany us to a ch~m- "'Go, Giorgio." her in the Borghese palace. It ib that ~yhichis "But iiy pruce-.-" occupied by Federigo Borghese.....for the, young The stranger strode into the room. prince is not quite yet dethnn. On~bp ~ontrsry, "Go I" reiterated Federigo, raising his hand he is sitting up in his bed and leann~g upon his with some difficulty, and pointing to the door. arm, as if awaiting the presence of some one The servant gazed upon the her~leaufo~ of who is about to enter. His chestnut hair, dark- the singular visitor, lifted his hands, looked, at ened by the pallor of his face, and the singularly the face ofl4syoung master, and then~qultted the sorrowful expression which made that. pallor apartment? Thestranger closed the door through even more striking, fell in a acantier curl athwnrt which he had passed. his brow~ His hands and wrists, which were Federigo then looked at his visitor. He was stretched across the quilted coverlpt of his bed? indeed a strange presence in a sick chamber; his were thin, even to meagreness. vast proportions and muscular limbs made him "Indeed, my prince," said the old servant, seem shorter than he really was. Oa his brown who was in attendance upon him; "indeed, it is visage, th~ reckless life of a robber had traced it- better that you should no; see hin~." self in hard and nunristalteawe lines; his rough "I will 1" was the only answer, as his eye was garments~though ~somewhat better than those riveted upon the door of the chamber. , he wore when we first introduced him in the' Pr~T Steps were heard approaching it. One of ceding chapter to the notice of our readera~were these was a heavy and vigorous tread, and ~t. re- stiLl unlike th9 more civilized garments of the sounded through the ante-chamber upon its mar- ordinary Itahia,~ peasap;. ftar a rapid exami. ble floor. Then the doorw~y~~tly opened, and nation of himthe young Borghese pointed to a a servant entered. . chair, and his visitor sank into it, stretched out "The stranger is without, yong bighness9' "Let him enter." his legs, and looked ~st his host. "Yona.-"~orn~e,~d ~Federigo, as hesank As he saul this, the old domestic whe sad back against his pillo~. seated himself near one of the huge window at "The licutenailt of (~uiseppe Sea~IattiV' 'I 4 page: 34-35[View Page 34-35] 34 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "And this letter I" asked Federigo, making a erty of looking over his shoulder while he writes. faint gesture towards a piece of dirty paper that The letter ran thus: was crumpled ia the hand upon whivh hehad "Mx OWN BROTHER :-Come back to me been previously supporting himself, that I may convince you, my own Guilio, of your "Is from Guiseppe Scarlatti." strange error. I still find it impossible to divine "Is it the truth what he has wntten here Is why you should for a moment have imagined that Guilie Castelli in his hands I was in love with the Brigni. Alas! she will "Per Bacco I yes," said the brigand. "When not be here to smile atyour mistake, and to wel- we heard that you were living, we bade him write come y of this when we meet. on. But more to you to ransom him. Argument and threat Come back, my dear Guillo, and at once, to your were alike of no avail; he would not." loving brother, FEDERIGO BOUGRESE. "The brave boy I" muttered Borghese. "Then Guiseppe said to me-' You must see This letter was folded and directed to Castelli. Federigo Borghese, Andrea,' and so I am here." The young prince then scrawled an order upon "Scarlatti says that for-" Torlogna to pay the bearer one thousand scudi. "Two thousand scudi he shall be placed in This he handed to Andrea, who reed it through - your hands, provided you do not mean to give very carefully and very slowly; he was evidently him up to the tribunals of justice, and-" obliged to spell the words as he read them. "Fool 1" uttered Federigo~ "is he not my "Yes, myiirince, it is quite right," he at length brother I" saidas heptuuiged it iato his breeches pocket, "0, no fencec, my prince," said the brigand, and took up th~ letter to Castelli, which he con- with a grin; '~ but when two brothers love the signed to the same receptacle. "To.morrow same woman, brotherly affection is somewhat too night. Addio, my friend I" often changed into a most nubrotherly hate." He then turned, as if he would leave the apart- "What do you mean I" asked the Borghese, ment. impatiently. "Stay; I hava something more to say to "0, as all Rome is talking ab6ftt it, I thought you," said thti Borghese. "Go to the door.A4 there would be no harm in mentieiuint it; ~.nd see that n6 one is listening." - then that little pistol-shot whicit, bad it beett an The brigand crossed theapartmetit, and open- inch lower, might hare flnished~'-" ed the door. - - "Be silent!" "Yes, myp#iitte, thri~ is." *~O, eertainlymypri~ I" replied the robber; "Tell him~orctlrO into the adjoining chafrt- "and n~'w, touching the ransom "' ber.'~ "One -half you shall take with you; the re- "Go," add Andreh, a~ he pointed to the door. n~alndd~ shall be placed in your Made when way. Guilie Castelli stands within this chautherfree It mny be presO~ied that the domestic he~fltt- - and unharmed." ed abottt coulpl~lflg with the peremptory oed6t, - "Good!" replied Andrea. "To-morrow night for the brlg&Rd sttdddflI~' vanished~ A short you may expect him here without fail." struggle w~s htakd ~n~?~en a sharp cry foI~ "And now give me the ~%ort-feuillGthat stimila help. Federigo t itiseifforward in his bed upoli yondei~table, with ptn and mit." an4 llstened~ then the heavystep of the robber Thk robber rose and strode across the rootri, wauite5rd as he sttt~d5 aerostthe ante.ch5~Rb5t; aud the rziarble pavement eehoednrid~r'hi5 hhnvy thek tu~o doors We~re locktid, arid almost imme- stride. Ha then retut Ied with the' poi't-feullle, diately sfter*5td5 td~r~ rd.ap~5ared. He aul~ placed it before the prince. It was with a crossed the apartiXtttnt toWimlh the bed on which suppressed cry of pain that the yohng man'ag&'ltt Federigo hetl'eireStl~ sunkenb5te~. ralo~d himself in his bed and couimeieedwrith2~. "Whut is it y6iilitt* dead ~" dainandd the 5~,~~hitmglike admiration bu*tiovrthe fauSOf atter~ Andrea, as he saw the very evident physical an- eOgedhi~iladhi5 hasid~; and lockedhifli gulch which was -~taatlng the Bot5h~fl~ whllehe in I" was the short answer; and the- Borghe~e, wrote; but as it is morO important thut~ w~ suffering ~s' be *dt~ e~tidd~ n6t refrain' froth a shield scan the lettarWhieh~ he waS traid4 to gmile, as he listened to the succinct rep!?- Guillo, than that we shoul ~iteiy ~hr~aiCl~ "!eI6StCbim~" the unotlofis of the'brigMldW the 1mb- "W!~iet~ you have said v1~t you wish, ~ THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 0~) prince. A few moments since, you wanted no I do not," for as he was speaking, the ~crimson listeners." blood for the first time during that interview The young man seemed as if lie was hesitating suffused the face of the prince with an angry whether he should speak or not. Then he raised glow. 'Kl'~o, I am very sure that you do not. his eyes to Andrea's face and examined it steadi- Well, he shall be here I" ly. He still appeared as if he were lost in doubt; "He can enter the palace by.-.." began the hut, as if with an effort, he hroke it, and said: Borghese. "I must see Guiseppe Scarlatti." "Trouble you not how he will enter; he shall ~ " When 2,~ "To.morrow night." be here. And now may I go "' Andrea stared at him. The Borghese bowed and sank back on the couch. The exertion he had made durhig the "Where I" he asked, interview had been too much for him; he had "Here." fainted. Andrea gared on the young man with The brigand burst into a fierce and derisive a curious mixture of admiration and contempt laugh, graven upon his face; then he strode out of the "HereI-ha! ha! ha! You are much too hab ulk d emer, noced the oorof the ante~chamber good, my prince! Ha I hat'! ha! ha I-but you and in another instant returned, dragging after are a terrible jester. You really-must excuse me. him rather than leading, the shrinking domestic. Ha! ha! hal" He unlposed his hands, and took the gag from "Listen to me," said the young Borghese. his '~touth, returning them to one of his numer. I must see him, and that to-morrow evening. ous pockets, and then he pointed to the bed on I am too ill to leave this chamber. You know which the fainting figure of Federigo Borghese that it is so. Is he afraid to come 1" was stretched. "Had you asked him that, my prince, I may "Attend to your master, and at once!" doubt whether you would have ever had the In another instant he had quitted the apart- chance of putting him another question I" retort. meat, and was-crossing the ante.chambte. TM ad Andrea. "Gu b,~rLar[z land afraid! old servant ~ as he listened to- the Hark ye I ye mean no treachery, do you I" and heavy tramp of the brigand, and then turned to he heat a scrutinizing glance upon the counts. busy himself, above therecumbent forz~ of his nance of the young Federigo. "I azet sure -you- young master. I-- page: 36-37[View Page 36-37] Wa have now te retrace our steps. After Torlogns and the Brigni had borne the wounded Federigo to the palace of the Borghese in the banker's carriage, and he had conducted her home, she for the first time, in the secrecy of her own chamber, gave way to her anguish, which was not wholly unmingled with joy. It must be remembered that until this evening she had, very naturally, doubted the love of the yoting Castelli for her. His constant avoidance of her presence was unmistakable. How was it possible for her to suppose that lie had mistaken the attentions of the young Borghese to her for a love with which he doubted his own power to control I Now, all this was clear; but suppos- ing that Federigo should die-Guiio would have the weight of a brother's death upon his con- science; he would slay himself, or if not he would fly from the sunny shores of his own Italy to roam as a wanderer wherever his chiding soul might prompt him. What should she do I She wrung her hands with anguish. And yet he loved her; and as the Italian thought of this, her face brightened. She fell upon her knees, and the mingled prayers of her joy and sorrow climbed the steps of heaven, and smiled and wept before the throne of the Eternal Father. The next day Torlogna called on her. He had sent early to the ]3orghese palace, and had received front the old prince a favorable account of the young Borghese. The wound wac by no means a dangerous one--so, at least, said the physician. In less thafl~two weeks it was pro- bable that he might again be able to see his friends. They dared hope it. "And poor Guilio 5" asked the Brigni, as soon as he had paused. Torlogna looked inquisitively at her, and she flushed slightly as he did so. "In accordance with the request of Federigo himself, the prince will not pursue him," he con- tinned. "He is a noble young man. "He is," answered the Signora Anna. The Roman banker had been thinking of Federigo Borghese when he said this; but the Italian vocalist had thought of Guillo Castelli when she answered him. "Nay, when he has perfectly recovered,! am told that thu prince, urged by the prayers of Federigo, has promised not to pursue him. The Princess Borghese is ~' more bitter; but then she is a woman; of course, you know that is very natural." "0, of course I" w~s the answer which Anna Brigni had mad~'him. The banker stared. Old as he was, he was not altogether insensible to the charms of she fairer portion of creation, and the Brigni was THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 37 one of the fairest Specimens of it that he had "Signor," she said, "if I do not err, you are ever seen. He fully anticipated a retort; he did J addressing me in the language of a compliment, not get one. Conversation languished, and, in I ~oo warm for truth, and.-" less than ten minutes, the Roman banker rose, "No, no, signora I" bowed, and took his leave. It was a sad mistake "Possibly,-for I will not pretend to say but of the lady's, for Torlogna was a great patron of what it may be so,-too sincere for your own the opera, whoever was the manager. He really happiness." did love music; but when love has once crept "Anna Brigni, let me-" into the heart, it Is astonishing what mistakes are "Sir I" she exclaimed, as she attempted to made hy the mind; the old friend is in a pitiable pass him. state when it at first discovers the entrance of a Bernardo caught her hand with a firm and in- new lover, flexible yet tender grasp, and held her where she The intelligence which had been given her by stood. the banker, greatly relieved the apprehensions "Loose sue !-or-" of Anna. She was enabled to continue her du- "Nay I you must and you shall listen to me I" ties at the Qpera, although her doors were closed "Here, I cannot," she said, as she caught the to everybody, and consequently it was not until eyes of two or three of the habitual frequenters the fifth evening after the report of the "at- of the coulisses fixed upon them. tempted assassination "-.such was the name the Della Torre smiled imperceptibly, for he felt world chose to give it-of his brother by Guiio that he had gained his point. Castelli, that she met Bernardo Della Torre. "I will call upon the signora tomorroww" he This took place in the coulisses of the Aliberto. observed. "At what hour shall it be ?" As she was leaving the stage at the close of the "At two o'clock, I will expect you," she ~- first act, a hand was gently laid upon her arm, Almost instantly she sbrank back from the swerved, as she released her hand from his grasp, and passed on into her room. Here she flung touch; then she turned, and recognized the herself in a chair, and smiled bitterly as she did young Genoese as she did so. so at the mistaken estimate which she imagined "You will excuse me, will you not, signora Della Torre had formed of her character. he murmured; " but when your house is closed against me, and I cannot bask in your smiles be. Meanwhile the Geno~9 had returned to his nuath your own roof, I am obliged to seek your box, and appeared to be lost in his admiration heavenly presence wherever there is a chance of of a French countess, who had been fo e I finding it ~,, two months one of the reigning belles of e. It was the first time he had ever dared to ad- The clock in the saloon of the Sign9~ rfgnY dress her in the undisguised language of admira- had precisely struck two on the follo~ng~d~y, tion, and she recoiled from the homage proffered when the Piedmontese dismounted fs'b~n his to her beauty by his lips. Why, it would per- horse. His face was cold and stern as if it had haps be difficult to say, were it not from an in- been cut out of Farina marble, as he strode up stinetive repugnance to the man which she felt the steps and advanced into the house. A mo- that he had not openly warranted her in show- ment afterwards, Anna Brigni heard his step ing. She accordingly bowed, smiled, and at. upon the stairs; it was heavy, marked and de- tempted to pass him. liberate. It was ~not the bounding stepof the "The signora will not surely leave me ~ young lover rushing to the presence of her whom soon I" he continued. "It would he too cruel he adores; but as little was it the step of a timid to do so at the first moment in five days when doubter about to sue for that love which he my eyes are blessed with her sight i" knows will be denied him. As the servant opened The meaning in the tone struck hereven more the door for him to enter the saloon, the Brigni than the words. She fhlt that he was no longer rose to meet him. attempting to disguise the passion which she had "The sigaora sees that I am punctual," he once or twice suspected him of feeling for her, said, as he advanced so take her hand. and with the resolution of a woman who really She pointed to a chair. He looked at her and loves, and is not ashamed to avow her passion, smiled; then he drew the chair towards her, and she determined upon replying to him in a man- sat down. tier that it would be impossible for hiratomistake. "May I ask Signor Della Torre," she said, 3. CHAPTER iX. TillS IisTJsRviHw REQUEsTilD. I page: 38-39[View Page 38-39] U I I THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "to what I am indebted for this wish for an interview 2" "Certainly, madam; although I had hoped that my manner would have already convinced you that I can only have an objes~t. I adore you,~ madam! I adore you, Anna-" "Pause, sir! Last night I intimated that this language was unpleasant to me. Let me now s~y I trust it will not be repeated, or I shall be obliged to request the presence of my female friend, Madame Salicetti, which I had imagined upon this occasion you would have preferred my dispensing with !" He bit his lips as she was speaking; but his face neither flushed nor changed color. "That must be ~s the signora herself may choose. If she wills it, she is at liberty to sum- mon her." Anna Brigni looked at him with astonishment. The change in his manner was so ~omplete. But a moment before his language had seemed to burn with youth and passion; now it was as cold and glacial as the ice in the higher Alps. "You do not choose me to address you in the language of love. Well, it shall be so. You must know what my feelings have been from the first moment in which my senses were entangled in the meshes of your loveliness. Itwould there- fore be useless to tell you all I have felt and suf- fered when I beheld yoalncOurtigilig another-" "Signor Della Torso !" interrupted Anna. "Let me speak, I pray you, mademoiselle! At your request, I forbear to shape my passion in the words itself might prompt; in the form that youferce it to assume, you must listen to it I" "muse, sir !" again commenced Anna, as she stretched out her hand to the little ivory handled bell that was lying upon the table. Della Torre rose and pushed it towards her. She sank backing her chair, and her eyes were fixed upon his. He laughed bitterly, and the sound of that Qminous laugh seemed as it were to congeal the blood in her veins; she could do nothing but listen to him. "I saw and knew that you loved Guillo Cuss- telli-" "Sir !" and the Brigni's eyes flashed as she rode in her seat. "I determined to poison his mind against you,~ and to force you apart 1" She sank.back again in her chair, and at once determined to hear him to the end. "I threw in his way the night that he aceom- panned you here from the soiree at the Borghese palace, a note. He found it on the steps when he left your presence. It was addressed to you by the younger Borghese, and it had been open- ed. None else had entered the dwelling since you had crossed its threshold. That letter has had its effect !" "What frightful treachery to those who had never harmed you I" muttered the Brigni. He has murdered his brother !" "No! no! it is false !" she cried. "Torlogna has told me that he will recover "Torlogna has deceived himself. Should he die, Guillo Castelli must live as an outlaw, or fly from Italy- In either case he will be lost to you. Such has my love been l" he continued, with a sudden and fierce bun~t of passion, "and such it will he to the end! I adore you, Anna! You may never love me; hut never will I allow you to bless another with your love I Listen to me."~ And: he threw himself upon his knees be- fore her. "Only tell me that you will endeavor to return my passion; only tell me that you will allow me to kneel at your feet, to worship the ground you tread on, to "Never l" she exclaimed, as his hand touched hers and springing up, she threw it from her. "May the Holy Mary no mo're listen to my prayers, if ever I, willingly, hear you, or look upon your face. Go !" She pointed to the door with such an imperi- ous gesture, that he rose to his feet and involun- tarily receded towards it. "Go I" A malignant smile broke over his countenance as he stood there. "If it is to be war between~ us, the signora snay perchance remember hereafter that-she has in this moment broken her last chance of hap pines !" Before she had time to reply, Della Torre was already gone. What should Anna Brigni do I If she sent to Torlogna, who was the only friend of the two brothers, to tell him what had passed, she could not see him until nine-for at four o'clock he dined, and that evening thgre was a rehearsal of a new opera in which she was to appear on the succeeding night. She would at once drive to hi~ house. The carriage was in- stantly ordered, and accompanied by Madame Salicetti, whose afternoon siesta was most un- graciously broken into, she drove towards the banker's place of business. As she approached the gateway, she saw Della Torre's cabriolet 0 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. -N 39 standing within it. The moment after he came and inquired ~whether he had any idea of the out of the private eounting-room of Torlogna, reason which had induced her mistress and Ma- and the hanker was leaning upon his arm. They dame Salicetti to remain so late at the theatre. entered the cabriolet together. Della Torre's "Not the slightest," said the hanker. "At servant sprang up behind it, and in another in- what hour did you expect her return l" stant it was rolling from the court-yard in the "At hdf pasr eight or a quarter to nine, at direction of the Borghese palace. the latest, signor," answered the buxom Italian "I must write to him," said the Brigni, to girl, as he patted her cheek. herself, "when I reach home and request him, "I will drive there and see, mio cara," he if possible, to see me when the rehearsal has then said; and in accordance with this determi- concluded." nation, lie descended the stairs, entered his car- Ten minutes after she had arrived there, tha riage, au4 bade his vetturiuso drive to the stage- note ~as written and dispatched, and she then door of the Aliberto. endesA'ored to concentrate her mind on her oper- "She has left the theatre more than two hours atic duties. At six o'clock she drove to the Ali. since !" was the grumbling~ reply of the porter, berto, accompanied by Madame Salicetti. who had been roused from his first slumbers by Precisely at the hour appointed by the Brigni, the impatient inquirer. T6rlogna arrived at her house'. The request had "I have been hoaxed!" groaned Torlogna, been conveyed to him in such an extremely in- as he sank back once more upon the easy cush. formal manner, that on reading the note he ions of his carriage. scarcely knew what to think of it. The next morning, when it was yet early, it "'Come to me at once I'" he said. "Now was known all over Rome that the l3rigni was what can that mean I She does not want money; missing. Possibly that might not be so very cx- she is a very economical little body, and her sal- traordinary; but then she had run away with ary more than suffices for all her wants. What Madame Salicetti and her coachman. As for the deuce can it mean I am so old, Or else I the carriage and the horses, which she had been should-" He arose and contemplated his fig- in the habit of using, they were as usual at this ure in one of the huge mirrors that decorated hour in the coach~house and stables of Monsieur his dining-room. [It must be remembered that Ernest Bohay, the French horse dealer. They this soliloquy took place after dinner.I "How- had been brought back b.y the vetturino at half- ever, Imay fairly call myself an admirable speci- past nine. The manager was well ngh distract- men of good Isroservntion. I wonder whether ed. At noon it was also discovered that Ber- the little jade thinks so !" An hour afterwards nardo Della Torre was nowhere to be found. he was in his carriage. Nobody would have cared for that, had he not The first half-hour passed after his arrival, and unfortunately wound himself somewhat too inti- ~Torlogna legan to grow impatient. The see- mately around their hearts, through their pock- end rolled by, and die heated all sorts of oh- et& As for Torlogna, when he heard it he shook jurgations upon theatrical managers, and the his head, looked very grave, and said nothing. manager of the Tenivo Aliberto in particular., His head clerk shook his head, also, for he knew Another half hour rolled on, and he began to that his master had lent to the Piedmontese, pace up and down she room, imagining he had yesterday afternoon, the sum of ten thousand 'been hoaxed. Her servant tben came to him, scudi. 38 if ii page: 40-41[View Page 40-41] Ii THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 41 IT was somewhat late in the evening of the day succeeding that on which the lieutenant of Guiseppe Scarlatti had seen Federigo, that three figures might have been observed approaching the Borghese palace. The most remarkable of these was Andrea himself. His vigorous make, and the whole style of his tread; his heavy swing to and fro as he stepped on, and the un- usual style ~f his dress, might have convinced the chance looker-on that he was by no means of the straighter-laced denizens of that part of the world governed by the successors of St. Peter. His two companions were n young man, apparently, for the broad rim of his hat was slouched over his face, dressed in a short and wide gray capote, and an elderly woman bent almost double with age. She had hold of the arm of the young man, and had, apparently, much difficulty in supporting herself by means of a short stick, on which she bent heavily. "Ha! ha !" chuckled the old woman, half to herself, though partially addressing her compan- ion. "What a fool Andrea is !-ha! ha! ha! Some day or other when he enters Rome in this way-he! he!-they will pounce upon him; and although he is a Samson, he will be sent to the galleys." They had now arrived at the Borghese palace, and had entered the court-yard before the house, when a domestic in the livery of the family ad- vanced towards them. "Who are you wanting, my good people l" he asked. "Tell him, Andrea," said the old woman. "We wish to speak withllPrincipeFederigo/' "He is expecting you; follow ~ The servant ascended the steps of the man- sion, passed the porter who was sitting within the hall, and turned to the left and ascended a winding staircase. They- followed 14; and Andrea's step as he 4id so, resounded through the hail. "Where it is," said the porter, wheezing through the fat of his capacious paunch, to get out the words, "that I have seen that scoun- drel, it would be impossible for me to say; but some day- or other I shall expect to hear of his presence in the galleys." It was, to say the least of it, somewhat strange that the old woman and the double-chinned por- ter should have so singularly coincided in their opinions regarding the ultimate fate of Andrea. Let us add, as we may never again have the op- portunity of doing so, that they were very cur- rect in their anticipations respecting it. In the meantime, the three individuals whom we have accompanied, had arrived at the ante- chamber to the apartment of the young Bee- H ghese. The servant entered the chamber, and with a deeper color-if that indeed were possible in a moment more he returned, accompanied by -than its previously bistred hue. the aged Giorgio, who cast a spiteful glance at "Well I" asked Scarlatti. Andrea, as his eye fell upon the herculean fri- "It is for two thousand scudi, my prince I" gand. uttered Andrea, looking up at the Borghese "The prince will receive you," he said; "you "I know it is," replied Federigo. can enter." "Then take it back, and write me another," 4~ Many thanks, old boy!" replied Andrea, exclaimed Guiseppe. "Place it on the ~table, laying his hand so suddenly upon the shoulder Andrea I" of the old domestic, that the last nearlydoubled The latter growled out some inarticulate to the marble floorbeneath its weight. In another words, among which the only one that might instant all three had passed into Federigo's have been detected by an acute listener, was chamber. "l~'ool !" This, however, struck his captain as The young Borghese was evidently recovering being very disagreeably prominent. rapidly from the effects of his wound. It is pos- "Rascal l" said he, "take a: little heed, or sible, also, that the joy he experienced at the haply I may crop your ears off I" recovery of his brother lent him more strength Then he turned to Federigo, and it was some- than he otherwise would have had. He was what strange to observe how singular an air of' sitting up in an easy chair, supported by pillows, dignity passed over his features as he addressed and he cast a wistful glance at Andrea, who him. Guiseppe Scarlatti was certainly intended had first Entered the apartment. for an actor. "I have brought them both, my prince," ut. "Prince," he continued, "I have fulfilled my tered the brigahd, in his loud, sonorous voice, portion of the agreement entered into by your. "Guilio, come to me 1" self and my lieutenant. I only tuquire you to The young man loosed his arm from the grasp fulfil yours." of her who had still hold of it, and bounded to. "But the danger you have incurred in visiting wards his brother. Sinking on his knees before me-" commenced the ]3orghese. him, he buried his brow in the lap of Federigo, "Is nothing to the pleasure you have afforded as he sobbed nut Guiseppe Scarlatti in permitting him to make "Can you forgive me, my brother l" your acquaintance." A tear actually stole out of the eye and rolled The imperturbable air of hattghty' llwllility down the cheek of Andrea, astonishing his beard with which this was said, and the 8trang~isfd and moustaches with its unwanted presence. almost startling contrast between the inanner, "He! he 1" grinned Guiseppe Scarlatti, "it's the dress, and the calling of Scarlatti, proved ir- very touching, isn't it, Andrea 1" resistible, and Federigo burst into a violent fit The prince looked up and frowned; hut Scar- of laughter, which was only terminated by the latti was impervious to all such mute reproaches. pain this very unsickly exertion caused him. He drew a chair towards him, sank in it, stretch- For, in truth, Guiseppe Scarlatti was a remark. ed himself out, nail laughed long and heartily. able mau-.one, perhaps, of the most remarkable Recalled to himself by the laughter of Scarlatti, of those brigands that have for the last two or Guillo rose from his kneeling position at thefeet three hundred years been the curse of modem of Federigo, and the latter drew his brother to- Italy. Originally the son of a wealthy shop. wards him and imprinted a kiss upon his cheek. keeper in Naples, he had been intended for the Castelli felt that it was the kiss of forgiveness study of the law. The death of both his parents and of peace. The young Borghese then turned when Gaiseppe was only nineteen, had termina- to the table near which he had been sitting, and ted his desires to attain legal eminence. His taking up a strip of paper, looked at it, and then last coin was squandered at the gaming table, extended it to Guiseppe. or in the drinking saloon,-it little matters "Take it, Andrea," said Scarlatti, waving his which,-nnd at the age of twenty-three, Guiseppe hand towards it, "and see that it is right." Scarlatti found himself without a penny. Hay- The brigand stepped forward, received the ing a good tenor voice he went upon the stage, check from Federigo, and began the task which and here he achieved some success; but being his chief had appointed him. As he did so, his much patronized by his old companions, he de- dark eye brightened, and his brown cheekifusbed str9ycd his voice by the bottle. This made him CHAPTER X~ THE OLD WOMAN AND HER COMPANIONS. I 41 ! page: 42-43[View Page 42-43] I~ P lii TRE ROMAN SOPRANO. so poor that he grew quarrelsome, and having some skill with the small-sword, wounded a Neapolitan nobleman in a brawl that took place in a gambling house. Nothing more was heard of him for three years. About that time, the nobleman he had wounded was travelling to- wards Rome. It was almost nightfall; but he was so near the gretr city that he haddetermined on not waiting until the following morning at the tarrying-place which he bad just quitted. His carriage was stopped, the traces cut, and a pistol held to his head. Re got out and was cars-led into the mountains. Five thousand scudi were asked for his ransom, and they were paid. The nobleman entered Rome, and a week afterwards it was heard throughout central and southern Italy that the broken-down gambler and extin- guished tenor was playing the part of Fra Di- avolo on a large scale in the Roman Campagna. Let us now return to the thread of our story. Guiseppe had smiled politely while Federigo was laughing; but no sooner had he terminated than he pointed to the table and requested Fede- rigo to rectify his mistake. "Let me assure you it is none," said the Bor- ghese. "You will excuse me, prince; but it is so," responded the polite brigand, with a low bow. "But supposing that there was another service which, did you choose to undertake it, you could render me ?" "'Yoi~ see," muttered Andrea. "0, in that vase," answered Scarlatti, "I pre- sume that I might gratify you." "Well, there is." "Andrea, you can put that check in your pocket," said Scarlatti. Then he looked at Fed- erigo. "You pay handsomely, prince. One thousand scudi as an earnest-and-" He paused. "Two thousand more if you accomplish that which I wish I" "You see how a matter of business is arranged between two gentlemen) Andrea I" observed the captain, in the tone of a patron. Then he turned to the Borghese. "I accept the proposition! Now, what is it?" "Do you know the Signor Beruardo Della Torre ?" Guiseppe Scarlatti stArted, and turned roand with a fierce look at Andrea; but the look of astonishment visible~ in Andrea's face, at once re-assured him. "I see you do." "I have heard of him," said the brigand. "You were in Rome the nighPbefore last. In the second street from the Aliberro you stopped a carriage. Della Torre was with you; he en- tered it, and you accompanied almost as far as the first post-house on the southern road that car- riage. There Della Torre and his unwilling companions dismounted-for there were two. The carriage returned to the first hostelry and baited there; it then returned to the city." Scarlatti stared at the young prince as he was speaking. "The cursed vetturino ought to have his throat' cat from one ear to the other !" muttered An- drea. Guilic laid his hand upon his brother's arm. "Who were in that carriage I" he asked. "You shall know all, Guillo-it belonged to the Brigni 1" "Accursed devil 3" "Signor Scarlatti," said the princes "if you can return that lady to ker friends, two thousand scudi more are at your service. Should you fail to do so, I pledge my honor to root out your nest of hornets from the Campagna, though my last zecchin were to be spent upon the attempt 3" Scarlatti laughed bitterly. "Your gloves must be thick and your mask stout, when you try to do so! However-come here, Andrea." He arose and walked to the window, while his lieutenant followed him. "And is this all true I" asked Castelli. And as his words escaped from him, his face was burning with the ~a~e that drowned his soul. "It is; the vetturino is now in this house. The rascal, after taking the carriage to the sta- ble, 'tot drunk. He managed to fall down St. Peter's steps, and there dislocated his instep. My servant, Nicolo, was passing and heard the scoundrel groaning. Something he said induced Nicolo to imagine that he might have intelli- gence which might interest me. He brought him to the palace on his back-Heaven grant he may have a lesser load of sin on it when he knocks at its blessed gates. The wretch is now in the room adjoining this one." Scarcely had the* Borghese concluded, than Scarlatti quitted his companion and advanced towards him. "Prince, I accept your offer I" "Believe me, that you have done well," said Federigo. "At present, I do not know where they are," 42 - I', 1*1 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. colitinned Scarlatti, slightly frowning. "Two Guiseppe Scarlatti had ever promised you two of my band continued on with the Signor Della inches of his knife, you would have had them Torre, and to-morrow, at noon, they will have ere this, although you had never once quitted returned. At eight in the evening, myself, or the presence of the Holy Father; or know that Andrea, will await your brother in the tombs by if he had failed to keep his promise, by St. Mi- the bank of the Tiber-the same among which chael! but my wrist should have keptit forhim !" Andrea first had the honor of making his ac- As he finished addressing Guilio, the burly quaintance. Until that time I shall bid you ruffian turned to Federigo. farewell." "Listen, my prince. You I like. So fine a "Can we trust you?" asked Guilio. fellow and so true a friend must, some day or "You do not know me !" said Scarlatti, with other, turn out a capital hater. Send for An. an angry gesture, "or you would scarcely ask drea, if ever you have an enemy !" me that question. Can I be trusted, Andrea? With a strangely significant touch on the hilt Answer him." of the long knife that was concealed in the bosom Andrea stride heavily up to Guilio. of his vest, he again turned and paced out of "Hark ye, young springald !" he said. "If the chamber at the heels of Guiseppe Scarlatti. page: 44-45[View Page 44-45] I ~11 4111 CHAPTER XI. PFA T HER A ND S O N. IT was with no little difficulty that Federigo prevailed npon their father to pardon Guilio. At first the old prince had absolutely refused to see him, and he even reproached Federigo for having permitted him to enter the palace. The younger Borghese, however, noticed that his pa-. rent did not chide him for having ransomed Gui- lio from the band of Scarlatti. " He is my son," replied the old man to the arguments of Federigo ; "but ought not that very acknowledgement of the rights he has upon my love, to have hindered him from staining his hands with a brother's blood 2" "It was but an accident-a mistake-an un- fortunate chance, my father. Guilio loves me." "An accident ! Yes, you have told me be- fore it was an accident. How can I believe you 2" - "You shall, and you must," ~replied the younger Borghese, as he drew aside the curtains,. of the bed and, showed the old prince his son. "See, he is here, my father ! Dare you add to the wrong which you have already done him- the greater one, because it strikes and bruises the very heart,-my father, of denying him your blessing 1,' And as he said this, he drew Cas- telli nearer to his parent. Tor a moment the aged prince hesitated ; he looked from one-to the other ; he traced his own youthful presence in each of those gallant boys, and all the father's blood stirred within his bo- som; he gazed upon the face of Guilio, and as - he did so, fancy brought back her whom he had wronged. Tears blinded the eyes of the .old man as he opened his arms to him. . " My son !" And Guilio was once more re- ceived into the family of the Borghese. That night, when Federigo and his brother were once more alone, Castelli turned to him after a long silence which neither of them had been willing to'break. " Tell me," said the young man, "tell me, my brother, why is it that you are so muh no- bler than I am 2" Federigo looked at him. " What are you dreaming of now, Guilio l," '" It is no dream, Federigo !-it is but the sim- ple fact. I doubted you when you were all love for me-doubted you on the score of a letter which I had chanced to find, and which, had I shown it to yourself as I should have done, would in all probability have been traced to its writer. Then I shunned you; and when I .again met you in my momentary delirium I wounded you and fled. While, on the other hand, Federigo, it is to you, and you alone, I owe the summons which has called me back and reconciled me to the only one, save yourself ' THE ROMAI I V and Anna Blrigni, who has ever shown me affec- tion." ' " And, my brother, shall I tell you what the reason of this is ?" " Yes." . "Simply, my poor boy, that you are in love, while I am not ; and in truth, if this indeed be love, I doubt much whether I ever have been or ever shall be. But I feel wearied, Guilio, and have need of rest." He rose from the chair on which he was sitting, us he said this. " Will you summon Giorgio 2" "Nay, to-night, Flederigo, let me supply the place of your servant." The younger Borghese smiled as he accepted his brother's assistance, and retired to rest. Gui- lio sat beside the bed as Federigo slept. A thousand strange and bitter thoughts were whirl-. ing through his brain-yet, singular as it was, his love seemed at peace. He was now convinced that the Brigni did not love Federigo-or, rather, he was confident that Federigo did not love her --and this, comforted him. That Bernardo would attempt-now that he had her so entirely in his power-every means to win her, he did not doubt ; but his -soul whispered to him that .she eared not for Della Torre. " She loves him not," he muttered, "andshe never will and never - . N SOPRANO. 45 can love him.- Did she do so, I, myself, could forgive her for throwing her affections away upon one from whom she could expect no re- turn." Yet, as Guilio said this, the leaven of hatred arose within him. He clenched his hand, and rising to his feet, strode across the cham- ber ; he approached one of the lofty windows, and drew the curtain from before it, and the broad moonlight poured in a checkered stream along the marble floor, and as the cold yet bril- liant beam fell upon him, it stilled and calmed his heart ; he leaned upon the balustrade that protected the window from the- garden, and as he felt the cold wind of night sweeping across his brow, he leaned upon his hands and for the first time iu many days he wept ; but the tears that he shed were not tears of bitterness and sorrow-they were rather the drops that flow from the heart when it is relieved from the weight of anguish and despair which has so long been oppressing it ; he felt within his soul that his sorrow had passed away from him. Two weeks since, and he felt that he had been no more than a mere boy ; but a new birth had taken place within him; his past lifeggas now blotted out-the boy was dead, and Ill is place stood the conscious, bold and daring man. page: 46-47[View Page 46-47] A; CHAPTER XII. THE USE OF A LIEUTENANT-. ATlesgth the evening of the day following had arrived, and- Guilio-for whom Borghese's influence with the Pope had procured a ready pardon-.-quitted the side of his brother. Leave of absence had been granted him for a week, and in that time he hoped again to see her. "Farewell, Federigo I" he'had said. " I would not--nay, you know that Icould not-leave you, but--"' ' " That she is in peril. Go, mio caro I" As Guilio pressed the hand of his brother, he murmured a blessing on him; the instant after- wards he was gone. ' The evening service was chanting in the Sis-. tine Chapel as he entered it, and knelt in that wondrous place of. prayer. The mighty sibyls and glorious prophets of Michael Angelo stood out upon the walls and ceilings ; they seemed in the partial gloom that pervaded it, even grander and more august than they had ever before ap- peared to him. The magnificent processions, the beautiful groups of angels, the bold fore- shortenings, the determinate force with which each figure sbems to breathe upon the plaster, were revealed in the awe and grandeur of the gathering gloom to his adoring soul. Often had he stood there, hut never before had this start- ling sublimity seemed so wonderful to him as it 41id now to that kneeling man. Before him, on the background of the chapel, was the greatest painting that dead or living artist has ever given. Like a marvellous jewel, set in that giant-world of art, stood out Angelo's Last Judgment. Christ stood upon the clouds, while from his mother, and the apostles gathered around him, rises the passionate prayer of the painter for the whole human race. The dead burst from the heavy gravestones under which they have for ages lain ; blessed spirits break from their cerements, and float upwards on the wings of their adora- tion, whilst beneath then yawns the bottomless abyss to seize its miserable victims. Despairing, they strike their brow with their clenched hands as they sink into its depths. With a strong and earnest hand has Angelo limaned in color that which Dante saw and sung. The most wondrous painter that the world has yet produced there asserts his right to stand in the might of his far- reaching spirit beside the greatest poet to whose breath man has ever listened-for Dante is the Isaiah of the lyre,. When Guilio at length arose, he felt that he was stronger The gorgeous inspiration had passed within him, and as he left the chapel, the gathering gloom of twilight fell around him, calm in the midst of that hope which was to him a prophecy. He mounted his horse, teased a coin to the boy who hel ,alloped down I Rome.- Two hours afterwards he had reached the spot which Scarlatti had appointed.for their meeting. There was the Tiber, darkened by the, night ; the huge tomb, with its disjointed and' crumbling .masonry ; the low and shiny bank near it ; and around it, darkness and gloom, for aot yet had the moon arisen. Castelli dismounted. The bandit had not yet arrived. After throwing the bridle of his horse around the branch of an arbutus that had rooted itself between two of the fragments of fallen stone, he felt his way into the interior of the tomb. The burnt out brands of a fire, now nearly de ad, were smouldering upon the hearth, and by their still red light the whole interior of the tomb was visible. It was, what in the preceding ages might -have been a family burging-place. The low and narrow chamber in which he for the seconadime stood, was surrounded by two rows of small niches, and some were still covered over with mosaic, defaced, yet still. exquisitely beau-. tiful. From others, this covering was rudely broken away, whether for the sake of convenience ,by its chance occupants or in the search for trea- sure, it would be impossible to say ; neverthe- less, they were very certainly in use now--for as Gulio cast his eyes upon them, he saw sundry bottles in one; in another was a, quarter of a sheep, recently killed, as it would appear ; and over the edge of a third, hung one of the com- mon sheep-skin coats worn by the Roman peas-. atry. The atmosphere Within the tomb was al-. most stifling, and he again merged into the air. As he did so,.the tramp of horses was heard. It paused almost close to him; he heard the click of a pistol-lock, and almost immediately after, a voice cried out : " Who's there ? Speak, or I fire ?" Guilio recognized the voice of Scarlatti. " It is l1-Guilio Castelli I" was his immediate answer$ "You are punctual, signor, aud i am not," said Guiseppe. " May I crave your pardon ?" As the brigand said this, Guilio heard the un-. mistakeable grin of Andrea. The rascal seemed to enjoy the unimpeachable politeness of his captain, who had, immediately after speaking, dismounted from .his steed. Scarlatti then ap- proached Guilio, and laid his hand upon the arm of the young man. " Come with me into the old bone-house," he said. "I have mn eh to say to you." He then fe a~to the interior of the tomb, and thrusting his hand into the interior of one of the niches, to which we have before alluded, he dragged out three or four pieces of dry pine, which he placed upon the smouldering embers before referred to. In a brief space, they burst into a blaze which illuminated the whold of that strange chamber ? "Do you yet know where she is ?" demanded Castelli, " Wait a moment, signor. All in good time," answered the brigand, as he thrust' his hand into the niche in which the quarter of a sheep was lying, ands drew from it a huge pasty. '"I have just ridden twenty-seven miles, and have touched nothing since mid-day. You must have patience with a half starved man 1" Guilio fiung himself upon the groupd, impa- tiently, as Scarlatti drew a bottle end cup froln the other niche, and pushed them towards him. S"Will you drink, signor ?" he asked. Without answering him, Guilio took the cup and filled it. As for Scarlatti he was lost-in the enjoyment of his senses. The form of Andrea stood in the doorway of the tomb. "May I not enter, captain ?" he almost groaned, as he witnessed the huge inroads which were being made upon the contents of the pie. "No !" answered the brigand; "I am en- ga d." "But I am hungryy" "You will have to cook your supper," an- swered the'-chief, pointing with one hand to the mutton, as his other was still engaged in per- forming the duties of a fork. Andrea retired with a groan. " He! he ! he 1" laughed Scalratti, as he com- pleted his repast, and pushed the large platter, which was thoroughly empty, from him; "that fellow will never learn any respect for my dig- nityl" He stretched out his hand to the cup, which must have held move than a pint, filled it, and emptied it at 'a single draught. Re then took out a cigar, lit it, and extended another to Cas- telli. "Will the signor not smoke ?" he said, as he did so. " I thank you, not now," replied the young Roman. " Well, then, Let us to business." Guilio sat up opposite Scarlatti, who was lean- lug upon his elbow, in a half-recumbent posi- tion, est the other side of the fire. It was a I THE ROMAN SOiPRANO. 47 page: 48-49[View Page 48-49] I 48 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. strange scene, and might have afforded scope for a clever artist to embody it. The glimmering flame from the burning fire fell fitfully and bril- liantly upon the low roof of the tomb. Here it caught upo'n the flashing colors of a piece of mosaic that was half concealed by the shadow thrown front the body of the bandit, which was traced upon the wall in gigantic proportions. There it was lost in the darkness of one of the broken cavities, eazl here again it streamed through the doorway of the sepulchre uron the fallen stones, and the branches of the straggling shrubs waich grew without it. The face of Guiseppe Scarlatti, himself, caught the light more strongly upon its outlines than did any other object, and its singular and almost grotesque character might have induced one to believe that it was the carved image of an old faun, were it not for the roguish and malicious twinkle of the eye which played and flashed al- most incessantly, while the rest of the features were perfectly motionless. "I have not discovered where she is." "No !" cried Guillo, as he started to his feet; "then why did you not send to-" "Because that would have been useless, sig- nor. Sit down and listen to what I have to say." Guilio obeyed the imperative motion of Scar- latti's hand, as he continued: "It would he better, perhaps, that you sl%~1d hear it from the men who accompanied them. Shall I call them? They are without." "No," answered the Roman; "let me hear it from yourself. But at once, I implore you." The bandit smiled bitterly. "flow impatient love ever is !" he muttered; and then he went on. "At the post-house, a quar- ter of a mile ft-tim where he stopped, Della Torre procured another carriage. During his brief ab- sence the Signora Anna, and the old lady who had been stolen with her,-a very curious taste he must have to steal an old woman of sixty," interjected Scarlatti,-" prayed and entreated my men to allow her to fly. She offered them her jewels, money-enough to make them rich ftir life-would they only permit her to escape." "Whydid they not do so?" passionately de- manded Castelli. "Because they had no orders from me to do so," answered the bandit; "because they knew that theirs would have been an extremely short shrift when I once knew it." He paused, as if for Castelli to answer him; but finding he did not, he continued speaking "When Della Torre returned with the carriage which he had procured, they were compelled to enter it; and for the first four miles, the men who rode beside it heard loud voices within. These by degrees died away, and all withiii the carriage was still and early on the following morning they arrived at Terracina. To the as- tonishment~ of Paulo,-for the other is a fool, and is never astonished at anything,-Della Torre and the ladies drove up to the principal hotel, and there he dismounted and inquired for rooms. Certainly, they could have a magnifi- cent parlor-all the parlors in a hotel are mag- nificent-and two chambers adjoining it. Della Torre handed the ladies out of the carriage, - paid my men the remainder of the sum which it had been stipulated he should give me for my assistance,~and then returned into the inn. Paulo and his companion went to an acquaintance of mine who does business for us, and there break- fasted. Poor fellows, a bottle of brandy had been all they had since seven on the preceding evening. Some two hours afterwards they again made up their minds to return. One of them thought it might be best to inquire whether Della Torre intended stopping there. It was Paulo, of course. Vou know that subsequent business, as indeed it proves now, might have required that knowledge. Paulo is essentially a man of the world; he ought to he my lieu- tenant; but mutele is a great advantage to au- thority, and so the Hercules, who is waiting for his supper, is. However, Della Torre was ready gone, and what is more singular, the two ladies had accompanied him. 'And on which road?' asked Paulo. The waiter was an old friend of his, and he had occasionally taken a purse or two; hut in a contemptible way. Be- ing a coward, he hesitated. Paulo slipped a scudi into his hand; the love of money overcame him, and he chuckled as he said, 'The road to Naples!' They immediately turned from the door of the betel, and presented themselves be- fore me this morning, having occasion to do a little business on their road which somewhat de- tained them." Guilio had listened to the details that Scarlatti had given him with amazement. What power could Bernardo so suddenly have acquired over Anna Brigni I What was it which could have induced her so suddenly to accompany him from Terracina? Did she-but, no that was abso- lutely impossible-at le so he fancied. He then looked at Scarlatti, a curiously THE ROMAN SOPRANO. watching the change and emotion traced upon his face. "Well, what do you intend doing l" he asked. "The soprano would seem to have suddenly grown reconciled to the scoundrel. He, of course, must be the basso-bassi are always scoundrels," muttered the ex.vocalist. "Has my employment in this matter ended I" "By no means I" "I am glad to hear that," replied Scarlatti. "One cannot-'-skilful financier as one may be- every day manage to pick up two thousand scudi." "We will proceed to Terracina." "Most certainly, if you wish it." "And that instantly." "0, no, signor! We shall have to wait while our worthy lieutenant is refreshing his inner man. Besides, Paulo, and my namesake, Gui- seppe, are both excellent trenchermen. You will excuse their intrusion, I feel certain. I will take the liberty of calling them. Hallo, Andrea 1" "Well!" roared, rather than spoke, the fero- ciously hungry voice of Scarlatti's lieutenant. "You can enter if you will." Andrea rushed rather than strode into the tomb. He hounded towards the empty platter, seized it, looked into it, and groaned audibly. Paulo had sprung on the quarter of spring mut- ton, and had already commenced carving huge collops from it; the namesake of Scarlatti heap- ad more wood upon the fire. Andrea bent over it, and looking like a famished bear, commenced 49 cooking the steaks. Castelli felt oppressed by the dense and heavy atmosphere in the tomb- still more, perchance, by the bustle of so savage a life as that which he saw around him and he rose and stole opt into the open air. When, in half an hour, he again entered the tomb, Guiseppe was stretched nppn the floor sleeping, and the other three had finished the quarter of the sheep between them. Its bare bones were scattered upon the rough and uneven earth, which formed the floor of that rude chain- ber, and three or four emptied bottles were strewn upon the ground. They were engaged in drinking. Paulo, who, as far as Guilio could see by the light of the fire that had again burnt low, was a sensible-looking and handsome little rascal, with ~prodigiously broad shoulders, inti- mated to Andrea that he had better wake the captain. Andrea complied with his request, and bend- ing over him laid his hand upon his shoulder. The latter yawned, stretched out his arms, swore a fierce oath or two, and rose. Then he saw the Roman gentleman standing near to him. With the bow and the smile of the man of the world, he murmured an apology, and led the way into the open air. In five minutes more, Gnilio's horse-to which Andrea had adminis- tered some of that mixed provender which is generallynsed by the Roman jockies-wasbound- ing over the Campagna. They were upon the road4Terracina. 2 - page: 50-51[View Page 50-51] .4 CIIAPTER XIII. Tirn inDuctIoN. We m~xst once more return to our heroine, j form. All she could indeed see of him was ait Anna l3rigni. Our readers may remember that 'indistinct and 'vague outline, which presented it was in the second street from the Teatro AII. nothing to her memory. berto that the carriage had heen~ stopped. At One of the Colonnas had shown her some at~ that hour-she had Ic-IL the theatre it may~ l&~e- tensions; but he was a young man, and would membered at a quarter to nine-~-this thorbfl~1i- scarcely haVe 4arcd to commit such an outrage rare was but little frequented. It was in conse- on a lady who had received the patronage of the quence of this that Bernardo Della Torre had Princess Borgh Cotild the old banker, Tor- eelected It as the secne of the coup de mein which logna, have-but I he had never even breathed ~se had determined upon attempting~ The door a word of love her. Who was it, then'! It of the carriage was thrown open and a cavalier was strange that her thoughts never recurred to entered. Such was the darkness of the, street in the Piedniontese. An~ yet, perhaps, it -was Which they then were, that she was unable to scarcely so, and the whole proceeding was so discern who it was. She cried out, but the car- daring in its nature, so impudently bold, that she tiage was already in motion, and the clattering could never have realized to herself the fact that of the hoofs of Scarlatti's horse, and those of Bernardo Della. Torre could have undertaken his followers, joined with the whirr of the rapid it. wheels in drowning the sound of her voice. Could it--must it not be Guillo! Iler heart )3ernardo had by a heavy bribe ensured the gates beat as the thought rushed through her brain. being opened to him, and his servant had ridden Yes I yes 1 it must be so. Who else loved her on to forewarn the guard. They swung open as as he had done Agonised by his separation he approached, and the next moment they were from her, unable to return, he had determined to beyond the Walls of Rome. bear her off and fly with her. The tumultuous Anna Brigni was now silent; but Madame blood surged heavily and quickly through her ~alicetti wept and screamed, until she was com- veins. She leaned across the carriage, and laid peeled by exbaustion to refrain from doing so. her hand upon the arm of him whom she thought Anna turned towards her captor; hut the dark- to be Castelli. As she did so a hand was clasped ness was still too 'intense for her to discern his upon hers. I 51 CC Guilio, is it you V' she murmured. Anna Brigni, beloved Anna, It is not !" She wrenched her fingers from that grasp, and fell back upon her seat. She covered her face with her hands as if to shut out the sight of him -for she had recognized that voice and knew she was in the power of Bernardo Della Torre. "Anna, you now see that my love is not light- ly to be shaken from you. Stung by your cold- ness, I determined that you should listen to 1110. In Rome you could close your doors upon me; you could forbid me to speak; you would have told to Torlogna everything. I decided on tak- ing this step; nor have I done wrong in choosing my course.,~ She wrung her hands as she heard him; she did not answer him, for she could not speak. "You are a brigand, and a good-for-nothing wretch !" screamed Madame Salicetti, as she lis- tened to him. "Only to think that I at my age am exposed to such an outrage! If it had but been the Prince Colonna, or even the Conde di Montenegro-.-bnt Jiernardo Della Torre! 01 0! I shall never recover it 1" "If it had been one of the Colonnas, madame," said Bernardo In reply to this sudden onthreak, "it is more than probable you might have for' given'him." "I !.-.-never 1" "If not at the present moment, to-morrow, or the day after; at least, I think so." There was a bitterness in his voice, which van- ished from it as he turned to Anna Brigni. "You have not answered me; nor do I desire that you should now do so. Remember that you are in my power-completely in my power, and It is at your own option how that power is to he exercised. Should you choose, peaceably, to continue the road to Naples with me; content to pass as my sister, without revealing the history of this night to any whom we may meet, my escort will be at your service. I will endeavor to erase from your mind what has gone by, with the tenderness of my passion." She made him no answer. "If you will not consent to this, I have but one recourse left. Thirteen miles from Terra. cina, there is a lone house. It stands apart from all others, and the nearest dwelling to it is at a distance of seven miles. It lies in the mountains, and thither shall I bear you." "Wretch! villain l"screamed the old lady, as she listened to his threat. "'Madame," said Bernardo, "the choke will be In the hands of Signora Brigni. I will but follow her will." As he said this, once again he relapsed into silence; and shortly afterwards, one of his asso- clate~, in this most daring and thus far very sue- ceesful piece of villainy, rode up to the window of the carriage and addressed~him, us the driver stopped at some distance from a tolerably, bright light that was burning before him upon the road. "There is the post-house," he said. Della Torre immediately quitted the vehicle. "I presume," he said, as he stood by the side of the man who had addressed him, "that, yoft might possibly find some difficulty in procuring a conveyance 'I" "I should think so," answered the man, with a harsh sneer upon his thee, as he gently patted the neck of his horse. It was felt rather than seen by the I'iedmontcsc. "The only one that they ever let me have was never again returned to them. As for the body of the vetturiAo, why, that was found on the road between it and Ter- raclna, and a bloody cross Was drawn on its chest I" - Bernardo shuddered as he heard this cold- blooded confession; it grated confoundedly upon his nerves. As for the driver, he cowered and crouched upon his seat, as if he bad actually felt the edge of a knife drawn across his throat. "You most lend mc y6ur horse, then." "Certainly," said Paulo, who was the speaker; and as he uttered this, he dismounted. The Piedniontese sprung upon the animal, and striking it with his heel, bounded off in the direction of the post-house, while the bandit re' manned standing near the carriage, and under the ~yes of Anna, who was barely able in that etn- certain gloom to trace his features. It has been already mentioned, that no sooner had Della Torre Left the spot, than Anna Brigni attempted to induce her captors by every bribe within her power, to permit her return to Rome; this was, however, useless. When Iernardo again appeared, she was o~$iged to quit the car' riage, and enter that which he had jsreceded back. They then continued their journey. Now, however, he had no necessity to complain tbal TRIll ItOMAN SOPRANO. page: 52-53[View Page 52-53] 62 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. the Brigni did not speak to~him. Reproach and "But they will envy me," respondedBernardo. entreaty poured from her tongue, and he was im. At last, worn out with her useless supplica- plored to return with her to Rome, or to permit tio~s, and afraId to trust herself in his power at her to return alone~ To this he was inflexible, the solitary dwelling he had mentioned as the What should she dot She would kill herself- place to which he should take her if she refused at this he laughed. Then she wept-he was to accompany him tQ Naples, sheswore to permit silent as she did so. Then she told him that him to call her his sister, and to makeno attempt his conduct was ~ disgrace to the very name of to escape t)~om him. Then, worn out by her gentleman. fruitless supplications, she threw herself back in "It may be so," said he. the corner of the carriage, and clasping the hands "There is no Italian that will not point at of Madame Salicetti in her own, she attempted you, and call you a lacks 1" 1 to sleep. - Naples they would be filled properly. At all events, that luggage had enabled him to avoid the suspi~ionswhich their travelling without any would in all probability have awakened. Anna was sitting in her chamber. She had breakfasted there and had since dressed herself at, the urgent entreaties of Bernardo, conveyed t~Iier through Madame Salicetti. lie was more than anxious to arrive in a large city; not, per- haps, that he actually fired pursuit, as that he fancied-should suc~s a pursuit take place-it might be far more easily avoided in Na~1es than in such a mere tarrying-place as D~[ola di G&4ta. Her head was now leaning upon her hand as she sat near one of the windows of 'her room gazing wistfully and sadly upon the iirsgniAcent scene that lay beneath it. Before her were the woods of orange and lemon trees, intermingled with the majestic Cypress, rows of which form the boundary of the garden. Beyond theta stretched the clear and heaven-blue Mediterra- nean, dashing its waves of sapphire above the broken masonry of Romanbath and ancient tem- ple ~ntside the wall of that lovely spot., Boats, with their white sails spread, in the distance, balanced themselves like birds upon that azure and tideless sea. e CHAPTER XIV. AN UNExrEOTED RaCOGNITION. IT was on the second morning after the details given in our last chapter, that a travelling car- riage was drawn up before the door of the hotel, called Cicero's Villa, in Mola di Gacta. A party of travellers, who had arrived there at noon on the preceding day, and had been com- pelled to remain there during the evening in con- sequence of the illness of the younger lady-a woman "bsl!a corn' en' angela," said the host,- were now about to proceed to Naples. Every- thing was correct. Anticipating that the Brigni would rather consent to travel on with him to the loveliest city in the world, as his sister, than remain a prisoner in the habitation to which he had proposed to take her, passports had been provided are hehad quitted home; Bribery will do anything in Papal or Neapolitan Italy. The only difficulty to a stranger is to measure its amount. Della Torre was a native of Genoa, and he had lived in Rome, conseq~iently he had not paid one scudi too much for what he wanted. At Terracina he had, moreover, taken advantage of their brief pause to provide a sufficient amount of baggage. At present, it is true, his rrunks were filled with hay; but what didthat matter? A liberal fee at the frontier of the kingdom of Naples had prevented their being opened, andat 4 page: 54-55[View Page 54-55] 54 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. But indescribably lovely as was the scene that lay stretched before her eyes, they were almost unconscious of its fairy beauty. Her thoug~$s were far away-they were with Guillo- Singular as it may seem, her sense instinctively felt-nay, it knew that the young Castelli had returned to Rome. And if it indeed were so, what must he ~ow think of her? What was there that he would not he told of her? Should he see Tor. logna, what would not the wealthy banker im- pute to the vanished vocalist? And, moreover,1 whit by any chance could he hear that would he worse for him to know, than the fact that she was travelling to Naples, under the care and with the assumed title of the sister of Bernardo Delia Torre. The name might be assunled; fbr a while it might hide her shame, but s~&iier or later it must. be known to him, and then where should she hide herself? Alas! she could but die. As these thoughts crossed her mind, Madame Salicetti rushed into her chamber. Annalooked at her with, such a woe-stricken expression of countenance that at any other time the old lady would have been terrified. Now she laughed, with the tears of her joy standing in her eyes. "Anna! mia figlia Anna! we shall not have to go on to Naples I" she cried' out; and she clapped her hands together as she said so. The Brigni still luoke4 at her without speak- ing. "0, it is true, my child Vengeance ~ias found him out. He had fancied he was to have it all his own way, the wretch 1" "What is it?" said Anna Brigni, risingto~r feet, as she spoke. At that moment the death of Bornardo would have caused her, no sorrow. "'Torture me not, but tell me I" "The villain has fallen 4own, and his leg is broken. How I wish it were his neck I', an- swered Madame Sailcetti.' Nevertheless, grieved as we are to record the fact) we are obliged to state that this, was a gross exaggeration of the elderly lady's. He had gene into the city-if, indeed, it is to be called' a city -'of Gaeta,,sn hour since, 'after leaving orders for everything to be in readiness for their de parture. Here a misfortune had befallen him- he had fallen and had severely sprained his an- kle; this, ladeedso severely that he was obliged to be borne home to the hotel in the carriage of a wealthy Englishman, who happened tobe pass- ing at the time when he had met with the acci- dent. Now it- so chanced that this Englishman had heard the hotel-keeper's report of the singular beauty of the Signor ]3ernardo'a sister, and, though "bella corn' un' angela" is an exceedingly common style of eulogy in that most hyperboli- cal of all climes-Italy being, like the greater portion of your travelling idlers, a great admirer of female loveliness, the Hon. Lumley Ferrers was extremely anxious to see her. The fact, too, that he had assisted her brother, gave him a pretext for gaining admission to her presence. He would take the liberty of visiting 'her and informing her of his accident. He accordingly committed his card to the charge of one of the waiters, and instructed him to rcrjuest the honor of an interview of a few momesiti with the sig. a nora. "Do you know him I" asked the Brigni of Madame Salicetti, showing her the card. "I believe," said the waiter, being very aux- ions to forestalLthe Hon. Mr. Lumley in his de. livery of the intelligence, and laying himself out to be questioned; "I believe i~hat he visits you, signora, at your brother's request." To his astonishment, no question was put to him. "He wishes to inform you of tIed accident that has happened to the Signor Bernardo." "I suppose that we must see him, then." "Yes, you can admit him," said Madame Bali- cetti to the waiter, who stood near witlihis budget of news trembling on the tip of his tongue. Corn. pletely baffled, the mai~ withdrew from the apart. ment. Now had he either s~i4 nothing, or chosen to say ~verytbing that he knew, it is more than probable that Anna Brigni would have declined l~eing intruded upon, and have entrusted him with a polite message to that effect. And had Anna I3rigni done so, it is barely possible that sheinight not have been discovered by the Sig- nor Castelli for many weeks. We merely men- tion this for the sake of proving to the readers that even a travelling linglishman and his inva-, riable curiosity may at times be converted by chance into an actual utility. TheHonorable Mr. I~umley Ferrers was ehown into the chamber by the domestic, who imme- diately quitted it. The Signora Brigni rose from her scat to receive him. Mr. Ferrers bowed and 9 'A~. T~ P4QM4N SOPB~AX~O. . 55 looke&roriously at the Sigstura Anna.' He then "I mea~the lady who is ~tpreseet'residh~. examinedMa4~e Salicetti. Had he seeneither under that name in the hotel." of theas before,? He then stated the accident ~ "I never saw her, sir." that had befallen her bri~ther-lwj- brother! "Well, that lady is-." "The Signor Bernardo de__" The ears of the domestic were wide open for "Vea~aini," interposed Madame Salicetti, with the reception of his master's secret; but his a very husky cough, as if she had resisted a very curiosity-if, indeed, he had any,.-was not des- great temptation in not allowing the Th~igni to tined ~ hegratified, for at this momenta gentin give ntt~anee to his realname. "Yea;, the Signor-" tap was heard on the door of the chamber. ' Yeramii" said Madame Salicetti, as he "Now, who the deuce is it I" ejaculated the paused, Honorable Lumley Fer~ers, as he caught the "True-.the Signor Veramil" sound. The valet immediately crossed the apartment, He made a low bow as he said this, and glanc. and opened the door. In glided Madame Sa. ed inquiringly in her face. Anna did not blush licetti. as he did so, and she was dead to the suspicions , "I trust my lord will pardon," said the elderly that were at work in the Englishman~s mini ~ "I trust that the effects of this accident ~ , with a profound courtesy, "my unwar- rantable intrusion upon his privacy." be very slight for the sakelif the Signor Verami ~ "Place the Signora Verami a chair,~" Wil- sister!" liam !" uttered his naster. He again looked at her with more curiosity. It was brought to her. "I trust that you will not terrify yourself "To what am I indebted fos~ this honor, ma- about it !" She is iteither his sister nor his lady.love, he dame I" thought, as he witnessed her immobility. The respectable Salicetti glanced at the do. mestic. "I-in fact.-." and as no sign of acknowledge. "Good heavens! is she in love with him?" ment for the intelligence he had given her was inquired the valet of himself. vouchsafed him, he bowed once more and took his leave. had "You can leave us, William," said Mr. Per. rers. After quitted the apartment of Anna "Good heavens I" muttered the valet, as he Brigni, Mr. Ferrers retired to his own chamber, looked at his master's face; A~ he certainly can. His valet was occupied in arranging his gar- not be in love with her 1', ments for the afternoon, in case his master should take it into his hcad to dress for dinner. Now He then once more examined Madame ~Salic. this valet was a so human reservoir, into ~tti from top to toe., which his master w e habit of pumping ~fl ~ "Williaiii !" his secrets for the purpose of having them ready The valet turned, bowed, and quitted the at a moment's 'notice whenever he might want apartment. them; and consequently no sooner had he seated "Now I am at your service, madame~" at. himself, than he coughed slightly and called him tered the Englishufan. towards him. "Milord, I thought that I had more courage; The confidential domestic having folded his but I find that lam totally unable to-"'- master's coat, andplaced it on one of the chairs, "I beg that you will not let my presence tee. advanced until, he conceived himself within a rify you, Madame Verami." respectful distance of him from whom he ,~ "My name, milord, Is not Madame Veratni. ceived his travelling expenses and forty pounds I must tell you that it is-" ~ year. "Madame Salicetti I" said Ferrera, complet.~ "Yes, sir." ing the unfinished sentence for her, "What do you imagine I hare discovered, "Ah! I was verta4n that you knew it, mi. William ?" lord." "I really can~lot imagine, sir." "Who that has once seen the Brigni, taa- "You have seen the Signora Yeran~i s" dame, could ever forget her or any one that ia~ "No, sir." connected with her?" uttered tile Englishman, page: 56-57[View Page 56-57] 56 I THE ROMAN BOFRAiI~). in *btt he intended to be a most touching tone With the natural ifl5tlflet.Of his cOttflti7, she of voice. had no sooner spoken of the mis~rab~e poSition As he said this, he laid his hand upon his in which she and Madeteolselle Brigni were heart. placed, than he had concluded that she wanted "~1lIord Ferrers," replied the old lady, "I money.. really em exceedingly indebted to you; your "Sir!" uttered the old lady~ with a gentle kindness loosens my tongue. I have come to touch of indignation in her voice, "you entirely? implore you to relieve &yse)f and Mademoiselle misinke me." Brigni from an extremely miserable position, "Then, madame, you will perhaps have the in which we are, both of us, placed at the pres- kindness to explain yourself snore cleitld3r." ent moment." Madame Salicetti accordh1~ly commenced her "Madame," said Mr. Ferrers, rising, and explanation, the result of which will appoS.r in making a step towards the escriteire, that stood the ensuing chapte~. at the fu~ther~ end of the apartment, "may I ask how much you request1" ~ S a. DX~LLA Tosnus bore the sprain, which now confined him to his a~nrtment, by no means Jn the most exemplary or Christian-like manner. lie swore at the waiters of the hotel.~-for your Italian can distend ~his sweet lungs in a style that would astonish Aiiierican or English ears, accustomed as these are to every sort of that refined mode of amusement. He invoked the assistance o~f the Pope d theVirgin Mary in a mailer which aSton ed even the domestics of Cic6~re's Villa, used as they ~were to the prayers and OoShs of every nation under the sun, Then he wept, and wept bitterly, for your real and thorough'hred Italian has no shame in shed- ding tears. But after all, he was obliged to wait for the physician. Unfortunately for him, the physician -for hewasthe onlyrespectable one in Gacta- had a prince for a patient. He, it is true, was an Italian one, and con~equently by no means a lucrative sufferer. still, he was a prince, ~and lives' four miles ou~of the town. When the physician had been$~sent fo~~ was at the prince's villa. What was to be Aone V' At length-it was more than two hours after the accident had occurred-one of the servants ~f the hotel entered Della Torre's apartment. "Where is the accursed physician I" roared out the savage sufferer. "He has not yet arrived." "What do you want, then I" "Mi$lord Ferrers wishes to speak wIth tIws~- nor." "Show him in, then," said Della Terre. The moment afterwards Lumley Ferrers was standing before him. He was dccompanied by Madame Salicetti. Della Torre'Veaped up on the sofa on which he had been lying, forgetful of his pain andet~ everything else when he saw her. He at once divined that the old lady had aj~peal~d to the English gentleman's sense of honor, and felt that the prize, for whose possession ~ grievously compromised himself, wasirt~r. ably taken from his hands. "Madame," he began, but was interrupte~l ~ once by the Englishman. "Sir," he said, "you ha~& donp a gr4vous: injury to this lady and the charming Mademoi. selle Brigni, whom I have just 1e~t4 Xou h~ve wantonly'broken her engagement; you have iv- retrievably compromisedher eha~aeter. She has, by the advice of her friend, Madame Salicett4 placed herself under my protection." "Do you mean to tell me-" commenced Della Torre. "Nothing but what every gentleman wouM feel himself called upon to say." CHAPTER XV. ~JE TR ATJ~!RP APPEAL TO TEE LEGAL AUTEORITZES. page: 58-59[View Page 58-59] 68 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "Sir I" screamed, rather than said, the Pied- "I swore to nothing I" she replied, with a montese, as he raised himself to his full height, smile of triumph upon her lips as she did so- and sank back almost immediately, from the "The Brigni promised you, and she has kept pain the exertion caused him, "you take the her promise. I was too insignificant-too worth- advantage of my condition to insult me I" less for so great a man as the Signor Bernardo Ferrers bit his lip in his wrath. He had Della Torre to waste one single thought upon." hoped that the exposure might have inspired the Then she swept from the room, followed by young Italian with isome sense of sh~me. Ferrers. The pride of that moment almost "You shall answer for this when I recover 3" plucked fifteen years from her. No sooner were said Della Torre, shaking his clenched fist at the they standing in the passage, than the English- Englishman. man turned to her. "Signor," replied Lumley, drawing himself "Madame," he said, with a slight, cold smile, up as he looked contemptuously upon the Geno- "you have heard everything which has passed. see, "in my country, the first lesson we are I trust you are satisfied with my conduct." tiseght is never to do anything that we are either "Milord, you must pardon me for insisting ashamed or afraid to answer." upon accompanying you; but--" Della Torre groaned; but it was with the "You were so -innious to hear all that passed." agony caused by his injury, rather than his "I confess, rniiord, that I was." shame. "Because you feared that my love of note- "My business here, sir, was to inform you riety might manage to give a somewhat scanda- that as the ladies, who arrived with you at this bus color to the suddendetermination of the hotel, do me the honor of placing themselves Briguil." under my charge " "You must forgive me, milord." "Well I" 'sneered the helpless villain, who lay "Most certainly," answered Lumbey. en the couch opposite him. It was, nevertheless, with a very sour infiec- "And as the. Signora Brigni will not be well tion of the voice that he did so. His pride was enough to return to Rome-~whither I propose evidently hurt by the implied suspicion. accompanying herself and Madame Sahicetti- "Besides, milord," said the Salicetti, "I until the morrow, you will do me the favor of feared lest words might have passed ~between refraining from annoying them, either bj letter you which would have provoked~-" or message. Your presence-" "A duel. Pshaw, madame 3" - "I am unable to ~ge upon them., And what, "Precisely." sir, if I do not choose tQ comply with your com- "Madame, whatever your age may be,"-- mand l~' ejaculated the Genoese, as a fierce Madame Salicetti bridled as he said this,-" you glance of hatred shot from his snake-like eyes can very well imagine that no man ci~n fight, at Lumley~'errers. when his ankle-bones out if joinl. While "Unfortunately, in that case, I should be in addition to this, Ihad pledged myself to ac- obliged4ojnake an application to the legal au- company you and the Brigni to Rome. He was t~oritie~ of Gacta, which might, probably, some- quite safe for the present whatever his ~osition what in~uvenience you." might have been. Afterwards-" Della ~o'rre looked and felt like a wolf that "You cannot mean to-" 1 taken in a trap. "Favor him with my opinion ofhis conduct; A "Any apology which you may on reflection most certainly, I do. And now, madanie, I tlxi~ikfit to address to either of theseladies, must shall place my servant at your disposal for the pass through my hands." - remainder of the day. To-morrow I intend to "Madame 3P' cried Bernardo, bitterly, be'ndi*ag have my carriage in readiness to receive the his savage glanre upon the Balicetti as he spoke, Mademoiselle: Anna at ten o'clock Will you "admirably have you and the Brigni kept that do m~ th~favorbf telling her so?" ' premise youswore to I" noted all this, he felt that he, too, could love her; he bent towards her, and said: "I no longer marvel, mademoiselle,.that the Signor Bernardo should have dared anything In his hopeless~ passion.~' The Brigni's arm trembled as she withdrew It from his. For a short space his brow clouded; then he again bent over her and whispered: "Do not fear me, Anx~a Brigni! I might have loved you; but I feel that it would be an intuit to address'you such a passion ast 4uld alone offer. You are securedwbilewltis 4*'from any- thing verging either on love or adunlsatlon." He then relapsed into his usual phlegm~--we will presume that he called it stoicism; it is a grand name, but we will allow it in conaidesa- tion of the service that he had rendered t* the soprano. They were now rolling upon thread to Rome. "What is the matter, ff10 cara," said her con~panion, "that you are so silent? A*'e you not ~ tba~ odi~ns Dalla Terre?" "Ver~,very glad," niurinured the Bolognese, ss~she again relapsed into reverie. She was lost In the thoughtpfvhatC~ni must th uk~fher, for we have before she was eonvinced-although~aiie had n~ r~a@a tQ imagine eo-~thathe had returned to Rotu~ I' CHAPTER XVI. THE DISCOVERY ARD THE TLIdIIT AT ten o'clock 6n the following morning, the ~ carriage of Lumley Ferrers was waiting at the doorway of the hotel; and shortly after he led the Brigni and Madame Salicetti down the steps towards it They entered the carriage. "Do you not accompany us "" inquired'the elderly lady, as Lumley closed the door upon them. "I do, madame." "B~it howl" and she looked round as she ut- tered the question4 She saw a horse standing near the steps of the hoteL :Lumleypolnted towards it. "He is decidedly a gentleman," muttered the Salicetti; as she leaned back in the carriage. Anna Brigni bad partially recovered her spir- its, and as Ferrers had looked on her for the first moment as she took his arm at the door of her chamber to descend the staircase, he thought that he had rarely seen any one so beautiful. Her lair hair flashed in the morning light where it escaped fromher straw bonnet; her blue eyes swaxti with that mingled joy and fear which now filled her whole being; her cheeks were pale, but this onlyincreased the intellectual appear- ance of her head; and the Ihint smile that wreathed her rosy lips added an almost hale- ~ctihable loveliness to her fltee As Lumley 58 page: 60-61[View Page 60-61] 60 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. THE ROMAN SODRANO~ "I should like to know what the management of the Aliberto have done without you." "You should," questioned the Brigni. "Why, of course I should. What on earth can you be thinking of? Your absence must have rendered it impossible for them to have produced Cimarosa's new opera. I shouldn't be at all surprised if. the management were to bring an action against you for the. breach of your engagement. Damages would be very in- convenient. I feel certain that Issiac could not pay them." The name she had mentioned recalled the Brigni to herse~he remembered, and re- proached herself idferely as she did so, that for the last few days she had seemed completely to 'have forgotten her second father. How much must he have suffered; how bitterly it must have cut him to the heart, to fancy that she had quitted him, without even a word or letter to bid him farewell. It was in vain that she now attempted to frame excuses for her forgetfulness of what be must have suffered. "I was his vbild-his only one," she murmured to herself; "and unheeding all his kindness, I have suffered say thoughts to be wrapped up in the love of an- other; not one memory of his kindness a~4tened is..say heart I~' She drew her veil mere closely urerher face and answered nothing to her corn- panion, whose tongue" was;still running o~s as rapldlyaa if her only occupation in life was that of~s~klng. It was early in the morning of the second day frosn~ this, that Guillo Castelli, with his three edatpamotis, arrived in Naplei. At Terracina, Seuxl~ttti aid the two brigands had left Guiio for halt s~ AJIQSW, while he breakfasted at the hotti.. Wl~eii. they returned to hint, but for the lierculeasi al~eef Andrea, he would have scarcely recognized his cornpas4ons. QulseppewaA shaven-all but hismoustache -and in his dres~ and peraQual appearance bore vs~y much the stamp of a stray tenor in search of an engagement. A tinge of the disreputable, it l~ true~ would have attaeJ~ed to hint; bui~ this by Re~ss~sans detracted from the one or the other of his profosiQlsAlcharacters. But for the bea~'d of Andrea, he might have seemed an liluglish prize-fighter, ~li~* had made a fortune in his ealiingand ba4transututed himseh, as he haag- ias4~4slto a ge*taezsan. Hishl4e coat and brass beittps~; his splendid vest; his embroidered shirt ~n4vnr~ dirty hands were typical of the class of life we have alluded to. Paulo looked indisputably the most distinguished of the three. He might have beeu taken as one of those law- yers who are to be found in all countries. In our own they maygenerally be discovered loung- ing about the Tombs: Castelli opened his eyes as they fell upon them. "You see, signor," said Scarlatti, "it might scarcely have suited you to have h~d~ us recog- nized. Hereafter it might have beele inconveni. eat to you. You might have been taken for one of us." Andrea grinned. He would have laughed, but Scarlatti had strictly forbidden his giving vent to his mirth. That roar would have been recog- nized wherever it had once been heard. "And now, whet have you done I Have you questioned the waiter ~" asked Guiseppe. "I have; but he was unable to tell me any- thing." "Or, probably, only unwilling." "I was about to request the presence of the landlord." "It is unnecessary." Scarlatti thought a moment, and then said to Paulo: "Go down and find out the waiter who told you they, had gone to Naples. Find out the name they were travelling by. Pay him ten scudi" As Paulo quitted the room, ho took out a lit. tie book. It was quite new. He entered 2the expense. "It is a necessary one," he observed to C~stelll. "Yes, yes," uttered the other, impatiently. "He may be useful again." It need scarcely be observed that Paulo was accustomed to the orders of his captain. He gave the waiter no mbre 4than two, It was a clear gain to Scarlatti of tight scttdi. Shortly after the brigand re-entered the apartment. "What have you discovered, Paulo ?" "They started for Naples, under the names of the Signor ai~dSignora Verami," was the reply. Guillo started.. A fierce and sudden gush of jealousy blazed through him. "The lady appeared entirely reconciled to him; he, himself, handed her into the carriage. The waiter knows nothing more. "We will at agee proceed, then," replied the 'captain,-as he quitted the chamber. Guilio fol- lowed him. In five usispates more, Castel1i~ acc9nlj3anied by the three brigands, was galloping aleug~ the road to Naples. A qionsand bitter and passions ate thoughts were whirling through the brainof the young Roman. He could not believe that Anna Itrigni had, in truth, forgiven the crime of her abduction to Dellt~ Torre And yet when she was here-when she might so easily have spoken to the people of the hotel; when she could have demanded the assistance of the autho- rities-why h$ she not done so? Her silence made him suspect everything. If, indeed, ha should find that she loved another-if he were compelled by her owufree decision to resign her -then Della Torre.might take her; he would not trouble him. All he prayed for was, that never again might he be ensnared 'by female loveliness. It was in the earlymorning, as we have else- where stated, that theyarrived in ~1aples. They passed through Mola di Greta before dawn. Consequently they had not been able to make the same inquiries at Cicero's Villa which they had hitherto made at every hotel upon the road. The air was gray with the mist of early day when they came within sightof the city. Neither Vesuvius nor Capri was visible; but the corn stood juicy and green in the fields under the tell fruit2trees and poplars, round which the wanton vines twirled in hundreds of circling festoons nnd varied wreaths. "You must make our inquiries here, signo~" said Scariatti, pointing, as he spoke, to a guard- house. "I and Paulo are too well known to risk too close an inspection of our persons; and the talents of Andrea, though great in his own line of business, are scarcely sufficient to fit hint for the post of inquisitor-general, were it offered him." Castelli complied with the intimation, and rode towards the guard-house, as they entered the city. The splendid Toledo street lay before them. Tables, loaded with fruit, were standing before the doors of the smaller houses; hut, ex- cept the fruit vendors, who were preparing for their morning labors, there were few stirring in this portion of the city. Before a corner-house, the brands of a half-extinguished fire were scat- tered. Beside them lay two men, half naked. They were clad only in coarse linen drawers. Here Scarlatti paused to await the approach of the young Roman. "He is not in Naples," said Guilio, as he rein- ed in his horse at the spot where they stood. "Not in Naples I'! uttered Scarlatti. "He must be l'~ growled Andrea, with an ominous yawe. "We must have missed him by not pausing to inquire after him at Gacta," continued Castelli. "What do you now propose doing '*" "Should we not return to Gaeta, and at once I" "Decidedly," responded Scarlatil, as he swerv- ed his horee onee~gain round, to thQ entrance of the Toledo. "Look here," said Andrea, "I need an hour's rest, My horse and myself are alike worst out. The Signor Verami will not run away, if indeed he b~ there." "The Signor Veranti !" squeaked out a shrill voice, as the last words were spoken. "I should think notindecd." Theylooked round. One of the men we have noticed as lying on the ground beside the ses~sains of the fire, had partially risen. His long, and un8llorn hair fell about his swarthy brow, un- kempt and nncared for, while his keen, black eyes glared from the midst of its tangled locks with the look of a fox, who is e*cessivel.y hust- gry, and begins to scent a capon. "And what do you know about him, then ~" said Guiseppe, as his eyes fell' on the lazzarone. With a curious grin, the latter looked on the brigand- but as he did so, the smile faded u~t0,~n 2 his countenance, and a look of the darkest a~ mosivindictive hatred flashed over it. He leap.~ ed to his feet. "Well, what have you to say?" "What will you give me I" inquired the nean~ whose countenance had again relapsed into its usual apathy. Scarlatti had loosened his rein, and wsts pro- ceeding towards the city. Guilio followed him, and in another instant was riding beside him. "As soon as we reach the guard-house, dash forward !" whispered the brigand. "This fellow knows me." He then turned to the lazzarone. "Will a scudi pay you I" he asked, carelessly. "Yes." Guiseppe turned on his horse and made a sign to Paulo, who* bent across to Andrea and whispered to him. The lazzarono saw it, and With a sudden spring laid his hand on the bridle of Scarlatti's horse; at the sante instant Guillo dashed his spu~s into the flanks of his horse, anfibonuded forward, followed by Andrea and Paulo. "Hal hal" shouted the lazzarone. " so, Guiseppe Searlatti, you are in Naples ag The sentry at the guard-house sfiw the Waggle and heard th~ cry. He rushed into the room I * ~ 'A \\ page: 62-63[View Page 62-63] 62 THE 1~OMAN SOPRANO. where the soldiers were getting their soup and bread ready for their morning's meal. "Come outl-he is here I" "Who I" "Il diavolo Scarlatti I" ~In another instant the brigand, who had dash. ed the lazzarone from him, was struggling to force his waythrough the guard. Guillo looked back; the instinct of a gentleman stirred within him; he had broken bread with Scarlatti; he could not thus leave him; he slackened his horse's pace. "What are you pausing foil" asked Paulo. "I cannot leave him I" was the short answer. "Nonsense I" roared Andrea, "you must! It was his own order." "But-" "Pahaw I-you will see him again, ere noon." "Should he-" "But I tell you he commanded us to accom- pany you. Did he not, Paulo I" "Well; as you choose," replied Guilio, not, perhaps, altogether displeased to find that in pur- suing his journey back to Gauta he was but complying with Scarlatti's own wish. They were already within sight of the hotel which they had passed that morning before dawn, when Andrea's horse, which l~ad beentoil- ing heavily, fell undei~ him. A~the brigand fell with him, a fierce curse broke from his lips. "I knew it would come to this," he said, as he looked at the panting beast. "That cursed Scarlatti has no pity either for man or horse. What am I to do ~" "Provide yourself with au~ther, if it be Pos- sible, and then come on to the hotel." Castelli flung his purse upon the ground, and dashed up the street towards the doorway of the inn. TsezAandlord hastened to the entrance of Cicero's Villa, as Guilio Castelli dismounted from his steed; but the usual babble ot' a con- tineutal inn-keeper died upon his lips as he gazed upouthe young man. His attire, costly as it ~yae,~wus stained and fra$d with his rapid travel; a ghastly pallor sat upon his face; the close and matted curls of l4s~hair hung heavily athwart his brow-yet )n spite of the general disarray of his attire, there was something s~ clearly evidenced in every movement that mark- ed the gentleman, as to impress the landlord, who, without~ uttering a word, bowed and fol- lowed him into the hall on the ground floor of the hoteL Here, Guiio paused. "I wish to speai with the landlord." '~ "Hi-stands before you, excellenza." "Conduct me at once into your own room." The hotel-keeper opened his eyes. It was a traveller. Perhaps he wanted money. The landlordexamin~ed him. If~o, he had a valuable diamond pin in his cravat ihere was a watch- chain, too, hanging across, his waistcoat-of course, t~zere was a watch in it. With a low and cringing bqw, he conducted the young man te his sanetura. Castelli flung himself into a chair and exam~ med the landlord, who remained standing. The latter was completely puzzled; his penetration, acute as it usually was, found itself at fault. The manner of his singular guest was ant at all that of a man who needed money. ~ fclt partially relieved. "Have you a stranger, who names himself the Signor Verami, staying with you at present I" "Yes, excelleuza I" "He has two ladies with him; has he not I" "No, excelleuza I" "No I" exclaimed the young Roman, impa~ tiently. "Answer me tru~r, and believe me, that the information you may give me shall be well paid for." A rosy smile beamed over the round and oily face of him who rule~the spits and the warmnin~- paus, and the waiters of Cicero's Villa; he no longer believed that he required cash? "There wOre two ladies here, excellensa," he replied. "And where' are they now 1" '1They quitted the villa fot Rome, excelleaza, yesterday morningp1io~4y after ten o'clock." "For Rome I" e~oed Guillo; an4 as the a CHAPTER XVII. 8 run LAuInLORI) AurD A ~t5IW AnRIVAL. page: 64-65[View Page 64-65] 64 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. words escaped from his lips, his gladness broke As yet too young to be wholly lost to the sense out upon his face. Then he again looked at the of shame, his position with Lumley Ferrers had landlord; there was something in the expression galled his nature, and he had been writhing un- of the man's face-it was not exactly a smile- der his shame for the past few days. When he which grated unpleasantly upon his nerves, saw Guillo, he felt that he was in the presence "Were they alone ~" he asked. of one to whom he had done a great injury, and "0, dear, no, excelleuza 1" was the reply. his animal instinct to repair the~wrong by the "They were accompanied by Milord Lumley only means that the world had l~5laced in his Ferrers." power, and at the same time to revenge the in- The flush of rapture faded from the counten- suiting manner of Ferrers on his less fortunate ance of Guilio; he had met Ferrers, and had rival-for as such he regarded Castelli-woke known him but slightly. A groan escaped his within him. Ere the young Roman had time to lips; could it be truel address him, words broke likes torrent from the "I must see the Signor Verami," he said, quivering lips of the Piedmontese. rising as he spoke. "You have come to ask me for redress. I "Ccrtainly, exccllenza," and the inn-keeper know and feel it. Believe me that I shall not be immediately conducted him up the broad stair- unwilling to afford it to you in any way you may case, alongone of the corridors to the apartment choose to demand it, Guilio Castelli. At pres- that was occupied by Bernardo Della Toere. ent, I cannot stand. Wait! The first moment He paused before the chamber. that I am able to do so, shall he devoted to you. "Whom shall I announce Whatever you will, you have but to say." "No one," replied Guillo. "I will usher my- "Signor!" began Castelli; 'but ere he had self into his presence." time to continue, Della Torr~ again broke in As he said this, he flung the door open and upon his words. entered the room. The landlord was about to "I hate you, Guilio Castelli! Yen, I hate follow him, when the door was flung 16 on his you! Why, I scarcely know. That I have dealt astonished face. With the instinct of his race, ill with you, I feel; but I am sure, also, that the he knelt down and applied his ear to the key- Brigni loves you-" hole. "Loves me!" Della Torre was lying on- the sofa, near one "Ay, and therefore my hate* becomes deeper of the windows, when Castelli entered the room. and more insatiable! Giye~'tae' time I give me His sprain had been much more severe than be time !-or, if you insist upoh is, l~erabekit !" had at first imagined. Moreover, the doctor had 'As he said this, he rawe inis~&tspon ~the foun& him on his arrival in such a violent fever conch, and extended his hand as'~~t~'a~ the -provoked by his interview with Ferrers and Roman for aweapces. Guillo~s r~4j~4~.~rere for Madame Salicetti-that he had insisted upon the moment swep~'~vs3~ ~ tM~$ir4~*bich bleeding him. It was in vain that Della Ton~e' alone he had heaA'1 ~ wo'r~ M iiis~ing in had argued with him. "If he would not be his ears. iried, he might dress his sprain himself." Con- i"' Did you say that the ~I~v,~sme~"1le sequently be had been forced to submit him- asked. self to the lancet of the practitioner, and his "Yes, poor idiot !" answered t)efla. $hii't'e, rage had so greatly accelerated Iris pulse, that grinding his teeth as he spoke; "she lojr~d and more bloofi had been taken from him than was still loves you. But I-I h's~e torn her irom actually necessary. We have mentioned this, you, and now," he laughed bitterly as he spoke, tiet out of any interest that we take in the ac- and emphasized the words as if he sougI~s to client which had befalleu~ie Genoese, but to make each of them pierce more deeply, "she is account in some measure for the change tha* 'under the protection of an English nobleman, ~ came over the feelings of the yousig Roman as gentleman; and in'le~s~tha~ otherr week, i~ is. he gazed 'upon him. ' ' ~more than probabletthat the Bfigni wifl have As he looked on Della Terre's extreme pallor,' entirely forgotten' th~very existence'f and saw that he was~%ndee&t suffering, his ~pirit miserable dolts,' such contemptible two suck 'On and I-her Piedmonte~&abdactor as you calmed down. H~ 'a~nc~d towards him, as well as lssr the other hand, a fiOlsof sudden and fierce Roman lover-'-Bernardo Della Term ~ pride swept over the countenance of his rival. Castelli 1,' THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 65 With a sudden spring of wrath, the young of that sudden access of passion literally distort. Roman sprang to the couch on which Bernerdo ing his noble and singularly-expressive features. bad raised himself, while he was speaking. The "Scoundrel and liar 1" His frame shook with strength and the rage of a tiger were swelling at his fierce emotion as the words were forced the moment within him; he clutched him by the through his blanched and ashen lips. "But shoulder; he caught him up from it. As he did that you had forfeited every claim which you so a fierce yell ~f exultation burst from his lips; once had, to be considered as a gentleman; but then he swung him around in his arms and that I should contaminate myself by ridding hurled him, as a big boywould piteh a pebble, to earth of so foul a leper, I woul4 slay you. As the further end of the room. Convulsed by his it is, live-live-accursed by the memory of the anger, he bounded towards and stood pver the wrongs you have heaped upon that poor girl! breathless and panting frame of Della Torre. It Die-and may Heaven shrink and turn from was a picture that Fuseli alone could have y~u in your last hours, as I shrink and turn touched. The Genoese lay upon the ground; from you now 1" his hatred still, painted in his now flushed and As he said this, he crossed the apartment; and terror-stricken countenance. Beside him stood with the words still ringing in his ears. Della Castelli trembling with rage, the bitter paroxysm Torre saw that he was gone. 'a I page: 66-67[View Page 66-67] V CIIAPTEI~ XVIII. THE TRANELLER OvEItTAKEN. WHEN Guilio had left the hotel, the fire that Della Torre had kindled within his bosom was still blazing. He noticed not the condition of his horse; he saw not that neither Andrea nor Paulo w~re waiting for him. Without a word to the obsequious hotel-keeper, who had 'descend- 'ad the steps of the inn with -him; without be- stowing a coin upon the boy who had held his horse, he snatched the bridle from his hands, sprung upon its back, and striking it with his spurred heel, he swept up the road to Rome. "Why didn't he pay mu I" whimpered the boy. "Just catch me again trusting to a man's promise," muttered the host. "My intelligence was to be well paid for! Hang him! I believe that his excellenna is not worth a scudi !" The day wore on, and it drew near evening are Castelhi had passed the frontiers of Naples. Worn out by all which he had that day gone through the excitcmeut~pf the morning com- pletely blotted out in the deadening angui~h that mastered him as he thought that Anna Brigni was nd'w lost to him forever, he noticed not how greatly the animal which he was riding had suf- fered from the exertions which his master's will had forced upon him. For the seven or eighth time in almost as many minutes, l'e had raised his hand with the whip in it, to strike the jaded steed, when the sound of hoofs rapidly striking the ground be- hind him, caused him to tura his head. As he did so, a loud voice was heard: - "Hulk,, signor !" it cried; "but you ride fast. A pest upon it! but I had nearly ruined my animal in attempting to overtake you!" Guillo recognized the flexible accents of Gui- 'I seppe Scarlatti. lit 4~*er instant the bandit was riding beside hi~4 "You are here, the~i7 "Diavolo, signor !4~ut where' are Andrea and Paulo I" "~4id you manage to effect your escape I" "Hsi$re you killed Della Torre 'Z" - Suchwerethe first questions that broke from the two-we presume that we must not call them friends-acquaintances. Then Scarlatti looked at Guillo's horse. 'ily the rood, signor I" he exclaimed; "but your animal is in a worse condition than mine is. The heavens be thanked that we are no more than' a mile from the next post-house; there we may find fresh h*ses." "How did you escape t" askel Guillo. "I had a little fighting fot' it. Blood ran, and I got a scratch in the fight we had#" answered the brigand, pointing to ~the - I '-I with which handkerchief that was bound around his left arm was crimsoned. "However, I got away; dined at a little cottage which I know, about half a mile from the main road, on the other side of Gaeta,,and am now here. I have told you my story, Signor; I now want to hear what you have done." In a few words Guillo told Scarletti what had passed between him and Della Torre. As he de- scribed the manasr in which he 'had hurled him to the other end of the apartment where he had found him, the bandit drew back and regarded the young Roman long and scrntinizingly. "Per Bacco! but it is singular," he said "what strength rage gIves a man.' I eduld have sworn that he was big enough to eat you for a meal, signor !-and yet you talk as coolly of having thrown him across the room, as I could of eating a roasted capon. Well, well, I sup- ~ese there is something in blood after all. Not that I have found it so," he muttered, with a jocular laugh. "But all men are not ~carlattis. Aa4 now, I suppose," he continued, "you are hurrying along the road to Rome, in a fever of love and joy-" "Qf love and joy ~" answered Guillo. "Certainly; you will see the bela Brigni again, and-" "Never 1" Guiseppe cast a quick and piercing glance at the young m&n as he answered thus; then he -whistled, and looked up in the sky. Appar- ently, he did not find what he seal~ched for there, as he again bent his eyes upon Castdlli. "And why,-if I may take the liberty of ad- dressing you such a question.~-signor 2" were the words which he uttered after the lapse of a few moments. "Xiave I not told you all that he said of her ~ and"-the words ~Ime~t choked him-" that v meet" ~ "Whom t" "The Englishman-Lumley Ferrers." "You did." The young man was silent; he either could not or' would not speak. Guisdppe Scarlatti smiled. "And is this your only reason ?" "Is it not a sufficient one ~" -~ ' "The bandit laughed long and loudly as this question was put to him; then he bent from his seat, I qd across the space between him -and '(~uilit~ looked up in his face. The Roman 67 turned from him. Guiseppe laughed louder than ever. "Per Bacco !" but this is too good. Ha! ha! ha! signor; and you actually believed the scoundrel A sudden light flashed across the mind of Castelli, and he reined in his steed. Searlatti did the same. "Itwas a lie-but no !-the landlord told use they had accompanied the Englishman," said Castelli. "Of course they (lid, signor." "Amid you think-" "That nothing could he more natural. The Brigni was there alone. In all probability she was without money. She bed determined upon escaping from Delia Torre. How was she to do itt She appeals to the Englishman. Take them all in all, the Anglo Saxon is not a very bad specimen of humanity. He is indignant with Della Torre, and pays him a visit.' There, forgetting the stoicism in which every English. man is wrapped, he tells him that he ~is simply nothing more nor less than a scoundrel. After this he takes her back to Rome. Della Torre is, naturdlly enough, ia a confounded rage with him. But what can he dot You arrive there; in a few moments you enter his room. He no sooner sees yoSt than a brilliant~ thought strikes him. What if he could so arrange mat1erp aa~ make you believe that Milord Lumley~.4 thim~ you called him Luntley-had run uwey wlt'liT her t A duel, of course; must follow. After you have told the Anglo Saxon that he isa ras-. cal-which you would do whenever you ealim~ across him-an apology' 4ould be out of the question. If you put a pistol-bullet through nil- lord, he is out of the way. If, on the other hand, he ehatices to kill you-..4xi! ha! ha! On my word, it is a splendid bit of rascality! I have never known a better." Guilio had listened to ~carlatd's rapia deduc- tion of' the amount of truth whieb there was in the slander~ of Bcrnardo, with a countenance from which the clouds were rapidly e~earing. As the bandit came to an end, he said: "What an idiot I have been !" "Lovers always are idiots," muttered Scar- latti between hjs teeth, as the Roman. paused. "Then you think that she is-" "Counting the minutes as they roll on ;~ ex- pecting you to return-to Rome," was theready answer. 4 TILE ROMzAN~SOPRANO. page: 68-69[View Page 68-69] 68 TUF~ EOMAN SOPRANO. "Let ur get on to the next post-house," said Gnilio, as he again urged his steed into the at. tempt at a trot. In less 'than quarter' of an hour, they had reached it. Unfortunately no horses were 1~o be proctrindliere. Consequently theyhad~ to delay their j'6t~rney for at least taro hours. Supper was accordingly ordered. As it was preparing, Scarlatti had stepped to the window of the lbw and miserable room that~ constituted the only place for the reception of travellers who m~ht chance to alight there. Two men were riding past. The smaller of these reined in and called the attentarn of the other to one of, th~ horses which were standing at the rack to the right of ~iis house, devouring tt~eir provender.' This called Guiseppe's attention' to them. Immedi- ately afterwards they. dismounted and entered the chamber. One of the domestics was arrang- ing the table for supper, and Scarlatti looked at him and , then at 'Guillo; the latter understood him, and did not speak. "Perhaps these gentlemen would like to sup with us l" said the brigand, in the blandest of topo~ "I should," was the answer. Is was ritS4e in the harsh voice of his lieutenant. Scarcely had th~ domestic quitted the chain- be~~than Guiseppo' Searlatti turned to Paulo. An4rea~e4~already filled himself a bumpqr of vine, *pz~ one ~f Site bottles which had been " What is the reason," he asked, "that I did not find you with the Signor Castelli~trhen I @~ertOok him ?" .~4f My horse was-" commenced Andrea, with a growl. "I know your e~euse, my little lieutenant I" laughed ScarlattI~agreeably. "It is very' lucky for you that you should have such a good one. Let Paulo answer for himself." Paulo's bxown countenance whitened very via-, ibly under the sneering eye of his captain~ He seemed to be remarkably uncomfortable. Gui- seppe chucloled to him~elL "Well." "The fact was, my captain, that immediately after Andrea had provided himself with another animal-" "For whichI bad to pay a confoundedly bug price I" interjected Andrea~, taming towards Gullio. "Silence I" said Searlatti. "And just as we were about to quit the stable, where we had purchased him for the purpose of following the Sighor Castelli, I luckily happened to catch a sight of three of the Roman police, who were turning the corner of the street." "Three of the Roman police !" ejaculated the brigand. "You mast have been mad, Paulo !" "So I told him," grumbled Andrea. "You wanted me there to open~ynur eyes ~ you," said his captain, with a pleasant smile. "The eighth of an inch taken off eacir of your eyelids, would improve your sight wonderfully 1" "Perhaps so, and perhaps not," replied Paulo; but Castelli remarked that his eyelids worked very uncomfortably the while he was speaking- Scarletti's jest ev~idently struck him as having too much meaning to be very agreeable; "hut there they were, and so I laid hold of Andrea's arm, and drew him back." "And lucky was it that you did so, for~ in less than another moment, I should have walked into the midst of them," b4rst from the lips of Andrea. I'oor Andrea I" murmured Scarlatti, as he cast a comic and somewhat curious glance over the broad mould of his lieutenant's lusty shoul- ders. "Your muscles are somewhatt too neces- sary to me to be altogether dispensed with! Continue, Paulo." "They were, accompanied by three of the Neapolitan police-" "Ak !-were they?" "And a dozen or more soldiers." - "Indeed I" "I watched them as they advanced slowly up the street. Then I told Andrea to remain quiet, and slipped very' cautiously out of the stable, after them-" "Why, I ordered you to go !" uttered Andrea, striking the table impatiently with his clenched -~ r fist as he said this. The bottles and glt~sses trembled upon it, as though they had been affected with St. Vitus's dance. "Must I again request your silence l" "As Scarlatte made the inquiry, he bent ~ne of his significa~rt smiles upon his lleutenapt. ~'or a short space the latter met his eye and glared fiercely bach upon him; then 1* coWered beneath the gaze of his captain, shrank back, and his interruption occurred no more. "As I said" continu~4 Paulo, "I went out ,~ and dogged them. They followed the ro~ that led~ to' Cicero's Villa. I Saw that SignoyCas- tellfwas no longer there; they entered. ,Short- ly afterwards the Neapolitan abirri 1e~ ~otel.~ THE ROMAN SOPRANO. f39 I then managed to get hold of one of the waiters Castelli was decidedly hungry. His converse. of the inn, and__" tion with Scarlatti had restored both his love "Enough-I understand it all," said Scarlatti. and his appetite. The bottle was the only por. "Torlogna had sent on to arrest Della Torre." tion of the supper that appeared absolutely ne. "He had," replied Paulo. cessary to Andrea. He had supped with Paulo "Torlogna I" asked Guilio. scarcely an hour before. As for the last-named "Yes; he had borrowed ten thousand scudi of individual, his peculiarly agreeable captain had the old banker the day before he had quitted frightened any little appetite he might have had Rome." entirely out of him. With Guiseppe Scarlatti it Scarlatti then looked at Paulo. was altogether different. Nothing deprived his "I pardon you !" be said. more purely ani.~tal portion of its natural hun. As he uttered this, the domestic entered the ger. He could eat at any time, and he could apartment; he was laden with the viands which devour anything. In five minutes more he had had been hastily cooked for them. They were cleared out a dish of fricaseed fish, and was lost not particularly tempting, as any of our readers in the attempt to devour a plate of macenroni, will easily divine who have ever sat down to which might have in itself sufficed for the meal make a meal at an Italian post-house. However, of halfa-dozen ordinary men. 6 page: 70-71[View Page 70-71] - ChAPTER XIX. ~ltE OLD JEW-HE DESERVES TO BE A CElll5TIA~. Gun presetice is now required in Rome. Anna "Go-and at once, Guilea." Drigni had arrived there under the charge of We will not say that Guilca obeyed her mis' Lumley Ferrers-who had conducted himself in tress. She went to the Ghetto, and there told a meaner that was really exeut~ilary upon their Isaac that her lady was again in Rome. It journey. We will not dispute but it may have would perhaps he as well to mention that she occurred to the Englishman, that In this mode never returned to the Brlgni, and that very eve' alone he might hope to create rim impression upon ning Anna discovered that the girl had carried the mind of the fair soprano. If so, the labor off all her jewelry, her best dresses, together to ensure it was thrown away. Anna was too with all the money which she could lay her hands much wrapt up in the' thought of once again upon. The only time that she again saw her seeing Guilo to suffer herself to be attracted by was two years afterwards, when she was in Parish the extremely artistic reserve with which the She was then a figurante at the opera. Honorable Mr. Ferrers was painting his own To the old man that interview was possibly passion, one of the happiest which he had ever had; he Scarcely had she entered the house in which loved the girl, as a childless old man only can she had previously be~n stopping, than her ser- love the being around whom he hat wound his vant rushed up to her. She was in an ecstasy heart. From a - child she had been the only of delight to see her mistress once more; the thing which he had to love. When he first heard tears actually rained from her eyes in torrents of her absence from Rome, it had been gradu- as she welcomed her once more to Rome. After ally broken to him by his brother-and he had the Brigni had with great difficulty tamed her not then heard the report which had subse- into a respectable state of quietude, she desired quently come to his ears respecting her and her to take a flacre, and go to the Ghetto. Della Torre. He could not but believe them, "Tjiere you will ask for the Rabbi Isaac." and as he heard them he groaned in spirit over "He has been here every day, signora; five her who had been the solitary vine-shoot in his or six times every day, to inquire whether any- house. He would willingly have perished could thing had been heard of you." he only have saved her. "The poor old man I" said Madame Salicetti. When the girl fell upon his neck, he groaned "I'm sure, he deserves to be a Christian." aloud and kissed her in the anguish of his sue- I THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 71 picion. Lumley Ferrers, who had called on her tions with bonbons, when as a mere infant she an hour after he had restored her to her home, had staggered across her father's dining-room was in the room. He was scandalized at seeing towards him, and hung upon his knees, and Anna return the kisses of the old Jew. Begin- searched the pockets of his silken gaberdine to Ding to believe that she might possibly be neces- find the hidden and sugared treasures; and sary to his happiness, that embrace cured him. could a blight how have fallen upon that angel? How could he touch the lips that had been con- If so, God was not all justice. Then he recalled taminated by the touch of a gray beard out of her wheu he had brought the child to his home. the Roman Ghetto! He arose made a stately Her smiles had for many years repaid him for how to Anna Brigni, and quitted the apartment every labor he had undergone to provide her without uttering another word. She looked with additional comforts; the girl's joyous laugh upon him in astonishment. Isaac pointed quiet. was again ringing in his ears as it had then done ly to the door. Madame Salicetti understood when Papa Isaac-for so had she taught her him, and left the chamber as he did so. Anna tongue in its love to call him-brought her some Brigni was now alone with him who had been to presents, far more precious in her childish eyes her more than a parent could have been. Each than her after success had been. After this, he of them was silent. In that room, lit by the recalled his yearnings after her, when he had de- broad and beaming light of an Italian sun, the cided that she must study music, and, had torn beating of either heart could almost have been her from him that she might fit herself for the heard, all around them was so still. Isaac was operatic stage under one of the greatest living the first to speak. teachers that Italy has yet produced. 0, no! "Anna, my child !" he said; and his voice It was not possible that he should have squan- was broken and trembling as the words fell from dered all of his love upon one whom- He his lips, "will you answer me-will you tell me turned to her and opened his arms. She sprung the truth ?" - into them, and sank upon his bosom. The fair-haired girl turned her blue eyes upon "You are pure, my own child !" he murmured him in wonder. in a whisper so low that none could have divined "Have you ever heard a lie from me, my fa- its meaning who had been standing at three ther ?" "Never paces from him. At first she looked up into his countenance, as They were again silent. if she had scarcely comprehended his question; "How am I to ask her ~" murmured the old then its meaning flashed upon her; the scarlet Jew to himself; as he gased upon her marvelling blood colored her cheeks and temples as she felt face. what he would ask of her. But, even as he looked, his courage returned "As I was "-she replied in an even louder to him. It seemed to him that purity could not tone of voice than that in which he had question- possibly have departed from that radiant pres- ed her-" when first you folded me in your arms, ence. The whole of that chamber seemed to my father, and called me your child!" be filled with the light of her beauty arid her As her face was turned up to his, a tear fell innocence. The very rays of that glorious Ital- upon it. Than the old Jew fell upon his knees, ian sun seemed deadened as they fell upon her. and struggling with his joy, returned thanks to Sh~ seemed to efface their glory. Her blue eyes that Father who opens his ears to all who call fell upon his; they melted doubt and suspicion upon him in their sorrow or in their happiness. from his soul; the old days once mpre returned Turk, Christian, Jew, or Buddhist, heart-felt upon him; he remembered the girl as he had, prayer or thanksgiving nlone find? ~n entrance first known her-when he had bribed her affec. to the palace of Mercy and of Truth. page: 72-73[View Page 72-73] THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 73 CHAPThR XX~ T~ MAwAGZR AWl) THE 501'ItANA. FEnInUGO BOEGHaBE had recovered from the "Simply that you, too, were a little touched effects of his wound sufficiently to leave the by the charms of the Brigni, and that she ha~ house. As yet he had heard nothing from Gui- takeir the opportunity' for once to say 'No' to lie or Scarlatti. What his astonishment was an inamorato." when he found that the Briguf had returned to The banker colored slightly, thea laughed, and flome under the charge, or in the care of Lute- consented to accompany him. ley Ferrers, may readily be conceIved. He pos "Is it posaiblo," thought the young Borghese, tossed, however, an infinitely cooler head than "that the old fox has aettially a sweOt tooth in Vastelli, and after pondering upon It for a few his head?" And as Torlogna entered his cabrio-' moments, drew from it a deduction fir more fa- let, he east a look approximating to disgust on vorable to Anna Brigni than his, brother had at the rotund body and grizzled locks of the leader first done. If she had left Delia 'l'drre so seen after being of the hureerac7 of Rome~ earrieti away by him, it was evident that the As they motuted the' stuira that led w the suite of chambers occupied by the signora, they compliance to proceed with the Genoese had heard load voices, or rather a loud voice within~ not arisen from any pardon which she had vol- Beth the banker and the young prince involun- untadly extended to him. It was, cnnsequentty tarily paused, and listened to what was passing. upon themorning succeeding her return, that he visited her. On his way thither, he had called Neither mast they be blamed for so doing, fee Tortogna's, and had insis~ef upon the bank- the voicewas loud enough to convince them that at he, to wham it belonged, caved net who heavd~ er's aecompaiiyng him. it. Nor indeed did he, for he never had an idea "But," commenced Torlogna, in the 5i1)OlO that Torlegnawas listening to him. The aenent~ getic tone of voice, in which ass excuse is ordi' nearly couched. liesuddenly teased as he caught were those of the manager of the Aliberto. Pederigo's eye, which wat ftxe& upon him. "Mademoiselle, 1 insist upon it. You must' "Bay nothing that sounds like an objection, remember that I gave you the chance of appear~ let me beg of you or perchance I shall suspect-" ing before the public in a leading character whese "What, Prince Federigo "' asked the banker. you were ~tally nnknowu~ Yea bseak your en~ gagement. I can reclaim the forfeiture attached to it." A faint murmur was heard in answer to this, but they could not detect the words. "0, just as you choose, mademoiselle, just as you choose. If you do uot choose to comply with my demands, I will have you arrested this very evening." "But I assure you, signor-" "I will not hear another word! Two nights hence you shall appear and sing for me through the remainder of my present season without a single scudi of salary, or else I shall be obliged to put you in prison for debt, on the score that you have wantonly broken your engagement." "What an infernal scoundrel I" said she ]3or- ghese. Torlogna caught him by the arm whiclr he was extending towards the handle of the door, and drew him gently back. "Let us hca~ her answer," he whispered. She spoke; but again the words could not be distinguished by them. The reply which was made her was audible enough. "I shall not think of waiting, mademoiselle! Make your choice, and at once !" This time they heard her answer very clearly. "Then, sir, I refuse !" "Very well, mademoiselle," was the answer. Is was accompanied by a coarse oath; then a heavy step was heard approaching the door. It swung open, and the manager bf the Aliberto stood in the presence of the prince and the Ro- man banker. As his eye caught those of Tor- logna, his whole face changed color, and he stag- gered back. "Villain I" cried the Borghese, as he hounded towards the Signora Brigni, who was leaning upon the back of a chair, very pale and very indignant. He caught her by the hand. Then he turned upon the cringing manager, and surveyed him with a look that might ha~e withered the un- fortunate man, could he have seen any one else than Torlogna. "What have you been saying to her who will soon be the bride of my brother, Guilio Cas- telli?" Anna Brigni uttered a short and sharp cry of joy, as she fell back fainting in the arms of Federigo. "So, sir," sai4 the hanker, "you were talk. ing of arresting tIre Signora Brigni ?" "I-really-I---did not know-" "Unless she consented to sing for you the remainder of the season without a single scudi of sal~sry 1" The manager was very evidently in a dilemma. "Signor, exceilcuza, will you listen to me l" "No, sir-not to a single word I" was the harsh reply of Torlogna. "Let ~ "To-morrow, at nine o'clock, you will repay me the sums that I advanced you at the com- mencement of the present season. If in half an hour afterwards the money is not in my hands, you will be arrested!" ~' I implore the excelleuza-" "With interest, mind you! Be ready, or-" The manager fell on his knees. "You know the penalty." "Great Heaven, I shall be ruined !" "Of course-I 1~tend you to be !" replied Torlogna, as he turned his back upon him. The manager again arose to his feet, and at- tempted to address the wealthy banker. "Will you go? We would be alone," said Torlogna. Wailing like a child that has been subjected to the whip, the manager quitted the apartment. Pederigo had, meanwhile, laid Anna Brigni upon a couch at the further end of the chamber. He had then turned and rung the bell which stood on the table. As he did so, Madame Sa- licetti entered the room. Scarcely had she ap- proached the sufferer than she began slowly to recover. When her senses were at first restored to her, she looked round the chamber with a wandering and unsettled glance. Her eyes at length rested on Federigo. "You need be under no apprehension, sig- nora !" uttered the banker; "I have dismissed that vagabond "-this was uttered with the dig- nity of a man of money-" who has been mis- managing the Aliberso; he will not return to annoy you." "I thank you, signor." The Borghese then approached the sofa. "Did I-" She paused and fastened a mean- ing look upon the y~ung prince. "Did I hear you aright "' she asked. "I presume, Signora Anna, that you did." His tone more than his words convinced her that she had done so. A heavenly smile broke over her countenance as she listened to him. Federigo and Torlogna, both, thought that they had never seen her look more beautiful than she did then I page: 74-75[View Page 74-75] 74 THE ROMAN SOPRANO. "And where is Guiliol Why is he not here?" she asked. "He followed you on the track, which he had discovered, of your flight. He has not yet re- turned, signora." Again her face brightened, and even more visi- bly than it had before done. As Federigo mark- ed the play of those flexible and lovely features, he marvelled not at his brother's passion for her. "And have you forgiven hjm ?" "For what?" asked the young Roman. As she lifted her eyes to his noble face, and caught its pure and tender affection for his brother traced as if by the finger of its Maker in every line of it, she took his hand between both of hers, lifted it, and pressed her lips upon it. "Prince," she said, "you have a great heart I" Torlogna looked from one to the other blindly, like a man groping in th. dark. He compre- hended neither of them. The young prince's forgiveness of his brother would have been de- nounced by him as a sheer act of madness, had not he been a prince, and therefore one of Tor- logna's best friends. As for the kiss which Anna Brigni had imprinted on the young man's hand, he looked on it as neither more nor less than a confession of love. Probably he would have pitied Guilio had he paused to think about it. He was a man of money; nay, he could have told within, a hundred scudi what would be the amount of Federigo ]3orghese's fortune when Isis father should have received the last consolations of religion; but he took no note of his heart, Had he be*en asked whether the young prince had a soul, he would certainly have answered "Yes." A banker invariably recognizes all the dogmas of his religion. Who ever heard of a man of money that was a free thinker? But to divine what lay hidden within that soul-O, that was essentially a different thing! "But supposing that Guilio should meet with Della Torre ?" said the Brigni, and she again looked up at the prince. "He would probably shoot him; I should !" answered the Borghese, "with as little or less qualm of feeling than I should experience in spearing a wild boar, or shooting a wolf!" As he ended, the banker began to speak. Uere he was perfectly at home. "There would be no necessity for resorting to powder and bullet," he said, with an agreeable chuckle. "I have provided for that rascal. To- morrow I trust to have the pleasure of seeing him!" Federigo cast an inquiring glance upon the banker. The old Roman rubbed his hands to- gether, and chuckled to himself as ~e did so. "You do not know anything ab9ut it, I see; and, indeed, how should you? I never men- tioned a word on this score to any one except the police; they are confoundedly useful fellows. The rascal swindled me oat of ten thousand scudi; and did it, too, on the very day on which he ran away with the Brigni." The banker bowed to the signora as he said this. "The police got on his track through the pre- caution I invariably take of marking each new issue of notes differently. He had chanced to receive the cash in the first notes of my last issue. One of them came back to my cashier the day after he had quitted Rome. It was easily traced -it bad only passed. through two hands-to the landlord of the principal hotel in Terracina. My head clerk immediately went there and ques- tioned him. He l~ad changed it for the Signor Verami. Ha! ha! ha! that was the name he had taken. Rh, Signora Anna! Three of the Roman police were dispatched after him. Re had crossed the Neapolitan frontier. That caused a little delay; but I received a letter this morn- ing whiph announces that he will be here to- morrow." "And what do you intend doing with him ?" asked the Signora Brigni. "That depends on his father." "How does it depend on him ?" inqs4red Federigo. "I wrote to the old Della Torre," replied the banker, "to ask whether he would make good the deficit that the scoundrel had caused in my cash-box. He answered me that since his son had thus disgraced himself, he might rot in the galleys! We shall see whether he changes his mind." "And if he should not ?" "lie will certainly try that style of life," said Torlogna. "Heaven be thanked for it !" uttered the Sn- licetti. I CHAPTER XXI. A SEPARATION P11031 THE BANDITS. IT was late at night, after the close of the same day, that Guilio Castelli rode into Rome. He was alone. With a praiseworthy regard for his personal safety, Scarlatti had separated from the young man in the Campagna, after intimating to him that he should, in all probability, pay him and Ii Principe Federigo a visit on the suc- ceeding evening, as he was exceedingly anxious -in fact he was astonished to find himself so anxious-to hear how matters might terminate between him and the Signora Anna. Castelli smiled-four hours since he could not have done so, as he thought that Scarlatal's in- teiest in his love depended upon the passion which the brigand entertained for the chance of getting the scudi which had not been earned. "Do not fear, Guiseppe !" he said. "You fihall be paid." "The signor is far too generous !" answered the bandit. "To take the money would be pick.. ing the pocket of Milord Lumley Ferrers." "Very well. That, ns you choose !" "However, as I intended to have seized Mi- lord, on his return from Naples, and have missed him, through my fidelity to you, signor, I think I may reconcile my conscience to the scudi." As he galloped away, he said to Andrea, "It would be a pretty thing to have wasted three days, and not get paid for it." Federigo Borgbese had already retired to his chamber, as Guilio bounded up the stairs in the Borghese palace, and rushed into the apart. ment. The young prince looked round as he did so, and the brothers were once more together. "She is in Rortie, is she not, Federigo"" "She is, my brother !" "Have you seen her ?" "Yes !" GtAlio gazed wistfully on the face of the young Borghese. He could not speak. A thou- sand questions werd trembling on his lips. But he knew not how to utter them. He longed to, know whether she had spoken of him; what she had said of him; how she looked when she heard' that he had followed her; whether she had' blushed when she listened to his name breathed by his brother's lips; in one word, he wislied4 page: 76-77[View Page 76-77] 76 THE ROMA] to know whether Anna Brigni really loved him. The Borghese wound his arm around Guillo and drew him beside him, upon the couch which stood between the two windows at the end of the apartment. "And have you, then, no more that you would ask me, my brother "' "Yes, Federigo I" The prince smiled on him as he listened to his tremulous accents. "You have mentioned me to her." "I have." "And, what? tell me, tell me all I" exclaimed Castelli, as he bent an imploring glance upon Federigo Borghese. "Everything?" asked his brother, with a tor- menting laugh; but, as he saw the pain which his manner caused Castelli, he continued, in a more serious strain, "Well, I will." He then told Guilio, what.our readers already know, together with much that had passed be- tween himself and Anna Brigni, after Torlogna had left them together. "Then you think that she loves me I" "Could you ever have doubted, Guilio, that she did 2" "Federigo, you have given me a new life." "And now let me ask you, what I deserve at your hands" While you were at Naples or Mola do Gaeta, or wherever else you were, J have avowed your passion, won you a wife, and, what was a much more diffleult thing, Guilio, have procured you the consent of our father to your marriage I" "What? Has he consented 2'~ '~He has. But not without the greatest diffi- cuity. At first he said he would disown you, unless you consented to separate yourself from her. Itold him that this was impossible. Then he tbreatened to have you imprisoned in the castle of St. Angelo until you forgot her. I answered that you never would. He laughed, and said that.ehe could, at all events, forgetyou, before the first year was over." "Well?" "I answered him, that, in that case, it was more than probable that I myself might wed her" For one moment a sudden flush of jealousy broke over the face of the young Castelli. But even as it did so it began as rapidly to fade rom It. "Forgive me, my own Federi~o !" he f N1 SOPRANO. THE ROM4~N SOPRANO. said, as he clasped his brother's hand, and pas- sionately pressed it in both of his. "He looked at me without speaking. 'I am perfectly serious,' I said to him. 'The Brigni is a noble creature, and she would honor the blood of theBorghese by consenting to an alli- ance with it.' He looked at me, gravely, and told me that the castle of St. Angelo might cure my madness, too. I laughed when he uttered this threat. 'The Brigni will not forget me,' Replied. 'She would want to have the chance of putting a coronet upon her brow."' "Federigo I" murmured the young Castelli, reproachfully. "'But do you not know that she is a Jewess?' he said, after a long pause, and raising his eyes to mine." "She is not I" cried Guilio. "So I told him. 'She is the daughter of the Signor Brigni, a learned professor of Bologna.' His brow relaxed as I said this." "No sooner had I discovered how deeply you loved her, than I sought out the Jew Isaac, and questioned him. You know that I despise the prejudices that exist against that race in our nation. But the old prince feels them, and feels them to their fullest extent. Had she been a Jewess, you must have respected his preju- dices, and have cancelled her image from your heart." Guillo sighed, as he listened to his brother's words. Then he raised his head, and looked firmly and fixedly at him. "It could not have been. Had she been a Jewess, I must have wed- ded her. Ay, though it had cost me his love; and, what I value far more, yours, my own Fed- erigo." As the young prince returned Castelli's look, a glance of affectionate pride filled his dark eyes. " You would have done right. What right has God given, even to the parent, that he should heap suffering upon a child; for the gratification of his own prejudice? There is little more lift for me to tell you. The prince ~tiU objected. Her profession was the stage. This weighed against her. As for yous:self, were you not a son of his house? He had always intended that you should marry well. In a word, he would have wedded you to some wealthy dowager, and have seen you settled in what he calls the 'great' worid. 'Prince,' I said, 'Guilic is my brother. You have more than enough for him and me."' 77 As these words crossed I~ederigo's lips, he you," replied the Borghese as he rose from his again felt the grateful pressure of his brother's seat, and taking his brother by the hand, he led hand. him to the door of the chamber. "Suffice it," he continued, "that at length "Buena notte! mio caro I" were his last I conquered him. And now, Guilio, as the words, as he flung it open, and pushed Guilio morning is even now breaking," the young from the room. prince pointed to the light which was already As Castelli took up thh lamp from the table, reddening the eastern sky, "you must let me in the ante-chamber, and paced through the long sleep." corridors that Intervened between his own apart. "But, Federigo! I have yet so much to hear ment and that of Federigo Borghese, his soul from, and to say to you." was drunken with the new hopes which were "I will neither answer you, nor listen to trembling within his bosom, page: 78-79[View Page 78-79] CHAPTER XXII. LOVE-TUE WEDDING-THE END. LOVE, 50 says the Grecian fable, brought chaos into order, and created the world. Around ev- ery passionate and adoring heart, creation seems, as it were, renewed. And a truth is shadowed in that antique myth which reprints itself upon our daily life. At least, so it was with Anna Brigni and Guillo Castelli. It was the early morning, and he stood within her apartment. He was Waiting for the presence of.her whose love filled his whole b~ii~. The orange trees were breathing their fragrance through the open windows of the little room. What was' the perfume of their pale blossoms to that of the joy' which was filling his soul? Their leaves trembled in the rush of the sport- ive and wanton breeze that was playing through the street. What was that wavering tremulous- ness to the quivering hope that stirred within his bosom? What was the murmuring song of the breeze to that deeper and more spirinial chant of pleasure which was rising within his heart? At last she came. Trembling and blushing, Anna Brigni stood in the presence of her lover. Never had she seemed to him more beautiful. Her golden hair shimmered and flashed in the sun-light. Her eyelids with their long and dark lashes fell over her deep blue eyes, which seemed as for a mo- mont she had gazed upon him when she en- tered the apartment, swimming and dancing with the light of love. Her bosom heaved with the tumultuous tenderness which crowded out all other thoughts than those which owned his empire. "Anna 1,' When those tremulous accents fell upon her ears, earth seemed as if it danced around her. Love breathed its universal hymn of joy upon her ears. The very murmurs from the street without the windows seemed to join in shaping that song of love. With a short and gladsome cry she bounded towards him. "You love me, Anna ?" She sunk upon his bosom. In that embrace the young Roman forgot all of hispast doubts. He had not told her that he loved her, yet she knew and felt it in every por~ tion, and in each pulse of her life. She had n~t answered him, but he could read her answer in her eyes. He drew it from her lips with his own. "I have loved you," said he, "from the first moment in which your sight filled me with a new life. You know, and you can feel, what an agony swept over me when, like a fool, I taught my soul to doubt you, for you too love. This THE RO~XAN SOPRANO. 79 hour reveals it to me. I drink the sweet know- Greek sculptors translated into breathing life ledge from your lips. It fills me with the wine by a countenance more perfect in every graceful of a divine gladness." line, and each flexible expression, than that was As she listened to him, her senses became which was resting in its dove-like joy upon his' steeped in the momentary intoxication of his bosom. passion. As she gazed up into his burning eyes For more than three hours had they been sit- which were fastened upon her countenance, with ting together, lost in the exuberance of their joy 0.11 the bewildering pleasure of the moment, she -for when did love ever know how to keep sobbed and she trembled like a hidden child count of time 1-whenFederigo Borghese opeAed upon his botom. tl~e door of the chamber and stole into it. "Yes! Light of my soul I Federigo has Guilio started. He had been wandering with told sue all I" he murarured in her ears. Anna Brigni in that dream-land to which love "He has I,, But the words were so faintly alone holds the key, which he entrusts to none whispered by the loving girl, that even the quick save the young. ears of the lover were scarcely able to detect The young prince bent and kissed the brow of them. the Brigni. "From my father he has won his consent to She started as she felt a tear fall on her our union. This morning I have seen him. He cheek. smiled as hetold me that when you chose to ac. "My sister !" he said, as he took her by the cord me your hand, I might take it." hand and led her back to her seat. "Let me be "Guillo I', the first to welcome you into our family!" That word was an answer to Castelli. Never Then he sat down with' them and chatted before had his name rang so sweetly upon his gsfiy. ears. None ever knew bow deeply and how pas. "Will you not give it to me, Anna'?" sionately Federigo Borghese had loved her. As he breathed that queation-shaking with Perhaps, he scarcely knew it himself until that delight, like an aspen whose leaves tremble in hour when he saw the light of her joy beaming 'the breeze of summer-her cheeks and neck within her eyes, and, for the first time, sp.~w his criinsoned by the gush of her waking delight, brother's fastened upon her, and glowing with the laid her hand upon his. It was the only an. the ineffable delight of a returned and reciproc~. swer that she could make him. ted love. His had been the noblest of sacrifices. "Bend your eyes upon m~, dearest one! Let He submitted to his misery without asking for me read in them the answer that you will not the consolation of pity. speak." Within a .month from that period, Anna Slowly sheraised her eyes, and for a moment Brigni became the bride of Guilio Castelli. She looked his face. They were radiant with love, had already retired from the operatic s~ge, for As he gazed upon them he read their whole on this the old Borghese was inflexible. At ~rst meaning. It permeated his being. Did they she had' declp~ed her intention of resuming it not reveal to him more than her lips could have until her marriage, but the old prince had called told him? He sealed them with a kiss. Words upon her and explained to her his wishes. At were useless now. Then he drew her to a seat, the entreaties of' Guiio, she had complied with and as he sat beside her his arm crept slowly them. The pardon of her lover for his-al~eace around her waist, her bead sunk upon his shoul. from his duties, had been with difficulty obtained der,.and with his lips almost touching her cheek by Federig~o fr6m the papal government. his heart poured out to 'her all that he had - The espousal took place in the chapel of the dreamed of, and everything Which had hitherto Borghese palace, and the Cardinal Borghese was been sealed within his bosom, the officiating priest. The two sat there, and to an eye which had Federigo Borghese and Lumley Ferrer~ were chanced to look upon them would have formed two of the bridesmen. a picture of unrivalled, beauty. The young As Lumley saw her standing before the sitar Castelli was in all the glory of the spring of life. in all the pride of her beauty, something like his His male and youthful splendor of person, could love again stirred within the icy soul of the but have been surpassed by her marvellous love- English gentleman; but as his eyes wandered liness. Never before was the Psyche of the old for a moment from her, they fell upon the Rabbi page: 80-81[View Page 80-81] SO THE ROMAN SOPRANO. Isaac, who was standing alone in a corner of the chapel. "May the heaven be thanked 1', he muttered to himself, "that I was sensible enough not to curse myself by a connection with one whose lips had ever been touched by-bak 1', He turned to the altar and gazel very fran. ~zilly upon the remainder of the ceremony. The day after it had taken place the young prince announced to his father that he had ~. cepted the place of First Secretary to the Papal Legation in France. "My son, a Secretary of Legation! Never, boy I', was the angry answer that fell from the lips of the old Borghese. But Federigo had determined upon his course. He was anxious by a long absence to heal the wound which he had inflicted upon himself, and he so resolutely persisted in his determination thathe wrung a consent from his father. "Go, ~tben 1,' said the aged prince. "Go! Dance in the antechambers of a court; obey or- ders; wotk at the vocation you have chosen. But remember that you will be the first Bor. ghese who has ever done so. I would rather that you yourself had married theJBrigni." As he heard the last words of the prince, a sharp and sudden pang shot through the bosom of the young man. Would that have been im- possible l Perchance, had he imagined this he might not so readily have yielded up his love to Guillo's passion for her. Nay! he might. But, no! That pang confirmed his resolution. Two days afterwards he started for Rome. Anna-we had almost called her AnnaBrigni -remembered the tear which she had felt upon her cheek when his lips first touched her brow. Was it possible thathe too had loved her I She recalled the touching tenderness of manner which he had ever shown her. The more she reflected upon it, the more she was convinced that he had stifled his passion for Gulijo's. sake. One evening she was sitting alone with her husband. "Doyou know, Guillo, that you owe Federi. go, your, and now my, brother, more than you have yet imagined "~ "Do I not ~we hin~ thee, my own soul I', "You do, indeed, my husband 1', Andtheu she told him all she suspected. For & ti~ni~ Castelli was blind, but as he thought upon it a thousand circumstances convinced him that she was right. flundreds of trivial things which at the moment they occurred had 'nOt translated themselves to him now arose upon his memory. Had not this bro~Lher loved him I He covered his eyes with his har~ds and wept, then he embraced his wife. "I will Write to him." A week after Federigo received the following letter: "My own brother! my noble Federigo! You will be. astonished to receive this letter from me so speedily after your departure from us. -But read it, Federigo, for it is written to you as much front Anna as myself. 0, Federigo! I now know all. I divine what you hav(sacrificed to procure my happiness, and am miserable to know at what a price you have purchased it for me. You must read this letter, my own Fede- rigo! my more than brother! that you may know I feel hQw great your love hija been f~r me. You have loved me with more than the love of woman. Anna is at my side and knows what lam writing. You have abandoned to me, with- out a murmur, all that makes life blessed. A word from you would have doomed me to a hopeless misery. "Had you chosen it, I might have been at this moment an outlawed outcast, on the Campagan, or a wretched captive in a Roman prison. My love would have . been hopeless. Never could I have torn from you the. bride of my soul! "0, brother! brother! The tears come into my eyes as I trace these lines. Anna's tears fall upon the paper, too. Did I pot know the agony of a despairing passion, I cdi~ild not have taught myself all that you must suffer. Yet, at my bridal, you stood at my side. You smiled upon me as you bade me be happy. You, in whose heart the anguish of your love was even then corroding your inmost life! Forgive me, my brother! Had I known this. But, no! I feel that I ceuld not have imitated your example. Had I done so, I should have slain myself wiieu I awoke to the consciousness Qf my anguish. Pardon me, my brother! I an a selfish nan. I feel it now. Anna tells me that I am not, but it is so; and I am unworthy to call myself your brother. ~ay Heavert pay you what I never can! Guznzo." We have now simply to relieve ourselves of the debts imposed upon 'us by our duties, as a faithful historiati, towards our friends of the Campaign. Let us endeavor to chronicle the manner in which they made their exit from life, as faithfully and succinctly as possible. THE ROMAN SOPRANO. 81 Three years from the present time, Andrea with a tremulous yawn. "Will you not tell us was captured by a party of the Roman police, wha: became of him "" because he had emptied the travelling carriage His, my friend, was a peculiarly melancholy of a father of the church,.....a cardinal, who was fate. For many years he was the pest of the returning from Naples to Rome. He made a Roman Campagna. He was the seourg~ ap.. very gallant defence, killing two of the gens pointed by Heaven to drain the pockets and d'armes, and wounding three more. Had it not empty the valises of one half of the visitors to been for the untiring exertion made in his favor the Eternal City. Qne morning a party of the by the Prince Colonna, who had been indebted Roman police approached the tomb, which we to his assistance in a transaction similar to that have twice alluded to before, in this veracibus which he had intimated his readiness, at any chronicle. A horse was picketed without. They time, to undertake for Federigo Borghese, he dismounted, and cautiously entered the sepul- would have perished on the scaffold. As it chre. Stretched upon the ground was a figure. was, his muscles were devoted to public utility Beside him was an empty flask of wine, and a for the retnainder of his life. He spent It-in the dish which was amazingly clean. He had choked galleys. himself with a bone. He was dead. Paulo quitted his profession at an advanced They carefully emptied his pockets; laid him age, and became a very respectable inn.ikeeper. across his own horse; carried him into Rome; At the present time, unless he has paid his last bored a hole in his breast, on their way, with a debt to nature, he is occupied in plundering tray. pistol-bullet; obtained the reward for his cap.. oilers in the hotel at Terracina. ture, and live on the reputation of .bat de "But, Scarlatti 1,' says the impatient reader, the present day. T1L~ END, ( page: 82-83[View Page 82-83] THE MOONISH CAPTIVES. Lilliols "TUE fLAG OP GOB THE MOORISH CAPTIVES. t~~t H. H. HEATH. CHAITEI L I. If the Middle Ages were' dark, they were at the same time the epoch ot' romance. Arms Was the high profession of all nations5 and chiv- alry the soul of action. Love and conquest were the two reigning principles, and a meagre renown was that of the knight, who, though the hero of many a battle-field, had not ci"" won victories in the more rational and certe / more desira- ble contests of love. The time of which I write is one when Chris- tendom seemed to have spent much of its power, and the Baracen, Isy the awful strokes of his s~#srthyarms, had stretched his sway under the banner of the Crescent from the farthest East to the' pillars of Hercules. No~ only so, but he had stepped across the narrow barrier of sea, where Europe and Africa almost embrace each other at Gibraltar, and his nation had become seated in that fertile region of mountain and plain, of vineyard and wine, now the impotent powers of Spain and Portugal-then Lusitania ~d Hispania. The decline of Rome-the world's proud mis- tress-had made way for the invasion of the Moors into those fair regions, and under the prophetic banner of Mahoinet the conquest be' came complete at the commencement of the eighth century. Spain was snhdued and passed under the submissive yoke of the Caliphs of Bagdad. The religion of the natives was that of the Holy Cross, and between the inhabitants who survived the Moorish conquest and the In- fidels, no species of toleration existed~ By the former the Saracen was considered Pagan, and by him the latter were termed barbarian. What comity could exist between such hostile elements't Here and there-.-'-tiow and then-th'e spirit of true chivalry broke through the brazen restraints of the national sects; and the wild schemes of the heart occasionally displayed occurrences forming strong contrasts with prevailing custom. Among the fugitives of Spain who escaped the slaughter of the last battle with the invading Moors, was the Irince Pelaglo; a noble and chivalrous descendant of the moderti kings of his country. his folloWers he led away into the northern portion of the kingdom. Prom the fastnesses of his mountain retreat, h'elagio stilt contended for the liberty of his country, and not unfrequently made victorious descents into the immediate province of the Moors. It was one of these occasions that gave rise to the circumstances which Will form the features of this story. Hoderigo de relagio was the eldest son of the rrince relagio-ayouth of high, martial spirit, and possessed of all those chivalric requisites which in his age at once characterized the sol- dier and courtier. Trained In the camp as well as the palace, Iloderigo combined in his nature much of the nobility of the Roman (for Spain being a Roman province, it was in the armies of home that he had fought); as well as the quick and haughty spirit so characteristic of his nation. Smarting under thc pains of submission, as his family was, and fully sympathizing with his father In the loss of his crown and country, Rod- erigo was never fonud wanting In respect to his appeals for vengeance; and if practicable, the restoration to him of those priceless jewels. Surrounded by his followers, therefore, the four seasons of each year were the signals for war with Roderigo as often as they approached. And many a time did the Moorish usurpers of his native Castilian valleys smart under the heavy5 blows and dreadful carnage which were dealt out by Roderigo and his soldiers as they rushed down from their fnstnesscs in the Canta- btiau mountains. The immense wealth brought from Afi~ica by the Moors made War on them in that day doubly desirable. The conquests of the East had filled the Moorish coffers not only with all the precious products of Eastern mines, but likewise rich fabrics and spices, and every desired luxury of the most enlightened nation of the world were to be found in the bazaars of merchants' of Spain ~nher maritime cities, and in transit through the interior. Nor were these all the rich objects of capture; beauty, was also a prize. And how muebsoever we may at this day condemn such deeds, and the arguments that satisfied thosewho perform them, it is nevertheless true, that, as the nations of I Europe considered the Moors in the light of idolaters and pagans, no sin was conceived to be I committed in caPturing their beautiful daughters, and leading them home in triumph, either for pleasure or gain by ransom. The stimulus to a soldier's action, contained in the war-shout of "Beauty and Booty," is not one of modern date, but has been a potent lever in the art of war from the earliest ages. The Christian and the Barbarian have alike responded to that ignoble shout in all ages of the world. The morning sun shone brightly over the long range of mountain peaks as the Castilian army under iloderigo were prepared once more to de. scend upon their enemies who had usurped their country. Never had the day-god ushered in more lovely spring boringg than that on which the gallant little army of the aspiring and patriotic youth was ab6ut to strike another blow for his family and captive country. The pure white flag with a cross in the centre, was the ensign of the proud house of Pelagio, and as it waved gracefully oYer the steel-clad warriors, a more charming sight could not have been desired. All was in readiness; but Roderigo waited for a parting word from his noble father ere he start- ed on his errand of war. Indeed, he desired once more to embrace his mother and, sisters, and receive their last blessing. At length the prince appeared mounted upon a black charger, surrounded by many nobles. who still clung to his cause and house. "I shall expect proud deeds of you, Roderi' go," said the prince, as he came near to his son, who, upon first discovering his father, at once advanced to meet him. "I shall expect proud deeds of you, my son," repeated the father. "With these troops you can march into the heart of Castile, and humble the dastard African who now pollutes my throne." "What arms can do, these arms shall win; what bravery can accomplish, our deeds shall prove," was the noble answer of Rocierigo. "You have spoken like my son, Roderigo," said the prince. "Go, and when thou return' est, come with a thousand trophies as thy spoil, and an hundred victories inscribed upon thy banner." "I obey, my lord; but where are inyrnother md my dear sisters ?" Theynre at handRoderigo, ~heerthee with heir parting smiles, and bless thee with their ast word." The yearning of a mother when she sends a favoritee son into battle, is not to be described. f he misgivings and sadness of sisters who witA tess the departure of their brother for the uncer- am events of war, require the pen of the ~iarra~ or to be tipped with the fire of poesy, and ilu. ulned with the 'genius of inspiration. Roderigomet his mother and sisters; pressed hem to his bosom, dropped a manly tear over heir distress at parting, bade them farewell, *1 83 page: 84-85[View Page 84-85] 84 THE MOORISH CAPTIVES4 grasped his father's hand for the last time; flung himself upon his steed, waved his hand for the march; the trumpet sounded and the bright pennon, mailed soldier, and tramping war-horse, all moved onward and were soon lost to the view of those who were left behind. The march continued several days, during which period several skirmishes took place, in which the valiant young Spaniard and his follow- ers were victorious. their successes embolden- ed them to press still farther on, until they bearded the Moorish viceroy in his imperial seat at l3urgos. Inspired by the exalted thoughts and hopes of rescuing their beloved Castile from the grasp of the swarthy strangers of the South, Iloderigo marched forward until the tenth day at sunset- lug, when he found himself resting on a fertile mountain of the Castilian range, to the north- east of Burgos, where the usurper Abderahman now held his summer court. Upon this lovely spot the Castilian knight de- termined to halt, until a favorable opportunity presented itself of attacking the enemies of his race. From their encampment Roderigo and his followers might look down upon the ancient city at their feet, and hear at the same time the solejun chimes from the Moslem minarets at evening, and catch the sweet strains of the joy- ous ziraleet as they swelled out upon the clear air of approaching night. Such proximity to the Infidels as the Moors were termed, aroused the enthusiasm of the Spaniards to the fullest height, and it was with much difficulty that their commander was enabled to prevent them from at once rushing down Impetuously upon their ene- mies, who, as yet, were wholly unconscious of the presence of the Christian al-my. At length, when all became quiet, and the sol- diers reposed some in their tents, and others among the fair groves surrounding their bivouac, * Roderigo sumni~ed his lieutenants to his tent, for the purpose adjusting the course of pro- ceddings of the campaig~i. "Thus, my trusty friends," said Roderigo, "have we come Into the very heart of these In- fidels, scattering them wherever we have met them; It is for us now to turn our minds to the great task of dispersing this unholy band of - pirates from our native land, that we may re-in- herit it as justly belongs to us. Come, let us propose to ourselves some immediate course of action. What sayest thou, worthy knight be Dregauza?" "My lord, I am for descending upon these outcasts at early dawn, ore yet they have time to turn their dastard eyes toward accursed Mecca, Or utter their first prayer to their fiil~e god or prophet.'~ these were the sentiments ~of a knight who had fought not a few campaigns with the legions of Home, from Thiton to the Euphrates; and aIthou~h they were uttered in a bold, rough and uncourtlike style, yet his words always had great weight ip the counsels, as well as his sword in the fight." Many were the plans submitted, when, at length, Roderigo condescended himself to pro' pose a measure. "My friends," he said, "as yet we are igno' rant of the forces of the Moors. Before any great result can be attained, it becomes necessary that we should possess this inforu1zation. To procure it, hazards must be run, and I, as your leader, will share them with you freely. Come, we will cast lots, and he upon whom it falls, shall this night, disguised as a Moor, penetrate within the walls of yonder city, discover the strength of Abderahman, and bring us word of all that he has learned." This proposition was hailed with pleasure, and every knight was emulous to accept the mission should it fall to his lot. Danger and skill prompted their brave hearts to dare the encounter. The lots were prepared, and one drew, and then another, and still another, yet no choice had been made~ Three others drew with like suc- cess. Then only three remained to decide the lot, and amOng these Roderigo himself was on9. The two remaining knights put forth their hands, trembling with hope, both drawing blanks. The lot had fallen on Roderigo, their captain. This result was as he had wished; for, hav- ing served in the army of Rome in Syria, he had gained not only a perfect knowledge of the Moorish language, buthad also become acquaint- ed with the customs and manners of the Moors. He was, then, not only properly fitted for the perilous enterprise by these important qualifica- tions, but his bravery was also equal to the emergency. - Iloderigo therefore arrayed himself at once in the habit of a poor mountain peasant, bade his friends good-night, and descended through a rugged pathway by moonlight toward the city, on his expedition of espionage. 1' CHAPTER II. Abderahman, a successful soldier under the banner of the prophet, had risen from an hum- ble ~osidon to one of exalted power and splen- dor in the east; and after the conquest of Spain by the Moors, became the viceroy of that con- quered country. And whilst Cordova was se- lected as the seat of the Moorish empire in Eu- rope, yet were the palaces and court of the vice- roy situated and held in many different places. The time of which I am now writing finds Ab- derahman and all his attendant nobles, together with his royal family, in the city of Burgos, en- *der the eye of a Castilian army~ It was a night of joy in this temporary Moor- ish capital The city was illumined, and music swelled out upen the evening quiet, like light gladdening darkness. Festivities of every ~le- scription were the delights of the senses, and the beautiful city seemed one of love and pleasure. Even the soldiery were permitted to disband for the occasion, so secure seemed all around. But what was the cause of all this excess of joy among the proud inhabitants of Burgos Why all this noise of mirth'~-these sounds of sweet music-these illuminated streets, this total abandonment of all order, discipline and caution It was the eve of the birthday of Abderabman's only chikl, Zulare.-'-the eve of the eighteenth birthday of the beautiful maiden ~nlare. Never had daystawned on morelovely daughter Nev- er had proud father greater reason to celebrate, with pomp and splendor, the anniversary of his child's birth. The palacee was thronged with myrhsds of those who had come to do the homage at the shrine of Zulare's beauty, and none went away without winning a smile from her~-a smile nev- er to be forgotten. Roderigo made his way to the city with all despatch. On arriving within the walls, he be- came Wonder-struck itt what he saw. Instead of an armed people, he beheld Joy and festivities reigning supreme. Indeed, he dared hardly credit his senses; but at last, not appreciating the full certainty of what was passing about him, he ventured to ask an old Ethiopian slave whom he met, what the occasion could be that produc- ed so much felicity in the city? "flost not know, my lord," he replied, "that this is the birthright of the viceroy's daughter, Zulare ?" 6 "Indeed," rejoined the Castilian in disguise; "well, why do all the people thus partake of the enthusiasm?" "0 master, master, didst thouknow how very beautiful is the daughter of the governor, thou surely wouldst never ask me this ?" was the old man's reply. "Zulare Is then beautiful." "Beautiful as heaveu-hast thou never seen her ?" "Nay, I have but now entered the city from a long journey; but I would fain witness those charms which cost a whole city so much pains." "I'll lead thee to the palace, master," said the slave. "First lead me to some well-filled bazaar, where I can change these unseemly garments, that I may make some- fair appearance in the presence of this princess of beauty." "Follow me, then, good master; I'll lead thee to one straightway in the very route to the palace~" "Thou art a good dog." "Nay, master, I am no dog; though the Span- iards call the Moors all dogs. I am no Moor." "Nay, thou art worse, being a Moor's slave." By this time the Ethiopian had brought Rode- rigo to the entrance of a large bazaar, such as is not seen in many countries at this day, but which, in earlier times, were the only marts for traflin. "Remain here until I come," said Roderigo to the slave. "I will go in and procure me vestments fitted for the occasion, and will then return, that you may lead me to the palace." Rederigo passed into the pavilion, where all was busy life, happiness and gayety. A short time sufficed to select a proper garb in which to array himself, and which, when donned, evinced by its richness and beauty that the wearer was no common personage. Reflecting upon the great risk of his under- taking, that of seeking an ent~ into the pal- ace of the very ruler whom liMed come to de- stroy, Roderigo deemed it best to assume afhar- acter as near that of his real one as practil~able, in order to avoid suspicion. It was with this consideration that he chose that of a prince of Gaul, the part which he so well knew how to act. It is unnecessary to describe the gorgeous richness of the apparel which Roderigo put upon himself in the bazaar. Those who are acquaint- ed with the costumes of that day will readily cost- THE MOORISH CAPTIVES. 85 page: 86-87[View Page 86-87] 86 THE MOORI~ ceive the noble appearance which Roderigo made; being a prince whose natural ~nd una- domed charms were sufficient to win their way to the deep recesses of admiration, Having therefore fully completed his toilet, Roderigo sallied forth from the bazaar, and fol- lowing the honest lead of the old African, soon found hims~tlf at the gate of the palace. The throngs were still pouring in and issuing from the vast enclosures, and it was with dliii- culty that our hero could effect an entrance into the palace. At length, however, he succeeded, and, bor~ie along with an irresistible tide pass- ing in, he soon found himself in a spacious sa- e loon most gorgeotisly lighted, richly adorned with all the splen4tirs that the East could have produced. Following the crowd onward, Iloderigo soon came into the vicinity of the circle of chief attrac- lion, and with an effort, disengaged himself from the throng, and withdrew to a more secluded position, but yet, where he might witness all that passed before his eyes. From this position, Roderigo could easily dis- tinguish the great Moor, Abderabman, as he sat upon his richly carved throne of ivory. But his eyes wandered for the inimitable loveliness of the viceroy's daughter-Zulare. Whilst thus engaged, an omeer of the house- hold came to him, saying thea his master having observed him, and perceived by his majestic ap- pearance and costly apparel that he must be of noble birth, desired him to approach the place where he sat in state. This was a compliment not particularly ac- ceptable to Roderigo, but well knowing the sus- picion thatwoeld inevitablyattach tohim if he de- clined so distinguished a mark of favor, he re- adjusted his dagger in his bosom, and suffered himself to be led to the 'foot of the throne. "I greet thee, noble stranger," said the great Moor, as R~4ujgo camei near to him; "thou art welcome Wur' court; and forasmuch as thou art a prince of Gaul, thou art doubly welcome." "I thank thee, my lord," answered Roderigo. "Thou art journeying through these regions, 4oubsless, for thy pleasure; certainly no mission from thy nation bringeth thee into these remote s~onntries." "jt is most true, my lord, I am here upon my .~wn account, since I bring neither message nor Ji5~~tA of power with me." "MIeast thou shouldst have sent us word be- 1H CAPTIVES. fore thee, that we might have given thee a re- ception befittIng the future king of a great country." "Nay, my lord, no courier could have out- sped my course, so eager was I to arrive in time to participate in the pleasing fete now surround- ing me." "It is well, prince; the vigor of youthfulness snuffs beauty from afar, and seeks to honor it too, when found." "It is true, my lord; the fame of thy daugh- ter's beauty is not new to me, and it was to hon- or her that I have thus made my uncou*t~y presence before thect." "Thou hast not yet seen her, prince; tarry here one moment, she shall be brought hither?" Abderahman here nodded to an attendant, who stood near, and having heard the conversa- tion between his master and Roderigo, under- stood, consequently, ~the interpretation of the gesture. "Thou shalt see the loveincss of Spain, Afri- ca and Asia comprised into one human form, when thine eyes fall upon Zulare," said the proud governor. "I doubt it not, my lord," ansWered Roderigo; and before he had time to qualify his assent to the extravagant praise of the father, Zelaro ap- proached him, led by a Moorish cavalier, whose fierce countenance contrasted strongly with the sweet, smiling warmth that beamed from the unparalleled beauty of the maiden by his side. "Zulare, my child, look on the young prince of Gaul, who is here to honor thy birth-night." modest greeting of the viceroy's daughter with ~Loderigo advanced a step and met the marked respect and admiration. He now led Zulare to a seat near by, where, in pleasant con- verse the hours flew with a rapidity of which the young pair were entirely ignorant. It was plain to be discovered, that although the young Spaniard had entered Castile to be- come a conqueror, he was now in a fair way to be con(luered in Castile. And though the fierce- ly flashing eyes of the dark Bajazet fell jealously upon the fair couple, they heeded it not. "How sayest thou, thou likes not Ihe Span-', iards ?" inquired Roderigo, after the conversa- tion turned upon that conquered race. "I like them not; they are too cruel; they come and kill our people, and carry far away our sisters and our mothers," was the artless response. I THE MOOR] "I know little of them," said Roderigo; "bu have been informed they are a brave nation." "Yes, brave they are. I have heard my fath er speak of one Spanish prince whose name i Roderigo de Pelagio, who often comes into th~ very heartof Castile with his armies. "Indeed I and has your father never punishe him for his tenterity l" "Nay; I have never yet heard of one victor~ gained over him." "He must be an extraordinary warrior," sug tested the courtier. "0 yes; and is Ivithal, said to he a noble and beautiful prince." "Indeed," replied Roderigo, with some sur prize; "who could have given thee this strange information l" "An old Ethiopian slave whom my father purchased in Syria; he knew him when with the Roman army in the East," was Zulare's answer. "That must have been long since, as the knight De Pelagio I think has not been in the Roman service for many years." "Thou knowest the Spanish prince, then," said the Moorish maiden, earnestly. "I knew him well, Zulare, when his father ruled this province under the Roman laws." Roderigo began to grow ~tless under the knowledge that there was a persoia~e of Ab- derahman's household who knew him, ~he~fear- ing lest hi~ incognito might be wrested fzom him, he was more particular to inquire who the slave was(and thus, perchance, learn to what extent he risked his present adventure. His surprise may be imagined when he learned that the old slave of whom Zulare spoke, was no other than h~ who had conducted Roderigo hither that very evening. He was certain that he had not then been recognized by old Nelsus, whose name he recognized as soon as Zulare named it. There was no certainty, however, that he would again escape the old man's recognition if he should once fairly set his gaze upon him; as, neither before they bad sought the bazaar, nor after- wards had an opportunity been afforded him to see the features of Roderigo. There was another reason why Roderigo deSired to know more of theold Ethiopian; for very sure he was, if that pet-sonage wah'no more honest and loyal to his present master tban~ to his former one in Syria, who was Roderigo's own father, he might by the persuasive force of gold, make him of superior service to him in the deep enterprise upon which he Was nowembarked. SH CAPTIVES. 87 The night was wearing away rapidly, and as yet Roderigo had obtained no information of suf- ficient importance to warrant him in coming to any conclusion as to the course necessary to pursue. Old Nelsus had informed him that the whole Moorish armywere temporarily disbanded I to enjo~- the happy fete. How long this state of things was to'continue, was a point now desira- ble to become acquainted with. Besides this, the extraordinary loveliness of Zulare had de- - determined Roderigo not only to besiege the city, but to bear the beautiful maiden away as the I lawful prize of his success. Whilst revolving these things in his mind, * Zulare pointed Roderigo to the old Ethiopian, who was at that moment advancing toward the place where they wei~e seated. He approached and finally passed them, without recognizing Roderigo, who now felt himself quite secure for the present. More than once had the jealous Bajazet wan- dered near to Roderigo and Zulare, who, during the entire period of their tete-a-tete, appeared to have enjoyed each other's Society to an unex- pected exteidt: Indeed, it was easily perceivable that the noble pair were muttial admirers; a conclusion drawn from unmistakable evidences, ~uch as warmth of expression on the part of the knight, and deep and frequent blushes on the cheeks of Zulare. Bajazet, though n9t a youth, was a man in the completest prime of life, and the first officer under Abderabman, In the Moorish possessicits in Europe. He had unbeknown to the viceroy, Set his affections upon the beautiful daughter of the viceroy, which will sufficiently explain the cause of his fierce glances at the familiar inter- course between the supposed Gaulish prince and Zulare. "It happens well," said Abderahman, as his lieutenant stood near him, "~fortune bath thrown this noble Carlovingian Wee among uS upon this happy occasion. I have witu~essed with pleasure the appearance of increasing warmth spring up between him and Zulare. For know you not, Bajazet, that if we can form an alliance with the powerful rulers of Gaul, our empire in Europe will be fully established." Bajazet was silcnti. "It is for some high honorlike this, good Baj- azet,' that I have thus reserved my daughter. She it will be, who shall most pdwerfnlly aid in perpetuating our power in Europe, and spread- ing tur glorious triumph of Allah and hi. proph- page: 88-89[View Page 88-89] II I, ~1 88 THE MOORISH CAPTIVES. et among the barbarians by whom we are sur- turned by the consciousness of possessing a rounded." rival in the ferocious looking Moor, under.whose The fierce warrior heard Abderabman's re- gaze he had fallen several times during 'the pre- marks, and without replying, walked slowly vious evening. However, feeling that he had away. favorably isnpressed both the governor and his At length the night was half spent, and Rode- beautiful daughter, he contented himself to rest rigo was anxious to return to his camp in the the result of his operations upon the future. At morning, preparatory to the attack. And al- all events, so far as Bajazet was concerned, though, after learning from the viceroy that this Roderigo feared neither to couch a lance or was but the first night of the fete, which was to draw a rapier with him. continue for five days and nights longer, yet he dared not accept the pressing offer to remain the guest of the Moorish governor, lest the close CHAPTER 'Ill. proximity of his army might discover it and de- feat his object before the proper time arrived in The evening found Roderigo again within the which to strike the premeditated blow upon the palace of Abdera~imaii, and attentive at the side Infidel hosts. He preferred therefore to speak a of Zulare. It was now that the enthusiasm of few well arranged words of love to Zulare, with love began to nerve up all the passions of Rod- the assurance of returning on the evening of the erigo for success; to the fulfilment of which he morrow; thanking Abderahman for the happy well knew, only strategy and strong arms could enjoyed in the society of his be safely entrusted. Indeed, often upon that privilege he had his leave, to remaining brilliant evening, as the young knight heard the daughter, and taking us of the fair N longer exposed to the dangers of detection, on sweet ton ooress, nttering, as abS the coming of the morning. constantly did, the most innocent, yet queenly So, bidding Zulare an honest adieu, and em- sentiments, did he almost regret that, instead of bracing her father according to the Moorish ens- plotting to secure his object by arms and blood- tom among hosts and guests, he departed to shed, he was not at liberty to kneel at her feet, seek his camp, two leagues away, up among the proclaim his devotion and country, and beg to be admitted to her affection and her father's mountains. It was near the break of the morning when court. But this was of course decided to be im- the adventurous knight at last found himself practicable, after a moment's reflection; for, within his encampment. And although ~ faithful followers of Mahomet as both the vice- friends had begun to feel some apprehension for ro~ and his daughter were, it was not to be sup- his safety, Rodarigo quickly explained the cause posed that a barbarian could be tolerated whilst of his ~lelay, omitting, however, that portion asking for the hand of Zulare. Besides, the ~Iiich would have revealed his sincere regard simple revelation of his country and real name, for the daughter of Abdershman. Without must have cost Roderigo at once his head. doing this, he readily framed an excuse for the Thus, whilst love was prompting his nobler withdrawal of his army league or two awayfrQm nature to action, policy was also at work with its the position it now occupied, whicheould readily potent engine, to aid in carving out Roderigo's be done wit~t observation, as it lay upon the success. Whilst, therefore, he listened to the margin of~e~tensive forest, spreading far music of her voice, he watched for the appear- away over the rugged region surrounding. aace of Old Nelsus, whom he desired to enlist; This change of position was but the work of a not, perhaps as an active partisan, but rather few hours, and before the sun was seen above the as the innocent instrument of gonimunication. distant mountain peaks, the Spanish camp was At length, Roderigo espied the old African pitched in a new spot, and all things soon be- moving about in an outer court of the palace, came settled and quiet. which, with all parts of the palace, was lighted Roderigo intending to fulfil his appointment up most brilliantly. Disengaging himself, with Zulare that night, ruminated during the therefore, for a few minutes from Zulare, Rode- day upon the plans to be adopted for the over- rigo made his way through the crowd of guests, throw of the' Moorish power in Castile, and to to the court, where he found the old African as earry off the beautiful prize in the viceroy's if waiting for him. daughter. Nor were 14s reflections a little dis- "Good evening, friend Nelsus," said the 9 TEll MOOR) knight, as he approached the old man. "I hay been seeking thee." "Ah, master, I am glad to see thee; I knot thee," was his equivocal reply. "Know me, good Nelsus! How knowest thoi me?" "Ah, Master Roderigo, do I not remember when I was in thy father's service in Syria thou wert a stripIng then-hut I have not for gotten thee." "Surely, old man, thou art mistaken; thinl you, were I the son of Pelaglo of Castile, I shonlc dare to come into this palace of Abderahman where for a single moment I would not b safe 2" "I know nought of that; but this I know thou art young Roderigo, whom I taught to ride the wild steed of the desert, in Syria." "Nay, nay, old man, it is not so; but let that pass-thou hast not spoken thy suspicion to any of the court, hast thou I" "I have not, my lord; but__" "But what? answer me, Nelsus," said Rode. rigo, in a low, but somewhat agitated manner; fearing lest something might have escaped the slave which would render his situation very dangerous. "But, master, what dost thou here? thou wantest not a daughter of the Moor, dost thou?" "I want nothing, good Nelsus," was Rode- rigo's answer; "but here, take this well-filled purse, and come with me. I would look at the palace and see its outward constrnction." "I thank thee for this, good master," said the old Ethiopian, at the same time bowing until his forehead nearly touched the ground. "I thank thee again; I have not seen so much gold since the revolt at Acre, where I slew the merchant, f~r which crime I was sold to thy father a slave, in which condition I have ever since served." And he gazed upon the purse with seemingly infinite satisfaction. "Come, good Nelsus," at length urged the knight, "give me the information which I desire; and if thou art faithful to me, thou shalt have still another and a larger purse, and with it thy pardon, too; but thou must be silent." "Thou shalt be served, my lord, even to all I know.~~ "Well then, old man, lead on, and first point out to me where the governor himself passes the night." The old African led the way from where they then stood by an obscure pathway, until they ESH CAPTIVES. 89 e emerged in the rear of the palace, from the base of which rose up a strong tower of masonry, v reaching some distance in altitude above the main building. z "Thou seest yonder red light," said Roderi. go's guide, pointing upward toward the dark and r frowning turret. "I do," replied Roderigo. "That is the bed-chamber of Abderahmau, and the red taper is kept nightly burning, in order to be more easily discerned by the palace I guards, in case of danger." Old Nelsus then explained to Roderigo a se- cret passage by which an entrance into the cham- bers above might be obtained, from the garden. Having accomplished the great object of his visit to the palace that night-namely, to learn the location of the nocturnal apartment of the great Moor,. Roderigo therefore ma~jle his way alone to the inner palace. "Pardon my long absence, sweet Zulare," said Roderigo, after he had returned to her side. "I was longer detained than was expected." "I feared. that thou hadat left the palace," replied Zulare. "Not certainly, withoutbiddingthee farewell." "I thought thou mightiest have forgotten it." "Nay, nay, Zulare, I shall never forget thee; thou hast already unbounded dominion over my soul. For thee, I would dare all things; for thee,, I will do all things." "I thank thee, dear prince, and can only promise thee my own poor affection in return." "Is it then so, Zulare? and wouldat thou for- sake these royal scenes within thy father's court, exchanging them for a home, though regal, yet not half so luxurious I" "The heart of woman whetherMoororErank, when wedded to its object of natural love, cares for nought of royal court or glittering show. I have learned to love thee within t~se two nights and days, and, though thou w~RaSpaniard, methinks I would love thee." "Well, well, Zulare, that thou lovest me, I am satisfied and content withal. But now I must leave thee; but fear not, I shall come again." "Why, prince, it is yet an early hour~-thou neediest not leave so early." "I have engagements, sweet Zulare, which call me hence~ and must not fail to meet them. Adieu, until thou seest me again." "Which will be soon, I hope," said Zulare, page: 90-91[View Page 90-91] 90 THE MOORISH CAPTIVES. as Roderigo pressed her soft hand to his lip, and si departed. Hastening toward the northern suburbs of the e city, Roderigo found still waiting for him his o faithful servant with his horse. a - 5 The morning sun rose brightly over the city 1 of Burgos. The third day of the carnival had '~ arrived. * * * * * It was a busy day in the camp of Roderigoand his followers. Every preparation was now being I made for the premeditated attack upon the Moors within the city, and although Roderigo had intended to postpone the attack until at least the last night of the viceroy's fete, yet the I circumstances which had transpired on the pre- vious evening he was well aware must preclude any further intercourse with the city, evenshoul4 Old Nelsus2not reveal the secret. Taking counsel, therefore, with his lieuten- ants, and particularly with Bragauza, Roderigo laid before them all his plans, the location of the city, the position of the palace, and to each com- mander gave express instructions as to his par- ticular duty. To Bragauza he assigned the at- tack on that part of the palace in which Abderah- man slept, whilst he would take under the charge of- his own eye the capture of the beautiful and loved Zulare. Thus were all things made in complete read- iness, and Roderigo and his friends only waited for the coming of night to strike a blow for love and Castile. * * * * * The first shade of evening was slowly draw- ing its thin veil over the distant valleys, and the bright rays of the departing sun were disporting themselves like the phosphorescent glow of the ocean upon far-off Castilian peaks. The hour was fast approaching when the prayers of mil- lions of the f~thful followers of the prophet would ascend To Allah-from those whose faces would he upturned toward the Moslem temple at Mecca. Motionless and mute sat Zulare, gazing upon the wonderful scene of the day's close. Her eyes wandered for a moment far away over the plain, until as it were the sight was lost in dark- ness. They were then directed in a contrary di- rection-taking in the wide extended range of mountains to the north-eastward, upon which the light was just biddingits evening farewell. Why did Zulare start as if with aifright, as Lie gave that last look toward the mountains I Vhy did she grow pale with terror I She look- fi again-it was too true; the glittering armor f the Spaniards glistened on the distant moun- sin side, in the struggling rays of the sun's last getting moments. Too plainly she saw the engihened line of defiling troops winding its ray like a huge serpent, downwards to the plain elow. Calling one of her maidens, Zulare at once lespatched a message to her father, to apprize tim of his danger. The messenger reached him it the hour of prayer, and as the muezzin from ach turret called the faithful to their orisons, he trumpets of the enemy sounded under the kioslem walls of Burgos. From their prayers the Moors at once sprung ~, the sabre and the conflict. The blood.red lag surmounted by a golden crescent was flung ~ut from the loftiest battlements of the city's walls, and the war-cry of Mahomet was the ter- rific change from the low murmurs so recently. scattered prayerfully on the breeze of evening, and wafted toward the shrine of the faithful. The assault of the Spanish forces was tumul- tuous and skilful; the defence of the Moors was desperate and wild. The army, under Roderi- go, made no halt, and that of Abderahman sounded no parley. The battle began and rag- ed fiercely, at the same moment. From the fort- resses flew the javelins and arrows in tempes- tuous clouds. From the besiegers, the cata- pult discharged its ponderous stones, and on both sides the deadly sword performed its oft- repeated havoc. The clashing of steel against steel, the ponderous stroke on buckler and shield, made wild the music of the evening zephyr, and thousands fell beneath them to rise no more. The battle raged with utmost fury, while the last streak of light remained to gladden the eye, 'or to direct the stroke, and so continued with hideous results, even into the darkness of the night, the moon refteing to shine on such a scene; deep, dark clouds usurping her sphere. At length, the Spaniards effected a breach in the wall. Thousands then rushed through the aperture. It was increased in size speedily, and in almost the space of time occupied in its nar- rution, Roderigo's forces had entered the city, in hand.to.httnd contest with the Moors. So well had Roderigo's lieutenants been in- structed in his scheme, that once within the walls, his entire forces pressed forward toward the palace. All was consternation within the THE MOORISH CAJTIVES. 91 city. Even the opposing army of Abderabman extract from her the mystery now enveloping seemed to lose spirit when they saw the multi- him. tude of Spaniards as they poured through the "Maiden, where doth Zulare's apartments breach in the walls, and fell back, step by step, lie ?-tell me speedily. I have no time to wait." n~ their foes advanced. Trembling with fear, Iran-for it was she- Abderabman, viewing with despair the falter- presuming the intruders to be troops of the vice- ing movements of his troops, endeavored to rally roy, who had been sent by him to protect her them with all the power and effort of one pos- mistress, instantly pointed within tha door sessing super-humanity. He flew from ~ to whence she had but now issued. post, inviting its the name of Allah and Mahomet - Without farther hesitation, Roderigo, respect- the ehilfren of the faithful to rally in their jug, however, the condition of his adored mis- might and destroy the barbarous hordes of Spain, tress, bid his comrades remain outside, and and imprecating wrath upots those who timidly throwing open the door of the apartment, en- recoiled before the constant shock of their ene- tered, preceded by Iran. There, prostrate upon mies. All was, however, to no purpose. The a ~livan, lay the half-unconscious Zulare, call- Christian forces pressed continually forward, ing in tender tones for her father, and beseech- levelling all opposition in heaps of slain from ing protection from harm. whose ghastly wounds poured blood like water- "Thou art safe, Zulare," said Roderigo, after streams from mountain springs. a moment's hesitation, as he stood beside the The time had now arrived for Roderigo ~ lovely form of the reclining maiden. "Thou art perform the knightly feat of possessing himself forever safe, Zulare, for I shall now ever be of the beautiful Zulare, and rescuing her from with thee to guard au.d watch over thec." the Infidels and their creed; the enemies alike "What! is it thou, . Roderigo? Alas, alas-. of his nation and religion. why didst thou come to make war upon my For this purpose, therefore, he selected fifty heart and at the same time trusty followers, and abandoned the general con- cried Zulare. * upon my father t" test to the command of Bragauza. With this "Nay, nay, sweet maiden, but for this time band of trusty followers, he advanced rapidly by cease thy grief. I have come for thee, therefore a circuitous route toward the palace. let us fly away from these walls, where neither Arriving within view of its majestic outlines, thou nor I may now be safe." "I cannot go-my father-ab, Allah-" as it loomed up against thedarkened sky, and With these words, Zulare sank away into a decrying the well-remembered taper burning in state of unconsciousness, and, at once clasping that portion of the palace, pointed out the even- her in his muscular embrace, and commanding ing previous by Old Nelsus, Roderigo at once Iran to follow her mistress, Roderigo bore the led his comrades to the main entrance, and al- lifeless form away through the same passage by though opposed by a superior number of Mos- which he had come hither, out of the palace and lems, their progress was but slightly impeded. The vestibule was gained, and there leaving all beyond the city's walls. but a very small number of his men, Roderigo Here, sun-ounded by a faithful guard, a well ascended the staircase, which, on the two even- arranged litter was provided, upon whieh was a ings spent in the palace, had been discovered by soft and richly spread conch, whereon Zulare hon as the entrance to all parts of the upper por- was lain, and left to~recover, under the kind care tion of the building, of her aifrighted, but faithful Iran. * * * * * Door after door, apparently doubly secured Let us now return to the conflict, as it still with bolt ani bar, were demolished in the pas- continued to rage between Ahderahman and sage of Roderigo, until, finally, so numerous had Braganza. The Moorish troops had been con- been the deviations from a straight course, he stantly giving way, whilst thc Spaniards slaugh- became bewildered, and could not at length, with tered them by thousands at each step of their all his skill, decide in his mind in what direction advance. Every sabre-stroke was now bringing the apartments of Zulare were to be found, ruin upon the Moslem forces, and at length, Fortunately, however, at this moment, a beau- when naught but flight or entiic destructIon be- tiful female appeared, issuing from a richly dee- came the alternatives, Abderrahmn forsook hIs orated chamber, and Iloderigo determined to post in anguish, and determined, if overcome in page: 92-93[View Page 92-93] 92 TIlE MOORISH CArTIVES. battle, at least, in flight to secure his daughter. He therefore directed his steps toward~he palace, followed by his immediate guards arid officers. What heart can appreciate thu ~anguish of that father, when, on arriving at the palace, he heard the terrible news of his daughter's capture, and her conveyance away! The distant din of battle as it loudly resounded through those ancient palace walls, was all unheard by him. The full flush of his cheeks departed, and, statue-like, he stood as one amused at some awful event, with- out distinctly understanding its true character. * This state was, however, but momentary. Gathering up all the energies of his natuv4, the vaultdd passages and apartments of the castle resounded with the awful imprecations upon the anthors of this misery from his lips; and then loudly calling upon his faithful guards surround- lug, to fallow him, Abderahman rushed away like a meteor in a dark sky, to renew the ter- rors of the battle. * The horrors of the niglft became now doubly terrible, as the report spread wildly and fast among the Moslem ranks that the viceroy's daughter was made prisoner, and would, unless rescued, fall into the embraces of a barbarous prince whose religion was worse than that ol Paganism. Hour after hour the scene of frightful wai was visible in the ancient city, until the da~ dawned again upon the surrounding plain. Ther what a' sight was there to be seen! The living Obtistian and Moor still engaged in terrific strife whilst the dead and dying Spaniard and Moslen lay in rugged heaps about the now ensanguinet streets. Bat this, like all desperate encounters, wa destined to have an end. The prowess of Rode rigo and~is troops had proved superior to the of the M6ors. It was whilst Roderigo was at gaged in what appeared to be the last desperate effort necessary to complete'~his victory, that h saw his chief antagonist approaching at the hea of his guard-the flower of the Moorish host. The quick eye of Abderabman at once caugl the towering form of Roderigo, and goaded on h despair and anguish, at once rushed forward encounter the young knight. Roderigo proved ready for the assault. ~ pen can describe the angry contest which no ensued between the leaders of the opposing a mies. Even the battle around them seemed subside; both parties desiring to witness ti awful scene, as the fate of empire settled upe the points of those two terrible sabres. At Iest~ the youthful vigor of Roderigo proved superior over both the age and skill of Abderabman, and the latter fell to the earth. Then it iVas that a terrific contest ensued between the two fractions of the armies, as to who should bear the fallen chief from the field. Roderigo's forces fought for a distinguished prisoner; Abderaliman's for preservation'from disgrace. Victory once more came to the Christian arms, and the Moslem crew fled in confusion before their Spanish foes.. Thus closed th~ battle ofiBurgos. The vic- torious Roderigo now conveyed the fallen cap-. tive, Abderahmaii, under a heavy escort to a place of safety, and prepared at once to pro- claim the end of Moslem rule in Castile. CHAPTER IV. Weeks passed by after the stirring events nar- rated in the preceding chapter, and the house of' Felaglo again held sway over its native Castile. Abderabman became a closely confined prisoner within the very city and palace where he had once ruled the undisputed master. Zulare was likewise a captive, but the rigor of captivity with her was relieveA by the warm love of Roderigo, as it was daily poured forth at the shrine of her beauty. It is said, and with truth too, that love over- cometh aU scruples. The tender treatment re- ceived by Zulare from Roderigo, and those sur- rounding her, together with her former true feelings toward the young knight, all tended to I win the tender spirit of the maidenan4l inspire her to yield to the elevated desires of herloved s captor. One only request wasrejeeted. When she besought Roderigo to see her father, he t dared not yield. Too welihe knew the charac- L- ter of the true Moslem, such as Abderahman e was, to trust them with an interview, although as e often demanded by the father as sought for by d the dtiughter. Besides the dangers which threat- ened any communication between Zulare and her it father, the spiritual was not more to be dreaded y than the physical dangers to be feared. o From Zulare's first captivity, if it is to be so called, for it amounted hardly to restraint, she o had been assigned an holy priest, whose religious w zeal and true piety, in connexion with the holy r- teachings he had vouchsafed to her, won great in- :o fluence over herheart, and ere avery long period ie had elapsed, ~he began to discover evident symp- n toms of conversion to Christianity; and, there- ~FHE MOORISH CArTIVES. 93 fore, to have permitted communications between ig deep thought. At their appearance he and- Zulare and her infidel parent, might have proved enly star~d,; but at once recovering his self- equally disastrous to her spiritual, and Roderi~ possession, slowly rose from his~seat, and with go's temporal happiness. steadfast gaze, contemplated his daughter in 51- ~ Abderahman felt deeply the gradually indin-~ lence. Zulare~would have rushed into her fa. ing spirit of hia daughter to Christianity, for her the* arms; but that rock-heartedman 'obstruct- intelligent mind grasped within its compass the ed tie affectionate advance of his daughter, by high truths taught by the holy priest with sueh half-raising his hand as a barrier. tenacity, that, ere three moons had seen her ~- "Stay, foul maiden, touch me not-thou art tive, the baptismiti font opened to her, and she worse than 4effled since last I saw thee." became numbered among the followers of the "0 my gracious father, hear the words of thy true religion. * daughter who hath just been brought to the Meantime, the power of the Pelagian house light of the Christian faith, and would lead thee had to appearances become firmly established after me." in Castle. The vanquished Moors had all fled "Silence, thou traitoress to thy born faith- to the neighboring province of Granada, and the true faith of thy fathers. Not only art thou peace again spread her benign rays over the rebel to thy religion, but rebel toward thy fa- fair country. ther. What camest thou here, for I" The scruples of religion had now been done "My love for thee, my father." away by the conversIon and baptism of Zulare, "Nay, nay, Zulare; thou could~ not hold af- and naught intervened to prevent the cousum- fiction for me, and cling, as thou dost to mine nation of their cherished aspirations, save the enemies, who, like yonder prince, have brought desire on the maiden's part to see her father, all these ills upon me." and beg his consent to the nuptials. "Forgive me then, father, wherein 1 have "Thou shalt see thy father, Zulare, for no~ proved disobedient unto thy wishes." I know he possesses not the power to harm thy "Forgive thee, maiden I nay, nay, my for- soul. Thou art at least safe from all moral dan- giveness thou neediest never to ask. I have a ger. I will myself lead thee to his apartments, vow registered above that thou shalt never be and he shall hear from thee alone, the tale of forgiven. Thou and those who love thee are love which thou wouldst tell." This was the mine enemies; and I love thee less than I hate response of Roderigo after Zulare had, for the them." last time lighted to him her love, and bowed Up to this moment Roderigo had preserved with submission to the promptings of her heart silence, hoping that by so doing, no cause of of- to become his bride. fence should occur to arouse the passions of Ab- That very eveningwas set as the time in which derahman. But now he could contain himself Zulare was to present her Christian form to the no longer. presence of her enraged parent. Every precan- "Thy daughter, Abderabman, is innocent of tion was taken to screen both Zulare and Rode- any wrongs suffered by thee now; therefore hast rigo from violence; guards were stationed at the thou no reason thus to rail against her." entrance of Abderabman's apartments, and Ro- "It is enough that she loveth such as thou art, derigo himself bore arms defensive, lest the an- that I should hate her." gry captive should wreak vengeance upon him, "Wherefore, then, hast thou such cause of ha- or vent his fury upon his Christian daughter for tred against me and my nation V~ renouncing her faith. "Knowest thou not that I Who hath thus By RoderigVs order, and at Zulare's request, wrenched from sue my kingdom and my daugh- her father became advised of their intended visit ter, save thee? And who but thy false teachers to him, in order that his mind might be the bet- hath perverted the soul of yonder maiden from ter prepared to meet her. the true faith of Allah andhisprophetbut thee I" The hour arrived when the lovers should pre- "If, then, thou art so wroth because thou hast sent themselves bel'ore the implacable represen- been deprived of thy kingdom, then hath not my native of Mahom~tanism in Europe. When Re- father more just reason todealwith thee harshly? derigo entered the apartment occupied by Ab- for thou art an intruder into these climes, and, derahman, with Zulare fondly leaning upon his with thy armies drove him from his lawful her- arm, the captive viceroy was seated, apparently itage. As for thy daughter, her heart belongeth page: 94-95[View Page 94-95] 94 THE MOORISH CAPTIVES. to her-therefore may she dispose of it as may I thrown herself at his feet for mercy, had she not be to her proper. And for her conversion to been mildly restrained by her companion, who, Christianity, her own soul is only accountable." $akinghertrembling hand, led her away, leaving To this reply cif the prince, Abderlthman could the father in hislonely retreat. find no reasonable reply, and remained silent. * * * * * "And nowAbderahxnan, we con~~ to thee-thy The nuptial day at length arrived. It was the ~ daughter in all obedience-to ask thy sancti6~ to holy season of spring, when Earth sent forth her our auptials, which, since she hath forsaken the virgin flowers, and every gale was laden with creed of Moslem, need be no farther delayed." perfumes as from unknown realms of spices. "Never, never 1" The nobles and matrons of Castile were in at- This wss the only reply the haughty Infidel tendance, and princes from Britain and Gaul would deign to give, and turning upon his indig. had each come to honor, not only the occasion, S nant heel, swept away from his visitors, and but to rejoice over the triumph of a Christian passed into another apartment. house. It was a day ofjoy and thstivity thron~h- Zulare would have followed her father and out the extent of Old Castile. [FROM "THE FLAG OF OUR UNION. TIlE CAPTAIN'S PASSA( A STARTLING EPISODE OF OCEAN LIFE BY AUSTIN C. I3IrRDICK, IN the spring of 1836 my ship was lying at the disagreeable intelligence tha Diamond Point, on the river Hoogly, where I three weeks, at least, before I cc was receiving a cargo from. Calcutta. One day, bed. after my cargo was nearly all on board, I went I knew that my owners were vein on shore to spend an afternoon and evening with their cargo should be delivered a party of English officers. Just after supper, possible, and I dared not have tI while the wine and the wit were flowing in for my recovery, so I sent for the abundance, I was seized with a sudden faintness, mate, and after a short conference and with a whirling brain I sank to the floor. I weak to hold a long one-it was remembered nothing more until the next morn, the mate should take charge of ing. At that time I found myself in a comfort- start at once for home. I suppose able bed, with an old English physician by my be plenty of chances for me to ge side; but I was so weak and exhausted that I the United States when I should h could speak hut with difficulty. My whole frame so I gave myself no uneasiness c was seemingly palsied, and a hot, suffocating My ship sailed, and I was left in sensation pervaded my head. On the following English physician, who proved his afternoon I again lost my recollection, and when soured man and a friend. It was reason next visited me I was informed that I had fore I could get out of doors, and been sick over a week. My first expressed wish could not walk without support; t was to be conveyed on board my ship, but the gained rapidly, and in a month mc e old doctor would listen to no such thing. He strong again. In fact, I thought told me that I had the most malignant form of than I had for a year previous. an Indian fever, and that to move me would be As soon as I was able to be o' sure death; and be furthermore conveyed to me look about me for the purpose of 5i 4. I. it would be mid leave my 7 anxious that as speedily as 0 ship remain upercargo and -for I was too arranged that the ship and id there would a passage to ave recovered, in that score. charge of the aself a whole- a month be. even then itt after this re I was quite I felt better at I began to curing a pas- page: 96-97[View Page 96-97] 96 THE CAPTAIN'S PASSAGE. THE CAPTAIN'S PASSAGE. 9T a sage home. There were several ships at the Point, but they were all going arou$ to Ca~ton,~, and thus three weeks passed ~wity without any siga of the chance I sought. At length I learn- ed .that there was a Spanish brig downat Ran- gafalia which was bound for the Mediterranean,, and knowing that if I could be landed atjiibral- tar I could easily get a passage from thence, ~ resolved to go down and see the captain of the brig. To this end I hired a boatman to take me down the river, and having got all my luggage together I set off. I found the brig anchored off the northern point of Sugar Island. Her cap- tain was a Spaniard, but spoke the English lan- guage well. He was a tall, pale looking man, with the strangest black eye I ever saw. It seemed to be a cold, icy eye, shooting forth sharp rays of light that possessed a sort of freezing power. I asked him if he was bound for the Mediterranean, and he told me yes. I then ask- ed him if he could give me a passage as fai~ as Gibrnlta't~, at the same time stating the circum- stances under which I had beenleft behind by my ship. At first he was unwilling to answer me. After thinking for a few moments he called some of his officers one side and conversed with them in a tone too low for me to hear; yet I cofild see that the discussion was quite animated, and that there were differences of opinion upon the sub. ject. At length the captain turned to me again "What is your name I" he asked, very coolly and at the same time eyeing me sharply. "John Barclay," returned I. - "Well, Mr. Barclay, do you think you car keep a secret l" "I think I have followed the sea long enough to understand the value of such a trait as that,' returned I, without hesitation. "Well, then," returned he, "I will tell you that we sometimes lay ourselves liable to thi penalties of the revenue laws." "Smugglers," said I. "Yes-exactly," responded he, with a sort o cold smile about the corners of his mouth. "W do considerable in that line, and you must o course know that we wouldn't stop at any 01 diary measures to secure ourselves against betrayal." I well knew the meaning of that~ remark- knew that my life would answer for my secrecy but I had determined to go, and I would n now be put back. I had laid too long already ujon my oars, and as there waS likely to be ~ ether chance for some time to come, I resolve to take up with the present one at all hazards. If they could turn a penny by smuggling, and were willing to run all the risks, why, it was none of my business. They did not defraud me, or my government. So I told the captain I ould go with him, and pay him what was right. My luggage was accordingly brought on board, and I was allowed a berth in the cabin. I could see that there was some dissatisfaction on the part of the other officers, but they yielded to the decision of their commander. On the following morning the brig got under- weigh and passed out through the eastern chan- nel. She was a staunch craft, of about three hundred toTus burden, with raised quarter-deck, and with no house upon it. Her cabin was well- furnished and had six berths,-the captain and three of his officers took up four of them; I took the fifth, and the sixth was unoccupied. The brig's crew consisted of about forty men, more than half of whom came on board after I had taken my berth. They were stout, rough looking fellows, though they would compare well with the average~ of ships' crews. The captain's name I found to be Modiego, and I never before, nor have I since, witnessed such perfect disci- pline as there was on board that brig. Modiego * could speak with his eyes, and I never saw a * man disobey them. On the third day out I found that some of the crew were making arrangements to set up the cook's range in the fore-peak, and after the cu- linary implements were all removed thither, the galley, which had been standing amidships, was taken to pieces. This movement was of course strange to me, but there was a stranger scene in store. This galley had a floor to it, and when this floor was removed 1 saw a circular railway of iron, in the centre of which was a massive steel pivot. Once or twice I found Modiego's eye fixed searchingly upon me, but if he thought to read my emotions in my face he was much *f mistaken, for few men possess more control over a their features than I do. Yet I was glad that I f had noticed the captain's look, for it placed me on my guard. it After the deck was cleared of the last vestige of the galley, sheers were rigged over the main .1 hatch, and in half an~hour afterwards a long, heavy Ikass gun had been hoisted out frora the )t hold and placed upon the afore-mentioned pivot. y "We smugglers need something for protee- 0 tion," quietly reniarked the captain, as he ap- d preached me after the gun was rigged. "0, certainly," said I, with a smile. "I wondered before that I saw no implements for such. a purpose." Modiego gave me a. searching look, but he found nothing but honesty in my countenance. "Yes," he uttered, "we are obliged to be pre- pared for emergencies, for our'a is a dangerous business." I believed him! And I began., to wish that I had not been in quite so much of a hurry to se- cure my passage. But it was too late now-I had forced myself into the plight, and Ihad only to make the best of it. Of course I had begun to think that my companions were men who smuggled at both ends of the bargain-that the revenue was not the only institution against which their hands were raised. For fourteen days the brig kept on her course to the south'rd and west'rd, and dui~ing.that time I had been on very fair terms with the officers, though none of them beesned inclined to famil- iarity. Once or twice I thought the captain seemed inclined to make some overture to me, but whatever may have been upon his mind he kept itto himself. On~hemorningofthefifteenth day I heard an unusual bustle upon deck, and on going up I found that the tarpaulin had been taken from the long gun, and that the men were bringing small arms up from below. Modiego was at the starboard rail with his telescope to his eye. I looked in the direction indicated by his glass a~d saw a ship not more than four or five miles distant. She was evidently a merehans- man, and bound up the ocean. Modiego at length lowered his glass, and as he turned he saw me. "~Al~-Mr. barclay," he said, showing not the leapt hesitation, "you had better go below, for we are likely to have business that may not be agreeable to you." This order was not to be mistaken, and sim- ply bowing an acquiescence, I turned and went back to the cabin. I will not attempt to tell what were my feelings at that moment. Of course I knew now that I bad taken passage in a pirate, and I ouly wondered that I had been allowed so so do; but I subsequently learned, from a conversation that I overheard, that Mo- diego had allowed me to remain on board through fear that I might be the meanS of exciting sus- picion against him' if he sent me off. It seemed that he feared that if I told the officers on shore of his refusal to take me, that it might, in some way, subject him to an examination, at least. So he thought it best to take me, and, if I was Jikelyrto pro~ei~dangerous passenger, to dispose ofmeinamethod c - toindividuala of their profession. When I reached tire cabin I seatedmyself near tl~e ~W'le and itwaited the result. My feelings were~4~ious and changing. I had sorrow, die- hppointment, regret, and anger, though I think that the latter emotion was the most prominent. In fifteen minutes I felt the shock of our long gun. Then itboomedagain-.-and again. Then I heard the~voice of Captain Modiego ashe call- ed away his boarders; All was now bustle over my head. I heard the rattle of the small arms as they were being distributed, and the clanking of the grappling chains as they were dragged over the deck. Next I felt a shock that came nigh throwing me from my seat-and fluew that the vessels had come together. ~[ expected to have heard loud, fiendish yells of onset, but in this I was mistaken. I heard Modiego give the order for boarding, and then I heard the sharp cracking of musketry. Now my blood was up, and at the head of a dozen good men I would have attacked the pirates with a good rel- ish. I could. hear the groans of those who were wounded, and now that the heat ~f battle had loosened the restraint of subordination, I could hear the yell of the pirates. But the conflict soon ceased, and then I knew that the p~rases were overhauling the ship's cargo. At the end of two hours the ship was allowed to proceedon her way, and shortly afterwards Modiego was assisted down into the cabin by two of his officers. He had received a musket ball in his thigh, but he would notleave the deck until he had seen the ship off. "I shall soon get over is," ~ heard him say, as his bearers settled him rpon a stool. And then noticing me, he added, "Ah, Barclay, wish you'd go on deck and lend a hand at stowing ~away some of our poor chaps that have been served with the same sauce I've got. We bad a short fight, but 'twas a hard one. Them Yan- kees did us more damage with their first musket. ry than leould have believed. Buttheysuffered for it. San Pedro I but this thing hurts." I stopped not to hear more, or to niake any answer to what I had heard, but hastened at once on deck, where I fo~ind part of the erew engaged in lowering various boxes ~nd bales in- to the hold, while near the wheel I saw several small iron-bound oaken boxes that I knew to be filled with specie. On forward I found the dead L & page: 98-99[View Page 98-99] 98 TRE CAPTAIN'S PASSAGE. r. and wounded, and of course I len~ ~vhet assist- ance I could towards alleviating ufferingsbf the~ penr wretches, a et I did it with a'bad grace, fos'.their men were filled with coarse oaths, and they writhed~1lkq eowards~under th torture. There were five of the~-prateMlUed~ and eight of them badly wounded; ~UI4it0s8 who escaped unharmed thought themselves -well paid for the loss they had sustained, for theyhad token over seventy thousand dollars in specie, besides a large quantity of valuable merchan- dize. From this time forth I resolved to b$ng the villains to punishment if possible. It was a dubious hope, but yet I cherished It. I was alone against two score of hardened villains, and with no means of succor at hand. And, moreover, 1 knew~ that ifiost of them distrusted me. It i~as at this time that I heard the conver- sation to which I have already alluded-where I learned that I hadbeen allowed to take a pas- - ~sage in the brig withthe probabilitythatlshould not live to finish it. Modiego had had the ball extracted from his thigh, but the wound threatened to be a danger- * ous one, for the leg had swelled, and there was every appearance of mortification. But yet he *lingeftd on for two months without leaving his cabin, and to this may be attributed the fact that the pirates attacked no other vessels. During this time I had devoted every mental energy to the studying up of some plan by which to carry out my wishes, and at length I hit ugon the only thing that seemed to la~ within the range of possibility. We were now in the vicinity of the Capede Verds, and I knew that if anything was to be done it must be aone quickly, for I felt sure that thoplate of putting an end to my life was freely discussed, and favorsblyentertained by the crew. * As length the time for my trial eame, and I had fully resolved to stake my life in the hazard. One day, towards noon, a thick mist began to * arise on the water that came in with a westerly wind; but it did not prevent the officer getting an observation' of the sun, which found us to be in latitude 14 degrees 44 minutes north, and the longitude 18 degrees west. I knew now we were directly opposite. Cape Verde, and notfar from fifty miles distant. By two o'clock theweather was quit. thick, and the wind veered a little to the southward. At tburo'cloek there were some indications of a stormna and the officers wore all on deck. I went down into the cabin and found the captain asleep. In a small chest lashed un- der the table were two spare compasses, one ex- aetly like that in the~binnacle. This compass I took out. It had a copper bowl, and the rim that held the glass top was fastened onbyascrew. I took the rim off and took outthe card. Then I concealed the small box in which the whole hung beneath my bedding, keeping only thecard by me.' I listened a moment to be assured that all was safe, and then I took my pocket-knife and loosened the magnetic needle~om the hot- tom of the card. The course through the night I knew would be nearly due north, so! swung the needle round until the magnetic point was directly under that point of the cardindieatedby N. W. by W. This brought the north point of the card around to N. E: by B., so that were the brig to besteered by that compass as I had fixed it, and her head kept where the compass indicat- ml north, she would in reality be going N. B. by B. I secured the needle to the card again by means of a little wax, and having placed is back in the bowl and screwed the top on again, I hid the whole oace more in my bed. And now the most difficult part of the task was to come. I must exchange compasses with the binnacle; and how wits this to be done when the helmsman's eye was never off from the spotl But my life had been pledged, and I took cour- age; and I should have surely Ihiled had not a lucky idea come. to my assistance. I took the compass from my berth ana put it back into the chest from whence I had first taken it, and then I nervously waited for the moment when I could carry my plan into execution. The night caine on dark ae4 early. 'Not a star was so be seen, and the atmosphere had grown damp and cold. As soon as it was fairly dark I possessed myself of small, single block I found in the stern-boat, and then I moved'cau- tiously about the' deck-anywhere to escape ob- servation. At eight o'clock the watch was changed~ but before the 'off-watch went below the officer concluded to take a reef in' the top- sails, so as so be on the safe side incase of a blow. Pr~videace seemed to be with me, for at that moment the wind began to veer to the westward. "Stand by the braces!" shouted the officer; and as he gave the order I could see the dusky thrins of the 'men U, they moi~ed through the thick darkness. 4 * THE ~AI~?~&~'8 PA8SAG~. I crept as near to the binnacle as possible with' raidni lit g5 when the ~rat watek Wasreliaved out being noticed, and there awaited my Opp9r. J the o~l tt~deck report,~ that the wind was tunity. The top of the binnacle was in thefoon ste ~ ~iat the brigw ne4fl of a pyrkietid, sothat the. glase ~as exposed to Yw~~ ?~~9 anything ~at might chauc! to~ i~aii t~rorn a point '~*rnro rand no stazi'eould b~ seen. 4went on deck, and I ketew in above it. hst as the 'pen com1n4~nced ~toznove an i~* i~$t we:were ear land. I could tell the braces, 1pois~j the ilqck thatihad secured, by thh ~ eelin o e atniospkq~, for i~ and aimed it at the top Qf the btnnacle, I was had lost its 'eblil, and was becoming mor~ dry sure of my mark, and I let it go. ~I heard, a and warm. V~et the pirates mistrus~ notlling~ crashing of the glass, and on the insta~~ 1ijA''- ne~t n,,,~L The -'-wa~cu had been relieved an4 gone be- glided unperceived down the companionway in- low, and it would be nearly an hour before day- 4 to the ~usn, an~4~aped into my berth. It was light could open its windows upon ~he true state not more ~than e~imnute before the second officer of the vessel. of the deck came down literal ly overrunning I was now more nervous than ever, but yet I with curses a had hope that the brig would strik. fore day- s the mdtterv' asked the captain, who light. I went below, and having ~cured h R9~akened by the rumpus. life.preserver under my arms, lonce xnore'got 'Some lubber left a loose tail-block aloft, and into my berth. I had been there perhaps fifteen~ it fell upon the binnacle, and smashed in the minutes, when I heard a loud shout on deck, compass.glassI~ returned the officer, as he stoop. quickly followed by an order from the officer of ed down to get as one of the compasses in the the watch to man the starboard braces and down chest. with the helm. But~shey were too- lasn~r just "rind out who left it there, and have himput as the men began to move towards thebra~ she In irons," said Modiego. brig struck. She leaped at first, like afrightene~ I lQoke4 out from my berth and saw the mate stag, then she struggled on a moment through take the compass I had altered. i knew he the pliant sand-and then she keeled over like & euld take that one, for the other would not ~ thing that had lost its life. While others were r ~Iee binnacle. I went up after him. The com. rushing for the deck I made for one of the cabin was placed in the binnacle, and the pyramid windows, which I threw open; and then leaped was turned so as to bring a side with a whole out into the sea. I swam several minutes, when, gI s next to the wheel, the broken part having finding that my feet would touch the bottom, I * Covered up. commenced to and in a walk, fewsn~mente was "San Jago, how the wind has hauled ~,' utter. on the dry sand. I knew we must have struck ed the officer of the deck, as he looked at the to the northward of Fort St. Louis, soI turned new compass. "Here we are clear way round (o the right and hurried ofi' to the southward. I to the wess'rdl Jump to the braces Port the could hear the curses of the pirates for a long helm I Larboard braces.....round in ~,, while, but at leAgth I got clear of the din. I said the helmsman, as he knetr they could never get their vessel oil' wish- threw the wheel over. OUt wholly unloading her, 801 had no fears of "Let her be steady at north." their speedy escape. Steady it is. You're up." At daylight I found I was outhe seaward side of a vast ridge of Sand, and I determined to go And all was accordingly belayed. According ~~he top of this ridge and teke an observation. to the compass the wind was now southwest and en I got up there I saw a deep, wide river over upon the othe the brig was heading due north; but lknew that r side that ran nearly parallel the wind ~as nearly west by north, and that the withthe coast. This I at once knew to be the brig headed northeast by east I Senegal~ Behind me I could just see the brig, and on ahead I saw a glimpse of something tlia~ It was now halt'-past eight, and the brig was looked like buildings. - So Ipushed on, and by running off ten knots clear. As soon as I bad ten o'clock I reached Fort Sc. Louis, some seen my plan thus begin to work, I went bektw friendly Fonlabs rowing me to the island. i at and turned in; but I did not sleep. I lay there once made my statement to the Preach governor in my berth listening to the blowing of the wind, of the fort, and he sent a Ooinpady of seventy II* 4 ca page: 100[View Page 100] TUIE CAPTAIN'S PASSAGE. five soldiers to accompany me hack. We reaeh- ed the brig about four o'clock g tlie ~t oon. The pirates had- begun to get tiff her "o, bt she ilas nowhere near floating. W oadd the vessel by means ofen' brought around by athetoou the pirates msde a desperate resistance eewre captureAfwithout much spilling f lii. They had-discovered the trick I had played oni them with the compass, and, as may tie supposed, I *.wq the recipient of any quantity of threats .and curses. But they h~ no more power to harm tie. They were tried by the Fretch authorities of St. Louis, and answered for tlieir crimes with their lives, and in one ..month afterwards I obtained. passage ig a French. barque. to Gibraltar, anid from t iieeileamt homd iifite ship ' aN& well''1 IftY Wrk Thusen|ed say Assge, and though I often take pleasgi'e mhink~uiing howlI conquered my enemies, and also in relating the incidents to my friends, yet I should prefer that the next-passage of the kind should be undertaken by some one beside myself. THlE END. I. I' p 1~o~ 11: I ~FK ~'y~
