y ■'V^ .--A "' - - LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of ILLI NOI5 823 C972f V.I ^\J' FOREST OF MONTALBANO: a ipdtjelv IN FOUR VOLUMES. BY THE AUTHOR OF ''SANTO SEBJST IJ no;- AND ** THE ROMANCE OF THE PYRENEES. VOL. I. LONDON: » PRIXTED FOR GEORGE ROBINSON, 25, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1810. gas FOREST OF MONTALBANO. X. CHAPTER It ^ It was near the close of the 17th cen- tury, that just as the last sad masses had been performed in solemn requiem for the departed soul of a lately- deceased vene- rable abadessa of the convent of Santo Va- lentino, in the northern extremity of the kingdom of Naples, a loud ahd lengthened peal of the portal bell reverberated along the mouldering roofs of the antient cloisters, and rocking, as it seemed, the time-worn edifice, gave a momentary alarm to the holy sisterhood, who long had learned to tremble at every blast of wind, from cherish'* VOL. I, B 2 ing the painful apprehension that even each passing breeze might entomb them amid the lapidations of their ruined habitation. This alarum at the convent gate obtain- ed admission for a courier, who arrived to announce the immediate approach of the new abadessa. The nomination to the supremacy of San- to Valentino was solely vested in the pon- tiff. The sisterhood already knew a suc- cessor to the late prioress had been appointed, and, in defiance of long- established custom, not of their communit}^; but they dared not appeal 3 and this impatience for the possession of her new dignity, they promptly pronounc- ed indicative of no amiable propensities in the bosom of their new superior, who came thus indelicately soon to intrude on their sorrow for a departed saint, to bid them, beam the smile of welcome ere their tears were dried. But ere time was afforded for a confi- dential censure, the unwished-for intruder arrived. Her retinue bespoke the becoming humility of genuine piety, since it was nei- her numerous nor splendid; but Soon that favorable impression, which this propriety $ of conduct was calculated to inspire, was obliterated, when the dismayed nuns dis- covered her escort thither, to be Gulielmo, the cardinal patron, the Pope's most valued friend. The gallantries of this cardmal had been more than suspected, and the alarmed purity of the sisters of Santo Valen- tino, in horror, mentally pronounced the cause of their new abadessa's innovating ap- pointment and of that partially-marked favor, which elected, from the votaries of the world, g., prioress for a convent; since the new abedessa had not' yet professed the sacred vows necessary for a conventual life. Every external appearance sanctioned the appaUing suspicions of the community ; since the air, the form so exquisite in sym- metry, the taste, the elegance of her adorn- ments, proclaimed the new prioress of San- to Valentino a being whom the soul of gallantry would gladly pay homage to ; but when the nuns, compelled by inevitable necessity, forced to their dissimulating countenances the smile of cordial wel- come, and that the intruder raised a thick veil she wore, suspicion vanished, rapidly and hrever, from the minds of even the most fastidious; since her fascinating as- pect announced at one glance, that if she possessed beauty to enchain admiration, she had virtues to secure esteem ; and while her dazzling charms might awaken envy, her afflictions must claim the tribute of ten- der sympathy ; for on every line of her expressive countenance was pourt rayed a heart laden with sorrows, that admitted no hope to cheer them. Sister Olinda,, the senior of the nuns, (she who by the infringement of a custom esta- blished right, was the person injured by the appointment of this stranger,) now charm- ed from selfish feelings, allowed at once the pity, the interest she found awakened in her bosom, to operate uncontroUedly on her heart ; and in the spontaneous benevolence which that inspired, she gave the hand of cordiality to the abadessa, while the car- dinal, who seemed anxious to escape from the contemplation of this lovely young wo- nian*s desponding melancholy, hastily an- nounced his wish for her commencing her novitiate on the morrow; and while he spoke the inflexible tones of arbitary com- mand, his averted eyes, turning from a view of sorrows he could no longer remedy, told the warfare of his feelings j then with a hurried adieu he fled her presence, and retired to the monastery of Santo Valentino, to reside with the monks of that order during his limited stay in the Albruzzo Ultra. In conformity with the wishes of the Cardi- nal GuHelmo, the Lady Constantia Rizzato, for as whom her patent announcied her to the community she was now to head, en- tered upon her novitiate on the morrow, according to the established rule enacted by the formulary annexed to the order of Santo Valentino; and in all the apathy of a mind desolated by the annihilation of every hope of temporal happiness. Lady Con- stantia exchanged the costume ol the allur- ing world, for the probationary habit of an irremediable recluse. The boarders of this convent attended at this sad ceremony ; — amongst them was a young girl who, not very long initiated in the solemn rituals of a conventual life, and who never before having witnes.sed a scene like this, was so powerfully alfected, both from the humanity of her dispojsition lead- ing her to feel acutely for the sorrows aiir! sacrifices of such a lovely victim, and from anticipated sympathy, in pained ap- preliension, of such a pitiless destiny being one day her own, that the officiating prie?t, even amid the ceremony, loudly and severely reprimanded her y when the poor bashful girl, m alarmed confusion, retired behind the friendly shelter of a pillar, there, unob- trusively, to indulge her tears, if she failed to succeed in her efforts to repress them. But although unobtrusively inclined, this young boarder was, she had caught, in the moment of her reproof, the attention? of his eminence; who contrived to cast many a scrutinizing and inquisitive glance at her, even while she believed herself secure from observation in the ambush she had retreated to y and when all summoned to the refectory to partake of the collation given to the community upon this recent event, Sister Olinda in trembling apprehension, still with eager scrutiny, remarked the riveted gaze of the cardinal fixed upon this young boarder, which with alarm the pious Mdnaca had made her observations of in the church. The lovely and unconscious girl, relieved from every apprehended penance and lee*- lure from the late angry Father Lucian, bj that subtle priest, himself presenting her with some of the choicest fruits the rich banquet afforded, promptly recovered a sufficient de- gree of confidence to raise her eyes from their fear-sentenced station y when the first object that struck her view was the Cardinal Gulieimo, standing before her with a basket of sweetmeats, which he gallantly offered to her and Olinda's acceptance. Olinda blushed through chagrin ; her companion through youthful timidity and grateful feelings ; and the cardinal, in hur- ried accents, inquired from the wary sister, " Who that lovely and interesting gir! was?" *' She is," replied the nun, ** the des- cendant of an illustrious house ; Lady An- gelina di Balermo, the only child of the late Duca di Montalbano." The changed countenance of the cardi- nal proclaimed sudden illness, and the atten- tive Father Lucian offering his ready arm, his eminence retreated for air into the grounds, and did not re-enter the refectory until Angelina, by the contrivance of Sister Olinda, had retired from it; and ere dinner hour arrived, the business of the cardinal patron's various vocations had recalled him to Rome ; and every circumstance relative to her momentary disgrace in the church had ceased to be remembered by Angelina, until, as she was returning from vespers, Father Lucian slipped a folded paper into her hand. Angelina turned pale with affright ; and her palpitating heart, with anticipating ap- prehension, hailed this paper as the cruel mandate for some infliction for her misde- meanor of the morning ; and, full of this direful alarm, she hastened to inspect her doom, when, to her utter amazement, she beheld the following lines, traced by the un- steady hand of agitation : — *^ Should the interesting orphan, Ange- lina di Balermo, ever require a protector — an adviser — a friend, she will find all in '' GUUELMO.*' Angelina had experienced such maternal tenderness from the good Olinda during her residence in the convert of Santo Valentino, 9 that she would have deemed it a; cnme against gratitude, had she failed immedi- ately to give this singular note to her iii^- specUon. The alarm of the pious nun was now considerably increased for the safety of her interesting favorite, from having her me- mory stored with many histories of the for- mer libertinism of the cardinal patron; but he was now dravvmg towards the vale of years ; he might have repented, and she might judge him vmcharitably. How to advise she therefore felt incompetent; and all she was assured it was risrht to do, was fully to in- struct Angehna in the character his emi- nence long had. borne; when the innate purity of Angelina's heart led her to de- termine, that nothing short of absolute ne- cessity should ever tempt her to seek the alleviation of any future misfortune which might await her from the Cardinal Guliel- mo's friendship. The benevolence of Sister Olinda's^ heart bad led her, the very first of the whole com- munity of Santo Valentino, to pity the ap- parent mental sufferings of Lady Constan- tia ; and, still more, that benevo:ence led B5 10 her, in a rciy few months, to lave, with ge- nuine friendship, the very woman who had been sent to usurp her almost indisputable rights, and wreck her fancy's visions of am- bition ; and in those few months, althous^h the lovely abadessa could not learn the diffi- cult task of forgetting her direful sorrows, she acquired the sublimer one of bearing them with Christian resignation. Soon, too. Lady Anoelina was perceived to be a most successfal candidate for the favor of the new abadessa; who, whether from a recollection of how much that amia- ble sympathiser was affected by her enter- ing U] on her probation, or from any other impellent inducements to friendship, not proclaimed by Lady Constantia, but quickly she seemed to derive no comfort equal to that which Angelina's society afforded her; and shortly her friendship found it's highest gratification in striving, by every means, to mitigate those minor evils of misfortune in- flicted by the neglect, or reprehensible par- simony, of those unworthy beings, who had arrogated to themselves the guardian- ship of Lady Angelina. The exemplary sisterhood of Santo Va- 11 Jentino had, from the poverty of their funds, i)een compelled, for several preceding years, to dwell in a habitation scarcely considered compatible with perfect safety to reside in; and, from it's ruined state, repairs were pro- nounced by every artificer as an ineffectual project; but Lady Constantia, soon con- vinced of the perils which surrounded her, informed the cardinal patron of them ; when permission was graciously granted to her to remove immediately, with her community, to a magnificent castle in the neighbour- hood, which, with a large revenue, had been very recently bequeathed to this sister- hood, by a religious noble, lately deceased. This castle, now consecrated for religious purposes, although most beautifully and ro- mantically situated, seemed dedicated to the most cheerless gloom, which, probably, accounted for the almost universally credit- ed reportof it's being infested by superna- tural appearances of various forms and ter- rific aspects ; but it was now hoped and be- lieved, by all the religihso^ that the piety of the Sisters of Santo Valentino would promptly and effectually exorcise the un- quiet spirits ; and all the proper forms being li complied i^ith, the poor inhabitants of this convent quitted certain destruction in their antient habitation, for the chance of escap- ing it, by combating and vanquishing a le- gion of evil spectres in their new one. l^ CHAPTER II. With trembling apprehension all the domestics and young boarders, with many of the nuns themselves, entered the gloomy and stupendous structure henceforth to be distinguished as the convent of Santo Va- lentino 5 but, during the first few weeks' re- sidence in this place of expected horrors, no- thing occurred to alarm any of the commu- nity, but to the abadessa herself, who had many motives for entombmg every circum^ stance relative to the terror she had expe- rienced within her own bosom; and not' a single allusion to it escaped her until thrown off her guard by the dismay of two of the young boarders, who rushed wildly into her presence one evening, and whose panic-struck countenances, and trembling 14 frames, proclaimed, even more forcibly thaa the incoherence of the sentences they ut- tered, the magnitude of the alarm, which had sent them to the abadessa's parlour to seek protection. " Oh ! it was the most doleful crv that ever appalled the human ear,*' said the trembling Clarina. *' It was more a groan from the heart, ready to burst in it's own overcharged an- guish," said Laurinda. " But where did this terrible sound as- sail you ?" demanded the compassionating Constantia, kindlv. " Oh ! Madam," sobbed out Laurinda, ." it seemed to issue from beneath our feet; from the spot upon which we then thought- lessly stood." '' But in what part of the convent w^ere you, when you heard it?" " In the grounds. Madam." Lady Constantia started; her counte- nance assumed a paler hue than grief had tinted it with, and hastily she exclaimed, <* What! in the cypress grove?" «' Oh, Madam ! then you, too, have heard it,'* replied Laurinda, with a look of u increased dismay ; ^' It was indeed in the cypress grove. The beauty of the evening inducing us to venture on the gratification of our curiosity, by exploring many parts of the grounds which yet have not been submitted to the cheering hand of altera- tion, we, after roving unmolested throu«:h many sombre parts, at length determined upon summoning all our courage, and to venture into that gloomy but attractive structure, which terminates the cypress grove; and we had just entered it*s arch- way, and were about to descend the steps, when a kind of half- articulated, half- sup- pressed sigh, stealing round us on every side, electrified us at once, and arrested our further progress, though Lady Angelina would fain have encouraged us to .... '* " Lady Angelina !'* exclaimed the Prior- ess. ** AVas Lady Angelina, then, with you?'^ " Oh ! yes, and she said it was only the echo of our own agitated respiration; but, in a moment more, that dreadfully audible groan broke on our amazed senses: we waited for no more, but in wild dismay flew to your protection;— 'but— but, we knovf 16 not what became of Lady Angelina; I saw her fall to the ground in terror. But do not chide, dear Madam, for it was oiii: te?'ror that made us inhuman; we had not power to return to her assistance.'* Most powerful was the alarm which filled the sympathising bosom of Lady Constantia, upon hearing that Angelina had been left by her companions, in such a moment, a prey to all the natural horrors which such a situation could inspire ; and now, with all the trepidation which varied causes for agi- tation could shake her frame with, the alarmed abadessa proceeded to the cypress grove as speedily as the almost-convulsive tremor of her frame could admit of The cypress grove was certainly one of the last places belonging to her convent which Lady Constantia would then have chosen to explore alone; and when our readers become acquainted with the causes which actuated such reluctance, they will cherish no wonder at the chilling creep which passed over the surface of ner frame^ or the violent pulsation of her iieart, as she entered this sombre grove, where loudly she called oil her beloved Angelina, for whose 17 safety the most powerful anxiety taught every other feehng to fade into comparative apathy, — but Lady Angelina appeared not, answered not. The abadessa's increasing solicitude and dismay almost amounted to distraction. Onward her anguished solici- tude led her, still in fruitless search, until she began her descent of the steps leading from the archway, in the building mention- ed by Laurinda, when, swiftly glancing her eagerly-seeking eyes around. Oh, rapture ! she beheld the loved object of her alarmed pursuit, slowly and tremulously advancing through the massive iron gate of tViis an- tient mausoleum, with downcast eyes, and a countenance flushed by the tints of varied emotion. The abadessa hailed her; and the lovely Angelina sprang forward into the extended arms of Lady Constantia, with a frame trembling, and a heart bounding in painful agitation. *' Angelina ! my friend ! whom have you seen ? What has befallen you?'* ex- claimed Lady Constantia, gazing intently, with all the tender expression of the most poignant solicitude, on the interesting and intelligent countenance of Angelina, who 18 promptly replied, although her voice was tremulous from the alarm of her late extra- ordinary adventures, ** My beloved friend must know all ; but let us — let us fly from this melancholy, this terror- inspiring spot — and from every lis- tening ear would 1 also lead you." Together, then. Lady Constantia and her beloved friend bent their faltering steps to the grand terrace belonging to the cas- tle grounds; the immense breadth of which, and distance from any spot likely to con- tain an auricular witness, well suited it to the pui*pose of confidential communica- tions; where the lovely abadessa, from the narrative of her not less lovely companion, soon learned a tale of interest, and of wonder; and from that moment they embarked to- gether in a dangerous enterprise, and were surrounded by perils of no common magni- tude. As the convent of Santo Valentino had become extremely wealthy from it's late be- quest, united with the great endowments which the abadessa brought with her to en- rich it, she judiciously resolved to remove every thing from the castle and grounds of 19 this new habitation which could feed the generally-cherished superstitious influence; for, although extreme beauty marked the situation of this castle, it yet was gloomy to a most dolorous degree. It wa,s embosomed in a lofty, almost impenetrable wood, and the whole of the sombre grounds were filled with every fear-inspiring structure and de- vice, which the dark imagination of melan- choly could select, to give to piety a sad- dening aspect. But Lady Constantia, al-» though the child of dire misfortune, loved to behold religion in a cheerful garb, believ* ing " cheerfulness to be, indeed, the health of Virtue." The abadessa had brought from the late habitation of the sisterhood all their old domestics; and she soon learned that her projected improvements must be made with the full consent of, or else not under the auspices of, the principal gardener, Carde- nio ; who, bigoted to gloom and death's heads, by no means approved the inno- vating plans of enlivening the domains, and admitting, from evevy acclivity, the most, enchanting prospects, to charm the eye, and aid religion, by presenting to view the 20 glorious works of the Creator, surpassing all things in wonderous loveliness. Cardenio had been long a faithful domes- tic to the sisterhood he served, whom in consequence the abadessa highly respect- ed ; and, not wishing to wound his feelings by any exertion of her own authority, she employed an auxiliary to win him to com- , pliance, her lovely friend Angelina di Baler- mo, who, with scarcely any allowance to purchase respect, contrived, with only the charms of the most inartificial sweetness of temper, and fascinations of manner, with every attractive virtue of the heart, to win and enchain the affections of each indivi- dual in the convent, and could command, with the affections, the ready services of every domestic around her; and to her re- sistless persuasions, Cardenio found he had not power to say a negative; and soon, by th^ magic of her spells, she led him on to be- lieve each reluctantly sanctioned alteration, when completed, was the most exquisite of human arrangements. It was one evening, early in the com- mencement of this cheering task of im- provement, that the works had proceeded so 21 consonantly to the wishes of the interesthig prioress and her lovely coadjutor, during the whole day, that they were induced to remain, inspecting the progress of those auspicious alterations, until the hour for dis- missing the workmen for the night arrived; when as Lady Constant! a was returning to the house, she encountered that alarm w^hich we have alluded to. She had missed her rosary as she was proceeding home- wards, when the ever active and obliging Angelina tripped back to seek it for her; and the pensive prioress slowly pursued her way, often pausing to listen for the light footfalls of her friend, w^hen, in turning to move on, after one of these lingering paus- es, she suddenly beheld a man, incased in grey armor, standing before her, w^ith his visor down. The abadessa's heart bounded painfully with alarm ; but she repressed a rising cry of terror, and, recovering promptly from an involuntary start, summoned every particle of courage she could find obedient to her call, and wath, at least, the appearance of firmness, demanded — '* What was his busi- ness there ? V *' I am glad I have not alarmed you," he replied, in a deep, and fear- inspiring voice, " nor have you any thing at present to apprehend from me , but I must be brief in my demand, and you prompt in your decision, since that arbitrary fleeter, Time, presses for speed. — I am here to demand an immediate asylum for a female." " Why then did you not, at my convent gate, and in a less formidable shape, make that demand, which \vas never yet denied by the sisters of Santo Valentino to any being who required protection ?" said Lady Constantia. ^' To you I can never appear in -any shape less formidable," he answered. '^ It is not for a female who seeks refuge here, that I am come as ambassador; it is for one whom I must force into your protection. In one of the solitary prisons of your con- vent must you confine her, until you either compel or lure her into professing the reli- gious vows of your order ; and for such im- portant service, any reward you claim, in the power of wealth to bestow, shall be. se- cured to^you." '*The mystery which encompasses yon 23 would teach Hie to fear you, and fly, did not indignation inspire me with courage to hold further parley with you,^* replied the abadessa, with all the calm dignity of offend- ed virtue/^ you did well to conceal your face, when you came upon so disgraceful an em- bassy. I now know not who has insulted the community which I form one of; but go hence, man, and tell your vile employer, that we immolate no victims here. We ai^ not the sordid tools of violence and vil- lany. We practise no base arts to insnare, or betray; no force to destroy. Our altars are unpolluted by treachery or compulsion; nor can all the wealth which vice could yield us corrupt the integrity of our humble order. The convent of Santo Valentino is not for your purposes, therefore depart.*' *' Not until I tempt thee, paragon of firmness! further. Although gold cannot lure thee, because you want it not, cannot Fear operate upon this vaunted, virtuous stability of thine?'* *'Fear!" she caJmly repeated. *' What can I fear, from you ? you can, it is true, here rob me, nay more, can aim at my life, but still you have no power over my integrity.'* I " I have power/* he exclaimed, In the de- termined tones of implacable vengeance; *^ I have power, whensoever I have inclina- tion, to annihilate thee, or to blast at once thy fondly-coveted reputation for virtues, "which you possess not ; and to prove such is my power, doubt longer if you dare ;*' and he raised his vizor. The abadessa uttering a piercing shriek, fell senseless to the ground, where Lady Angelina, returning with the rosary, soon after found her. The armed man was va- nished, and no one was near to afford the terrified and affectionate girl the smallest assistance. But those apprehensions for the life of her friend, which first chained her by her loved Lady Constantia's inanimate form, at length urged her to fly to the house for aid. The nuns, boarders, domestics, all rushed forth at the call of Angelina. The now universally -beloved abadessa was tenderly conveyed to her cell, where a suc- cession of almost convulsive fainting-fits continued through the night, and at length terminated in a dangerous illness, which seemed invincible for several days; and when at length she recovered from it, such 25 an increase of touching sadness seemed viiiible in her fascinating countenance, her thrilHng voice, her affecting manner, that all around her mourned in sadest sjmpa- thy for her silent griefs. VOL h Q6 CHAPTER nr. It was upon one of those festivals, which in their commemoration steal hilarity into the convent's gloom, the nuns and boarclei^ of Santo Valentino mingkcl at the social board ; and, in the general wish for mutual entertainment, each individual exerted their mental stores, and less solid accomplish- ments, in contributing to the day's amuse- ment, in which the austerity of the cloister (except at customary stated intervals, when the community united in orisons) was sus- pended, and innocent mirth assumed full dominion, giving^ in it's present enjoyment, the happy promise that in after thought it would still be cherished with pleased re- membrance. 27 Amongst the numerous anecdotes related this cheerful day, one held a place which told a whimsical tale of early love, when the observant Abadessa perceiving it's ef- fect upon Angelina was to sadden her ever- speaking countenance with the gloom of pensiveness, fixed for a moment the inquir- ing eyes of wonder on her. Angelina, conscious of having awakened the attention and suspicion of the prioress, blushed at her earnest gaze of scrutiny, and overwhelmed with sudden confusion, yet scarcely aware of why she felt so painfully embarrassed, her eyes instantly fell beneath Lady Constantia's penetrating ones — a sigh, struggling for suppression, was distinctly heard to agitate her bosom — the abadessa*s anxious breast heaved a respondent one in alarm ; and poor Angelina retired to her pillow that night with the distressing con- viction of having certainly awakened, by her (even to herself almost inexplicable,) emotion, some suspicion in the bosom of her friend to her disadvantage ; and the suc- ceeding day had numbered but few of it's hours, when the ingenuous Lady Angelina, C 2 28 no longer able to exist under the shadow even of suspicion, tin-evv herself into the abadessa's arms, and " (implored/ ' in all the touching simplicity of genuine inno- cence, " to know the cause of that marked and evidently anxious scrutiny with which she had regarded her the preceding even- ing." ^^ Angehna,'^ replied the abadessa, with encouraging mildness, but impressive so- lemnity, " I understood, from the testimony of your own word, that you had imparted every incident of your life to me.*' *^ And so most assuredly I did, my dear Lady Constantia, all, every incident, that I thought of sufficient consequence to fatigue you with the recital of* " O ! my sweet friend, could that be deemed of little consequence by you, which mere allusion or similitude to could teach to sadden a countenance of the most brilliant animation, or steal pensiveness over a mind glowing with the mirth which reigned ? Alas ! my dear Angelina, there is yet some circumstance iratold, which, I fear, you feel shame to acknowlege — something. 29 perhaps, which timidity impels you to con- ceal from your friends/' *^ Dear madam," repHed Angehna hesi- tatingly, ** I — I have no wish for conceal- ment, if I had any tiling of certainty to re- veal. Surely there could he no allusion in Sister Marian's anecdote of her niece to effect the power of sympathy over me 3 for it only told of — of love, dear madam, and that, you know, could scarcely affect me,'' and Angehna's blushes became more bright- ly tinted. ^' Why certainly," returned Lady Con- stantia, *^ I may suppose, as well as hope, it could not, since you have but a short time completed your seventeenth year, and have been almost two years in the retire- ment of this convent. Before your entrance here, you could scarcely have thought of love ; and since, I mav pronounce vou have had no opportunity, as liere none of man^ kind have appeared to you but in the repel- ling forms of old conventuals." *' In'* that, dear madam, you are mis- taken," replied Angelina artlessly, but with emotion J *' for I have even seen in my se- 50 Ciusioii here, the most iiitcrcstinqlv hand- so!)]e man the woild can boast of; but there were circumstances attending my accidental view of him, which I felt as an intruder (al- though an unintentional one,) I had no right to betray, and therefore I concealed the incident." ** Never can I censure that reserve which any honorable feeling dictates," said Lady Constantia ; ** but Angelina, to return to the pensiveness which attracted, alarmed, and led me to the painful suspicion of your being less ingenuous than I fondly believed you — the anecdote told of the niece of the amiable Marian having, at the age of fif- teen, fallen romantically in love — to this anecdote you listened with more than com- mon interest ; it robbed you at once of all your cheerfulness^ nor could the whimsical method the parents of the young innamo- rata devised for curing this weakly- cherished passion beguile you of a mirthful smile." " Ah ! my very young friend, can you wonder at surmises thus awakened ? Can you refuse to that friendship, which power- fully interests me in all that concerns you. 51 to disclose the coincidence this story had* with your feeUngs, to inspire such sym- pathy?" *' Indeed/' rephed the hhishing Ange- lina, in a voice faltering with the timidity of genuine bashfuhiess, " I can scarcely define tlie sensations which led to the effect that awakened your kind and flattering so- licitude; but I will try to account far all to you J' ^ I believed, dear Lady Constantia — that is, I mean, I was apprehensive there might exist some similitude between senti- ments which I have cherished for a most amiable man, and those so imprudently en- couraged by the silly niece of Sister Marian % and that fear made me thoughtful, as in alarm I questioned my vmconscious heart -, but had I not perceived your observation of my seriousness,, and clearly seen you sus- pected me of something wrong, I should promptly have reasoned myself out of my terrible alarms, as an impossibility,' as I have often before done, whenever the sug- gestion has arisen like an appalling phaur torn to my view ; for well 1 know his affec- «^?0 tions were long devoted to a most faseiuat- ing woman, to wliom he was imited just before I was banished from my nncle's cas- tle^ and that iniion, I fondly believed, had conferred all possible happiness upon him, until beholding his misery, I had the grief to conjecture that death too probably had prematurely torn from him the woman he adored/' ** Beholding his misery 1 When? Where, Angelina?'' demanded Lady Constantia, in eager, trembling emotion. " Before the high altar in the dilapidated church of our late habitation, I beheld him kneeling, (a few days prior to our removal hither,) a sadly, sadly altered, miserable man !" " O, merciful Heaven ! forbid the realis- ing of my foreboding apprehensions 1" ex- claimed the abadessa in trembling emotion ; then, after a successful effort to resume the appearance of composure, which yet she could not feel, she gently, but impressively, added, *' O, Angelina ! can you persevere in any reserves to me ?'' ^* Assuredly I cannot^ my best frieud>'* 33 replied the amazed and agitated Angelina 5 but if, in the narrative of my juvenile ad- ventures, I should weary your patience, al- low the recollection of it's being in obe- dience to your wishes to plead in my ex- cuse.'* *^ When calamitonsly for many a child of sorrow, as well as for me, my dear, dear father repaired with his legion to give sup- port to the Christian arms in the Morea, he permitted my accompanying my much re- spected governess, Signora Viletta Tolmezo (whom the living death of immeasurable dis- tance has since, alas 1 deprived me of) to visit her family in the republic of Venice, as the contest in the Tvlorea was a Venetian one with the Turks, and therefore constant intercourse kept up from thence with the senate, he could more securely and even expeditiously correspond with me in the re- public, than if I remained, during his ab- sence, in Tuscany. *' Amongst my father's vassals had been a man, named Richard0;> so attached to his lord, that, a few years prior to my birth> he had rescued him from perishing, in cou- Q5 34 Beqiience of a sudden eruption of Mount J^Ana, (while my father was visiting Sicily) at the imminent peril of his own existence; but in wdiich act of affection, inspired Iiumanity, his own sight was, sacrificed, and he, alas ! became blind for life I " From that afflicting period, Richardo ^vas the most respected inmate of the castle di Montalbano (which, I believe, I before told you was always our family's favorite resi- dence,) and from that sad period too, all who loved my father — and that was all who knew him — became the willing attendants of poor Richardo ; and, from my earliest years, I shared with his successive faithful dosrs the task of guiding the unfortunate man ; and never, my beloved, grateful father used to say, ' was his child so dear to his heart as when paying some part of his incalculable debt of gratitude to his bereaved friend.* And, in truth, so fond was my inestimable parent of seeing me in this emj)Ioyment, tiiat, when I was only five years old, he had my portrait taken by the most eminent ar- tist in Florence, in the act of leading the poor blind, venerable Richardo.'* 85 A deep sigh burst from the heart of the abiulessa, and a visible agitation vibrated her frame. " That portrait, so precious to my far- ther, the Duchessa di Montalbano had sold, with all^lie deemed the lumber paintings of the castle; but no one, I must suppose, thought that picture worth purchasing, since those whom it represented were prized only by my father and those who loved him.'* Another struggling sigh burst from the bosom of the abadessa; and, with an air of increased interest, she entreated Angelina, to proceed. *^ A short period prior to my dear fa- ther's unfortunate expedition against the infidels," continued Lady Angelina, " poor Richardo died ; and, in his last moments, bequeathed to my especial care my last little companion in his service^ a beautiful and affectionate dog, named Fedelio,. who had been the sole surviving progeny of his long faithful leader, and had been his unerring guide for three years prior to Ri- chardo's death ^ and, indeed, I proved a- 36 fender guardian to my little char^^e until, expelled from the castle of my forelathers, I was bereaved of the power of being kind to any one. '' But I affect you, my beloved friend ; thierefore, I will hasten with you from Mon- ♦talbano, and accompany Signora Viletta, •attended by my charge Fedelio, to Signor Tohnezo's, where we all met a most cordial reception; but yet I could find no pleasure, no comfort there, although a'l the nume- rous family of Tolmezo, then, only seemed to live for my comforts, my accommoda- tions : but my dear father was gone to the seat of terrible warfare, and, while he was in peril, his child could net be happy. •' The residence of Signore Tolmezo was most beautifully situated between Treviso and Venice ; it had been a new purchase .since my governess had visited home, and she was as anxious to become acquainted with all it's environs as I could wish her ; for in our tHe-a-f'ttc excursions, in which we wandered away from the villa di Tol- mezo, was now centred my chief comfort 5 37 for then I could unrestrainedly talk of my father, and rave of liis fondly ianguislied-for return. '* It was in one of these pedestrian expe- ditions that Signora Viletta and myself, straying further than prudence sanctioned, we found ourselves surprised by fast ap- proaching twilight; and, in our eager rapi- dity to regain the Tolmezo ground, we, in our natural perturbation, mistook our way, and by some erring turn found ourselves iu the high road to Treviso. In vain we wan- dered to regain our lost path, until we were suddenly surrounded by a numerous gang of gipsies. " Our apprehensions were indeed most powerful, for they seemed a formidable host ; but, contrary to our direfally alarmed expectations, they merely gabbled over our future destiny, asked us for some silver, di- rected us to find our lost path, and civilly bade us good-night. ** But very far along our regained path we had not proceeded, when, to my inex- pressible dismay, I discovered the absence of my precious charge Fedelio, In vain I 3S called, ill vain I sough.t him, until from a mound, Avhicli commanded a full view of the public road, I found my painful antici- pations realized ; for, even approaching to darkness as it was, I beheld from thence my poor favorite in the custody of a gipsy mail; and now, regardless of every fear but that of losing Fedelio, I flew back to the public way, and, borne on the wings of anxiety, swiftly overtook the formidable troop,, and rapidly made my way to the treasure I sought, when appearing so unex^ pectedly before the ruthless spoiler, I suc- ceeded in snatching Fedelio to my arms. ** The grateful transports of my favorite repaid me amply for the exertions I had. made for his rescue; but of short duration proved our mutual, joy; for the purloiner. savagely tore him from me, and swore * L should never more possess him.' " Several of the women now surrounded me, and as I wept and pleaded for the re- storation of Fedelio, and offered them the whole contents of my purse for his ransom, they gabbled together^ in a. language uniur telligible to me, and still, without cere^ 39 mony, as they gabbled, taking from my dress my different ornaments, as they seem- ed to attract their fancy ; while some of the older ones encouraged me to proceed with them, ' assuring me that at the osteria ^5 w^hich was not far distant, the savage man would be compelled to restore my dog.* " Thus led on by these delusive hopes, I fortunately, though childishly, had pro- ceeded a considerable len2:th of wav, un- mindful of the perils which encompassed me, (for the gang, unheeded by me, had turned into a lonely way leading to a gloomy forest,) when a young man, of no- ble and sweetly prepossessing appearance, with several attendants, all in full speed, on horseback, suddenly emerged from a thicket before us. Although by this time the fleeting tw^i- light was gliding fast into the sombre shade of night, yet, aided by the coming beams of a rising moon, the whole of the group was perfectly distinguishable, when my ap- pearance, so materially differing from those * Inn. 40 wlio encompassed me, with my supplicating gestures and mourni'ul tones in pleading, attracted this stranger's interest and atten- tion. Instantly he reined in his steed's swift career, rode up gently to me, and, in a voice of melody and benevolence, inquired * the cause of my distress, and how he could yield me assistance?* *' In the joyful tone of hope, now chang- ed to certainty, I related the nature of my distress, in which I comprised how precious the poor animal was to me, from being the saored bequest of the blind Richardo to me. *' The benevolent stranger evinced an in- creasing interest, and ordering liis atten- dants to enforce the restoration of my dog, ledelio was promptly given to my fast- lock- ing arms. sorrow-stricken friend. 47 But at length, in compliance with the request of Lady Coiistantia herself, Ange- lina proceeded ^v ith her little history, which she commenced in the tremulous accents of benevolence, fearing to inflict pain. ^^ The deliverer of poor Fedelio,** she said, resuming her narrative, ^^ seemed to fascinate every one at the village di Tol- mezo ; and in return, pleased with the re- ception he met with there, he cheerfully assented to prolong his stay for several days, although the most anxious to embrace his parents and other friends, after the dan- gers he had escaped in the Morea, where he had most honorably distinguished himself among our successful countrymen ; for, as you know, perhaps, the Alvianos are Ve- netians as well as the Balermos. And in this from day to day lengthened visit, I found, in aid of my debt of gratitude, other incentives to awaken my reg-ard for this young man ; for eacti renewed conversation relative to my father but more and more betrayed how highly he was loved and estimated by Conte Fredrico, who, in all the admiring exultation of his friendship. 48 recounted to me such feats of my parent's prowess in battle, that my heart glowed with the fire of enthusiastic" triumph for such a hero being my father; until, in fond and flattered fancy, dwelling on the scenes of glory he had shone conspicuous in, I thought upon the perils he had braved, and learned in tremulous conviction, that the safety of my parent was dearer to my heart than the hero's deeds which fame recorded. " The conte too had told me, that my father would soon return; but he knew not the decrees of fate — my father never re- turned to his expecting child: Oh, no^ led on by the impetuosity of his valor, he, with his amiable and unfortunate friend, Conte Nicastro, rushed too fatally forward in pursuit of the retreating foe, when, sur- rounded and overpowered by numbers, they fell — and I— I lost my all ! " Conte Fredrico informed me too, ' that his father was about to remove his residence from the villa di Alviano to Bessarno Cas- tle, where, so near in proximity to the Cas- tle of Montalbano, he trusted, from the long existing friendship of our famihes, w^e should 49 often meet ; and that, there too, he should have the happiness of introducing, as a candidate for my admiration and esteem, the lovely and amiable Lady Violante St. Seviro, his destined wife.'' ^' Yes, Angelina, she was iiis destined wife — the destined wife of two di Alvi- anos,** exclaimed the abadessa ; ''a pa- rent's arbitrary mandate bound her in the solemn engagem^ents of sacred promise to one — love gave her willing vows to ano- ther; and yet — but go on, sweet friend; I will interrupt you nomor^." " This intelligence made me most hap- py," continued Lady Angelina, endea- vouring to abstract her thoughts from the perplexing suggestions of speculating won- der, which the mysterious words of Lady Constantia inspired : '^ for, as he announc- ed his Violante a model of female excel- lence, I felt assured he had found his coun- terpart, and therefore his wedded life bore the auspicious promise of every happiness. " And another thing which added con- siderably to my pleasure, in the anticipa- tion of the conte's happy union, was awak- VOL. h D 50 ened by the idea of finding in his bride a friend of years more congenial to my own than my dear governess; for, as he said Lady Violante was all perfection, I gifted her in fancy with my favorite age nineteen, when beauty has arrived at the full blos- som of it*s spring, and the mind is expand- ing fast into something more than the mere opening buds of mental endowments. *^ But too rapidly flew away the short period of Conte Fredrico's visit ; but w^e could not wonder that his wish and ours, for his protracted stay, could not coalesce. His departure was to take him nearer to the woman he adored : but it was to wrest from us a friend we all regarded. He did de- part, and gloomy appeared every scene, which he had brilliantly enlivened with the magic of his fi\scinations ; but he left me the bright prospect of my father's speedy re- turn to cheer me — that promised blessing filled up every vacuum in my heart, gilt every scene with FIope*s bright burnishing, and by that dearly- cherished expectation I was delusively happy. ■ *' At length the carnival of Venice ar- 51 rived, but not my father; and, sad with disappointment, I accompanied the Tol- mezos to that gay scene ; and, young as I was, Signora Viletta took me with the elder and quiet part of her family to par- take in a rational degree in the amusements of this festivity, which was celebrated with even unusual splendor, inspired by the tri- umphant joy of all, from the recent glorious .termination of the direful calamities of war. *' It was the second evening of my ming- ling in this dazzling scene of captivating pa- geantry, that Signora Viletta, her eldest brother, and myself, obseiTed two cava-- litres land from a gb?idola, and we each, on the instant, recognised Conte Fredrico di Alvianoin one of them; but, although well aware we could not be mistaken, since the form and movements of no other man could so emulate his gracefulness, yet, as this signore was masked, my governess and her brother considered it prudent not to accost him until certain there could exist no mis- take ; and as the voice would prove con- vittion, since none could sound in melody D 2 52 like Conte Fredrico's, they determined upon following him, to listen for his speaking. '^ But as if, in punishment for the scep- ticism of Signore Tolmezo's prudence, the conte walked on in total silence, apparently busied in attentive observation of the nume- rous masks who passed ; and, by this scru- tiny, he was providentially led to perceive a man mingled in the crowd, with an unsheathed stiletto seeking concealment be- neath a long mantle he wore, cautiously but steadily following another man. almost bent by senescence, yet venerable in the aspect of his accumulated 3'ears/* " The conte^s attention w'as now riveted upon this evident assassin, and was, by that attention, led to pursue his footsteps, as we became the anxious re-treaders of the conte's; and, by this general powder of at- traction, we were at length all drawn in our succession of pursuit into an almost-deserted street, adjoining Santo Marco's Place, where promptly, by not perceiving his fol- lowing observers, the bravo aimed the fell blow of death at the bosom of his venerable victim ^ but Conte Fredrico, with an arm 53 nerved by humanity and valors averted the pitiless stroke of premeditated murder. . '* But the assassin had two terrible asso- ciates, who had perceived Count Fredrieo's observation of their accomplice ; and had, in consequence, attended our footsteps, and who now, most unexpectedly, attacked the valiant cham})ion of defenceless age; but ere the conte's own companion, or Sig- nore Tolmezo, had time to uinsheath their svvords in his defence, he had drawn his own, and had wounded one of his antago- nists severely in the breast, and had disarm- ed the other. " Never, no, never can I forget the valor he evinced in that terrible moment ; on the humanity which inspired alt his actions iu the next; for the moment he had secured himself from the vengeance of his direful opponents, he turned to the further protec- tion of the venerable victim af their sangui- nary project; but, alas! while the conte was engaged in his own defence, tlie first discovered bravo had so far succeeded in his atrocious design as to sheath his stiletto in the side of the old man ; but, foiled by the 54 pity of heaven, it had touched no vital part, and welteping in his blood, supported by :>Gme benevolent spectators, Conte Fredrico now beheld him; and never in possibility can I describe the tenderness of his conduct to the poor wounded man, or the sweetly- affecting sympathy portrayed on his elo- quent countenance ; for now his mask was off. " The poor old wounded man announcecj his dwelling near, in the very street the direful scene had been performed in ; and liow every sensation that had agitated the bosoms of the (by this time numerous) spec* tators all concentrated in recoiling horror -, for, as the old man moved forward to gain his home, he recognised in the assassin the conte had wounded — and whoiiad swooned from the agony he suffered— his awn, his only son I and now, though direfully con- vinced that son had conspired with bravos to terminate his life, no power could tear the merciful, the affectionate parent from his miscreant son ; but fondly he clung to him, * promised him pardon for all his of- fences^ wQuld he but look up, would he but 65 let him hear his voice once more.' In short, dear Lady Constantia, all recollection of his own situation was lost in tender solici- tude for this dire unnatural gon. O ! it was a ^terrible scene to have been doomed to witness ! many among the spectators it melted into tears ; while others trembled in dismay, on finding there could exist in hu- man kind a wretch so vile in turpitude to spill the blood of his very own parent.** *^ Did Fredrico tremble? Did no fore- bodings agitate his soul?'* lowly, but em- phatically, murmured out the abadessa in a fear- inspiring tone, that vibrated on every sensitive feeling in the bosom of Lady An- gelina, who shuddered in appalhng conjec- ture ; but, fearing to distress or offend, she hushed the rising tumult in her mind, and answered ; — ** He did all that humanity could prompt, all that a heart replete with every virtue could inspire ; but I beheld little more of the scene, as Signora Viletta, overpowered by horror, fainted, and was instantly con- veyed home by her brother : of coarse I accompanied, them; and from the confusion 56 that prevailed, and from the rapid increase of spectators, the conte never recognised any of lis in our masks, and Signore Tol- mczo; from the untoward circumstance of his sister's fainting, was so occupied in anxiety for her, that he never once remem- bered to speak to the conte, or ask for his address, ** Both my dear governess and myself had been too much overpowered by the distress- ing scene we had witnessed there, to feel a wish for again partaking of the hilarity of the carnival, and we mingled with the re- vellers no more ; but the other individuals of the family joined in the festivity each evening, but nothing more of Conte Fre- drico could they see, nor were their morn- ing inquiries for him more successful ; and we all most naturally concluded he had de- parted from Venice. *^ But, ere the carnival was ended, a rumor prevailed that my dear father was re- turning by a different route from the other troops, and my kind uncle wrote to an- nounce the glad tidings to me ; and nothing now could subdue my impatience to be on ■61 the wins for Montalbano. I never felt tite inclination to exact obedience from those whom fate placed in a situation that bowed them to submission ; but certainly, in this instance, either my wishes sounded arbitra- rily, or the kindness of all led them promptly to oblige me, since with rapidity each ar- rangement for our departure was made, and no one seemed to look even regret for the pleasures I was leading them to relinquish. *' The joyful hope of soon beholding my tender parent illumined each prospect of this glad journey for me ; for it was a glad jour- ney to me, since I knew not I was doomed, alas ! to meet with sad and direful disap- pointment, and my fond expectations ne- ver, never to be realised 1 " On the evening of my first day's jour- ney from Venice, when my companions, Signora Viletta and her beautiful niece. Minora Tolmezo, had alighted with me from our carriage, to view from the summit of a hill we were about to descend the glo- rious exit of a brilliant sun, Fedelio, who wa^ playfully scampering in Joy's wide range, suddenly began to scent the ground, D5 5$ and almost immediately disappeared amid the underwood of a closely interwoven copse, when soon the sound of his uncon- trolled raptures proclaimed that he had, at no great distance, met a friend. ** A curiosity which we found invincible influenced us all to learn who was the friend thus presented to the view of the joyful Fe* delio. Hastily, therefore, we sought out the path explored by him, yet prudently accompanied by some of my male atten* dants ; but many paces I had not proceed- ed, wi^n it darted into my imagination that, in possibility, it might be my father, when my fluttering heart flew to bid him welcome, assimilating my speed to aflec- tion's rapidity of flight, and on whose wings J reached Fedelio's retreat several moments before my companions — when, O Lady Constantia ! I beheld poor Richardo's be^ quest lying prostrate before Conte Fredrico di Alviano, looking up with joyful, and, as 1 thought, grateful emotion at the conte, who, reclining on a bank of aromatics, was anxiously striving to win the dog into silent greetings, lest he should disturb a venerable ^9 monk, who appeared in an iintranquil slum- ber, although tenderly supported in the arms of this benevolent young man. " In all the trembling confusion of em- barrassment at such an awkwardly abrupt interruption, I would have promptly re- treated, could I have effected my purpose luidiscovered ; but the conte had beheld me in the moment of my appearance, and, by starting in surprise, at once dissipated the slumber of poor Father Marsilio, his pre- ceptor, who had found a momentary res- pite from pain and mental suffering by a short repose. " For the conte, accompanied by his preceptor, had been on his journey to the villa di Alviano, to see his parents, and, as the military business which had detained him so long in Venice at length was termi- nated ; and the conte' s own established at- tendants he had left in Venice, to protect the venerable man whose existence he had saved from assassination, and whose life he had reasons to believe still menaced by the vile emissaries of his unnaturalson; and with postillions^ guide ?^nd ca?nerihe^ re- 60 commended by ilie master of the house where he had lodged at Venice, lie and in$ preceptor had set out about two hours pre- vious to my departure from that city, and about the same lapse of time had intervened between my being thus led to find him, and his having been suddenly overturned by the carelessness of his driver, where there was no apparent cause for such an accident; and by which unfortunate event. Father Marsilio was severely bruised, and had re- eived some very material internal injury. '• Their guide then led 'them to the se- cluded spot Fedelio most providentially found them in; and then set out, with the postillions to the last post, which was at no considerable distance, where, he said, ^ he could quickly procure another carriage, or uet that which thev had been overturned in immediately repaired ;* and, at the same moment, il cameriere had set out full speed for a surgeon in the neighbourhood, whom the universally-informed guide assured them •■ was deemed eminently skilful.' *^ The places of the supposed destination ^f these individuals were at no very consi- 61 derable distance from the spot where the distressing accident had occurred, yet two hours had nearly elapsed, and not one of them had returned. Suspicions of their in- tegrity had now stolen into the minds of the holy father and his pupil, when many cir- cumstanced, which had past almost unheed- ed by them, recurred in painful confirma- tion of these suspicions. The carriage con- tained much of the conte's and Father Mar- sil'o's property, which the former bestowed no thought upon in the moment of afflicting anxiety for his friend ; but now they both believed all was devoted to the depredations of those who had taken it away, and that they themselves were probably trepanned into that sequestered spot to become, in the advance of night, a further prey to this apparent plot of villany. " The poor conte was now in the most distressing perplexity: he believed he had every evil to apprehend from villany ; and he had no means of defence, since all the fire-arms had been conveyed away in the carriage and in the holsters of the at- tendants' saddles, his friend was unable to 62 move, and he was incapable of leaving him to his fate. " Pain both of bodily and mental fuffer- ing, with the oppressive heat of the even- ing, combined in subduing the holy man, and falling into a train of anxious musing, he insensibly dropped into a deep, though uneasy slumber; during which Conte Fre- drlco discovered, in terrible conviction of their peril, the marks of newly-shed blood sprinkled on the grass beneath his feet, and staining the shrubs around him ; and soon these dreadful sensations of alarm were powerfully augmented ; for, in gazing around upon this horrible conhrmation of his dire* ful fears, he suddenly beheld, glaring from amid the roots of the aromatics upon which himself and friend rested, a pair of immense human eyes. " Conte Fredrico commanded sufficient self-possession not to start, or betray any symptom whatever of observation, although little doubting that the bank on which he sat was the covering sward of a subterra- neous retreat of brigands; nay, perhaps the sepulchre of those whom they had im- 6s molated : but promptly he now resolved that the moment he could suppose the robber had descended from his reconnoitring piost, to snatch Father Marsilio in his arms, and, in defiance of inflicting increase of pain by the movement, to bear him into the opeh road, and there to seek for assistance from some haply passing traveler. " In the moment almost of his forming this intention, the appearance of Fedelio dissipated his agonising alarms ; for he brought with him the certain hope of in- stant succour. Yet still he beheld the glar- ing eyes ; yet retaining his firmness even in the joy of expected deliverance, he warily betrayed no emotion to influence his appal- ling observer until my appearance dissi- pated his caution. " You can readily imttginc, my dear Lady Constantia, that it was not in that direful place I learned all the particulars of this singularly-perilous situation; and hav- ing heard of the destruction my providential arrival most certainly removed Conte Fre- drico and his venerable preceptor from, can you wonder that the conte not only ex- pressed, but felt joy, at seeing me : but still, unknowing the numbers of the am- bushed biigauds, in alarm for my safety, as well as his own, he with prudent preci- pitan:;e hurried us all to the carriage, where we placed the suffering father as conimo- diously as possibility would admit of;, and in which we now, for the poor monk's sake> slowly proceeded ; but the heiress di Mon- talbano had then safe escort in numerous attendants, and we had nothing m the forta of banditti to apprehend. " The place of my night's destination was the villa of one of my father's friends, il Mai^chtse di Castrioto, where I knew every friend of mine would find a cordial welcome^ and the holy father tender and efficient care ; thither therefore, with the approba- tion of my governess, I invited him and the conte to accompany me; The distance to the village was so inconsiderable, and it*;^ promise of every comfort for Father Mar- silio so alluring, that my proposition was gratefully acceded to.'* ■ " Flattering indeed was the reception given by // marchhe and la rnardiha to me. 65 and most benevolently kind their welcome to Conte Fred ri CO and the reverend sufferer: and at this villa awaited my arrival a letter from my dear uncle, ' announcing to me, that so vague and unsatisfactory he found, upon investigation, the reports relative to my beloved father's change of route, that he recommended my remauiing at the villa di Castrioto until he could send me more au- thentic information, lest, by proceeding, I should miss the earliest opportunity of em- bracing my dear father.* " In pursuance of my uncle's advice, which I was in the pleasing habit of impli- citly attending to, I remained ten days at ^the villa di Castrioto, in the constant society of Conte Fredrico di Alviano, when the more I saw of h m the more my admiration ©f his external graces was awakened, and tlie more causes I found for conviction, of his mind being the precious repository of all human excellence : but in those short days, beguiled by the magic of Conte Fredrico's fascinations of half their hours, 1 first caught a glimpse, and with dismay it flashed upon me, of the real disposition of Minora Tol- 66 mezo; but, even then, no presentiment whispered an anticipating sound of what that disposition could induce her to per- form, or how deep was the plot laid by her and the mates of her subtile race, ere she became my companion on this journey. But then most glaringly she evinced an anxious wish (even urging her to overstep the boundaries of delicacy's sweet and be- coming restrictions) to monopolise the whole attention of Conte Frederico, and, though perfectly informed of his sacred engage- ments with Lady Viol ante, to ensnare his affections, and lure him from his constancy; even ill-concealing her spleen, at his civiH- ties to me ; which, from his attachment to mo dear father, and from the circumstance of his being, through my means, so cordially received a guest at the villa di Castrioto, would have been impossible for him not ta pay pie. " But on the tenth evening of my visit at the villa di Castrioto, a courier arrived from my uncle, to announce his having obtained some Airther intelligence, of a more satis- 67 factory nature^ and he thought I might pursue my journey home. '^ Nothing now in existence could re- strain my impatience to be gone, and as early as the convenience of the marchese and marchesa would permit my feelings of urbanity to appoint the hour, I recom- menced my way to my loved home : for hope told me, there would my beloved fathet be, to meet his child j but hope proved a delusive flatterer. " The gratitude of Conte di Alviano to me, for proving, by the ordination of merci- ful Providence, the means of rescuing him and his friend from what he had reason to suppose inevitable destruction, so filled his heart, so softened it to kindness for me, that, in the moment of separation, it awakened more evident regret at parting from me than from either of my companions, and that awakened new cause for spleen in Signora Minora; for the tone was malicious in which she said, shortly after our depar- ture from the villa di Castrioto. " ' I fear Conte Frederico di Alviano is a 68 mere man of the world ; for I perceived his attentions were always proportionate to the rank of the person he paid his unmeaning adulations to.* ** " There she wronged him," said Lady Constantia. *' He then was guileless ^ and • the attentions he paid you were the sponta- neous cfTusions of his heart. He believed you a something almost beyond even mor- tal perfection ; and he gave you homage as to a seraph sent from the spheres,, to show how sweet, how fascinatingly sweet, could prove the combination of beauty, youth, and heaven-formed innocence." Lady Angelina now blnshed, in joyful surprise, and her heart fluttered it*s grati- tude for an eulogium she almost hoped was but the repetition of what Conte Fred rice had uttered; but, in timid bashfulness, an* xious to turn from a suggestion she felt had too much elated her, she rapidly changed the theme of their conversation to the dire- ful disappointments she was doomed to en- counter at the Castle di Montalbano. ^' Alas ! my fi^iend,** she continaed, ** no beloved father awaited me there. My hearty 69 my arms, expanded in vain; I liad no fa- ther to fill them — oh ! no, only some of his adherents, who had attended him to the Morea, had arrived ^ and instead of my fa- ther, they brought me a letter from him, written before the last day*s battle, and final victory of the Venetian arms. It was a sweet kind letter — Oh how affectingly sweet and kind ! Yet with almost anger I received it; for I was irritated by disap- pointment. It was but a trifling gratifica- tion as a substitute for mv beloved father's presence, and I received it not, as I ought to have done, with sacred reverence ; for it ivas the last address of my last parent to •^ That dear, and now for-cver- venerated letter I cannot show you, beloved friend; for as the first of all my heart's prized trea- sures, I had placed it in the very centre of a highly-valued casket (it had been my mo- ther's ov,^n), to make the companion of my exile. In it w^ere no treasures but such as w^ere so to an affectionate heart. It contain- ed the portraits of my parents ; an ode ad- dressed to me on the fiiist anniversary of 70 my birth, by my sainted mother ; a journal, copied from a kind of diary, kept in chalk, by poor Richardo, of the first year of his calamity ; with all the letters my kind in- dulgent father and my uncle had ever ad- dressed to me. To me this casket and it's contents were more precious than the estates I was bereaved of; yet the Duchessa di Montalbano rudely and unfeelingly wrested them from me, on the morning I was banished from my late father's palace.*' The flush of indignation that glowed upon the cheeks of this amiable and lovely young ' woman, at the recollection of the unme- rited insults she had received, soon found a refreshing shower steal softly over it, spring- ing from her heart, in sad remembrance of all she had loved, and had been torn from. But hastily chasing those unbidden drops of pained affection away, she continued her recital, in an assumed voice of cheerfulness, which a strong exertion of firmness had pro- cured for her. " My sainted father'slast letter was written in that tender language of fond paternal af- fection, in which he always addressed his 71 child. After giving me the sweet and soothing comfort, of assuring me of his per- fect health, and of his flattering hope (alas ! how fallacious was that hope), ere many weeks elapsed, to embrace his child again ; but he never more embraced her — never, never. Oh ! why do I thus increase your sorrows with mine ? I was only to tell you of Conte Fredrico, and still, still I wander into a repetition of my griefs. ^^ In that letter of my sainted father, dear Lady Constantia, what do you think he said ? Why, he bade me ' seek out the expected inhabitants of Rossarno Castle, the moment of their arrival there 3 but from all to select out Fredrico di Alviano, as the individual amongst them he most wished me to regard. ^' ' I would have you, my child,' this now-sainted parent said, * to venerate this young man, for his eminent virtues. I would have you cherish him in your af- fection with a sister's love, for his excellence claims your highest esteem, and your gra- titude will aptly pay him the incense of it's most lively inspirations. Yes, my Ange- 72 lina, your gratitude ! for you owe him some, and I, knowing the attachment of my child to me, can well imagine how incalculable she will deem the debt, in the dread hour of battle, Angelina, when death gleamed in sanguinary horrors around me, and had too surely aimed it's mortal shafts at many a valiant hero, the intrepid Fredrico di Al- viano saved your father's life, my child, at the imminent peril of his own.* " My beloved friend, now you know that this Fredrico saved the life of my parent, you cannot, no you cannot wonder, that my interest, my regard, my veneration for him, should have arisen to the very sum- mit of enthusiasm. No, surely no; and w^hatever may since have been his fatal er- rors, I will still fmd in the heart of gratitude a vail to hide them from my view ; and still must that grateful heart proclaim it's con- viction of his not meriting all the censure which may, alas ! have fallen upon him." *^ Impatient became my inquiries for the arrival of the expected inhabitants of Ros- sarno Castle, but they came not while I "was heiress of Montalbanp, and when I be- 73 came ho loiiger the heiress of my ancestors, I had no means to evince ni}^ gratitude to any one — I no longer possessed a home to entertain the preserver of my parent in — I had lost my father, and all was lost to me — '' " But^ although I was no longer a being of any consequence in the w^orld, the amia- )>lc Fredrico forgot not the regard which, as my father's child, he felt for me; for I know that he and his parents made many and many a fruitless eftort to obtain an in- terview witli me ; but the new Duchessa di ^lontalbano frustrated all their kind and friendship-inspired projects." '*' At length, dear Lady Constantia, a \'ery short period prior to my expulsion from the castle of my uncle, the duchessa one day inforined me, with a kind of mysterious exultation I could by no imeans account for, ' That Fredrico di Alviano was to be united on the morrow to Lady Violante.' " No," exclaimed the abadessa, in trem- bling emotion, "the direful morrow never arrived to unite Violante and Fredrico." '' Not miited ! ! ! — Lady Violaute and VOL. I. E 74 . Conte Fredrico not united IT* exclaimed Angelina, starring in amazement, and blush- ing with sensations she had yet to learn the definition of. *' But I believed they were, dear friend," she tremulously added, " and my sad heart ceased for a moment to sorrow for it*s own woes ; for, in truth, it did re- joice at hearing of this union — ' For now,' 1 mentally said, ' Fredrico, the preserver of my father, will be happy.' " " Happy!" repeated the abadessa, in a tone of solemn wildness, that struck with the chill of horror to the heart of Angelina, " Fredrico can never be happy — not here — not hereafter!' " The feelings of Lady Angelina were dreadfully tortured; but, with a successful effort at self-possession, she arose from her seat, filled out a glass of water^, and carried it to the abadessa. *^ Beloved friend, revered, respected La- dy Constantia, drink this," she mildly said; " let it's effect assist in recalling your firm- ness, your rer* Hection, your submission to the decrees r f Providence. That Fredrico di Alviano can never be happy here, I have. 75 alas ! too many presaging fears for it's sad truth to doubt; but of his happiness here- after, who ? what mortal can pronounce ? Behold the pendant cross upon your bosom I what does that proclaim ? The sufferings of a Mediator, who died in anguish, that the repeated sins of man might be forgiven ! Remember Fredrico what you once knew him ; and, remembering that, can you doubt of his repentance? If indeed he has sinned, and if a contrite penitent, who can disbelieve forgiving mercy may await him?" The trembling abadessa drank the water — her fleetiiag senses returned to their boun- daries; when, struck bv the mild fascina- tions of Christian charity, presented to her recollection by Innocence officiating as it's priestess and it's votary too, she meekly sunk upon her knees, and, with pious fer- vor, prayed for the first time that Fredrico di Alviano might repent and be forgiven: and, while sinking to this sacred employ- ment, the lovely Angelina silently with- drew, and softly closing the door, bent her pensive steps to her own chamber, there to E2 76 jmourn for tke misfortunes of iher interesting friend, and for the still .more dreadful ones •of Fredrico di ALviano, which thus crnclly -subjected him to the dire suspicion of ha\^ aivj: committed inexpiable crimes. 77 CHAi>T£:ii r. When at length the restored composure of the sorrow-stricken abadessa permitted her to request the conclusion of Lady An- gelina's narrative,, her lovely friend ccnti^ nued. *^ The sudden flush of joy, which glowed on my cheeks, it*s uncontrolled irradiation from my eyes, on hearing of the approach- ing marriage of those I believed long and fervently- attached lovers, avvakened the most powerful curiosity in the mind of Id dnchh'sa, who was warily observing me, and who imperiously demanded what had occasioned that aspect of joyfulncss in me. *' ^ Your intelligence,* I replied ; ^ for it is joy to me to hear that Conte Fredrico'4- happiness is tabe insured to-monrow.'' 78 *' Her comment on my answer was — a blow I given with all the phrenzy of a ma- niac. Yes^ Lii<^ly Constantia, it is too true, the low-borji Minora Tolmezo dared to strike the offspring of Theodore di Montalbano : then, then indeed was his daughter humbled. ** Under the protection of the benevolent abadessa of Santo Valentino, I have never had occasion to betray one great leading fault in my disposition, pride: but, in- deed, dear Lady Const antia, I am, alas ! \ery, very proud. I knew it not in the days of my prosperity, but when I became poor, and was insulted, I discovered I was haughty to excess, easily irritated, and slow to be appeased, by those who ceased, for one instant, to remember the respect ■which, as the child of such a father, I claimed from all. ** The rank my dear infatuated uncle bad raised Minora to, did not shield her from my contempt, as a being too much beneath me, to condescend to resent the indignity siie had insulted me by, to her , but not ia Christian charity forgiving the 79 trespasses of others, I — oh! Lady Con- st^ntia, I am indeed ashamed to tell it to you, but never have I ceased repenting of that terrible fault — I reprehensibly com- plained, in the bitterness of my wounded pride, to my uncle, of the insult the child of his brother had just received ; when he, ever fondly attached to that brother, and parentally partial to me> most highly resented the duchessa's misconduct; so thus, most improperly, I caused a serloas disagreement between him and his most ill- chosen wife. ** Almost immediately after this unfortu- nate discdj^diay which I strove with all my power to efface from my dear uncle's re- membrance, and restore amity to where it should for ever reign j he became alarm- ingly ill, and shortly after fell into that state of weakness, in which he lost the energies of his once-animated mind : then it was the duchessa announced her prospect of adding to my uncle's happiness by pro- geny, then it was that she and her subtile relations planned my exile. *' By the deatk of . my beloved father I 80 liacl lost my right, as heiress apparent io the Montalbano possessions and titles ; and by this promise of expected progeny to my uncle, I was likely to be excluded from my presumptive also, and then, though only in expectancy of my total exclusion, the Tal- mezos treated me as if the intervening heirs were born ; and I was cruelly expelled from the castle of my forefathers, and to the then inconsiderable, and consequently obscure, convent of Santo Valentino, I was privately banished; where, under your protection, I have found, that could I forget a tender, beloved, indulgent parent, could I banish from my remembrance the direful misery I witnessed, as the anguished portion of the amiable Fredrico di Alviano, and could I cease to see you the drooping child of irre- mediable affliction, I should have learned that I could still be happy." When Lady Angelina paused, as if come to the final close of her narrative, the lovely Constantia threw her arms around her, and tenderly pressed the interesting girl to her bosom — ** Oh! that I could indeed make you 81 Happy r' she gently said — *^ then, therf you would not have a grief to sor- row for. But, my beloved Angelina, you have not yet informed me, by what means you came to behold Fredrico di Alviano in our late convent. But mark me, Ange- lina, I only wish for as much information on this subject (remembering how you be- fore alluded to something of an interdict), as the genuine feelings of honor you possess may sanction your revealing.'* *' Then that dear friend may now be all : for as you know Conte Fredrico, know the errors, perhaps crime, he is accused of, even sanctioned by honor, in the pure es- sence of Gratitude's best feelings, I will an- nounce all that I witnessed, in the full con- viction of it's supplying more than presump- tive proof of his perfect unblemished inno- cence. " Before your example taught me resig- nation, and your kindness contentment, I often wan who, obtaining the friendly signal from the leading postillion, soundt'd a bugle' shrilly, to announce to the other guards the approach of expected guests. The agony of Angehna's mind seemed now to threaten the annihilation of her senses, when the carriage stopped, a door V as opened, and she beheld a man of grace- .111 ful appearance, who instantly vaulted into the vehicle, and placed himself beside her. *^ Fear nothing, most interesting, most fascinating Lady Angelina,'* said this in- truder, in a voice of melting kindness: " although the aspect of alarm surrounds you, although the appearance of many ills encompass you, believe my power here is absolute, and that I can and will protect you from every evil which can in possibility- assail you/* '■ O ! speak not ambiguously to me,*' faintly articulated the parallised object he meant tp comfort: ''tell me, O! tell me where I am ? what evils await me ? and how you can secure me from this threatened danger! Tell me, tell me all ! convince me my gratitude is your just claim, and in true sincerity it will pay it's debt." " Let the most solemn and sacred bond the heart of an honorable man ever con- ceived, now guarantee my faith and my power to protect you," he impressively re- plied ; " but not until I have the happiness of seeing your naturally alarmed spirits re- sume some degree of composure, can I 112 venture to disclose to you all that you re- quire/' ^^ Composure ! O, heavenly saints ! when shall I acquire composure?'* exclaimed the agitated Angelina, bursting into convulsive tears, and sobbing bitterly, heart- rend ingly. From the time this intruder entered the carriage, it had proceeded up a sort of mazy, winding acclivity ; and now having reached the summit, and entered upon a platform surroundey any contradiction into action, and to coalesce in amity or -ood fellowship with no one but those inclined to sacrifice more I^^' ^c^ deeply with him at the shrine of the jolly son of Jupiter and Semele; and Orsino, there- fore, anxious to save his unfortunate mother from violence, hastily challenged his father to taste with him a flask of lachrymiB Christi, w^iich he had lately become pos- sessed of. It was a wine of which Salimbini was par- ticularly fond y and the pleasure he felt in the idea of Orsino having obtained some for him, dissipated at once the threatened storm, and introduced upon his brow a tran- sient sun- beam. The flask was soon produced, and sooner emptied by Salimbini and his associate; when the former jovially exclaimed — " Come, Scaltro, we'll make a night of it, and each man swallow his half dozen in drinking success to Orsino's sposalizio ; for since my boy is so enamoured of the girl, he shall not be disappointed ; and, by Plu- tus, they shall give us a warm portion from the duca's colTers, to fee us for not betray- ing their villany; Unless my discoveries are crowned with success, and then I shall 126 take from tlieir hands the power of feeing ns/' . '' Done!" cried Scaltro; '* I 'il not flinch from a dozen flasks drank in so good a cause: but when comes the sainted d — ], -Father Ipocritone, to tie the happy- knot?" ** If chance directs him hither to-night, it shall be done 5 if not, to-morrow you shall summon him.** The projects of villany relative to her, wViich each passing moment became more and more revealed to her anguished appre- hension;, increased the trembling horror, the mental agony, to direct torture in the pal- pitating heart of Lady Angelina, who now sat with her chilled hands clasped, her streaming eyes raised up to heaven, like the wan and speechless child of hopeless despair. At length Orsino, convinced that his fa- ther was seriously intent upon a Bacchana- lian revel, considerately persuaded his mo- ther to retire; and summoning a female do- mestic, ordered her '' to conduct I.ady m Angelina to the chambeiv prepared for her reception.'* This chamber was upon the same floor with the parlour, and, though small, was neat, and might have been considered com- fortable by any inhabitant who was not, like Angelina, a heart-rived captive in it. The walls were only white-washed, but around it were suspended many gaily paint- ed pictures of saints and martyrs. From this chamber the terrorised Ange- lina promptly saw, as she gazed around in heart-saddened despondence, there was no prospect of escape; for it ^contained only one window, that was thickly grated, and was placed most aukwardly about seven feet from the ground, and close to an angle of the room. Her attendant tlfither had not an idea of courtesy, therefore made no offer of assisting Lady Angelina to undress ; but, believing all that could be required of her was comprised in conducting her thither, almost immediately withdrew, leaving Lacly Angelina alone, to meditate upon the con- spicuous horrors of her hopeless situation. The tumultuous agony of her thoughts 128 for some moments forbade any connected train of musing upon the direful calamity of her destiny ; but when reason, collecting it's powers, succeeded in unchaining it*s facul- ties from the dominion of fear, it's first proof ©f renovated energy was it's leading her to her knees, to implore, and by the fervor of her unaffected piety to merit, the protec- tion of the guardians of the helpless. From her knees she at length arose with reno- vated firmness; for her reliance rested where the Christian's hope had found an adaman- tine basis 5 and under the sacred influence, (which only could remand the affrighted energies of her mind back to their active station,) she first examined the door, to try what security from alarm that could afford her, when, to her inexpressible joy, she found that all the fastenings annexed to it were withinside, and not a moment now ,was lost until she availed herself of all the safety which they could yield her. Angelina next determined upon the in- spection of the window, to ascertain if in- deed the lattice was an immoveable fixture. To accomplish this, she was obliged to 129 mount a chair, which stood beneath it. This chair, in a decayed condition, tot- tered under her Hght form, and, in the first hnpulse of apprehension to save herself from an expected fall, she threw out her hand against the adjoining wall of the angle the window was placed by, to catch at some- thing for assistance, and grasped at one of the pictures. The force with which she seised it, drew one of the nails (before loos- ened in it's station) by which it was hung. Angelina now finding the chair only tot- tered, but did not give way, relinquished her hold, when the picture, suspended only by one nail, slipped obliquely from it's ho- rizontal station, and discovered an aperture in the wall, through which a small ray of light emanated. Evidently thi.s chasm had been made for the gratification of curiosity, or perhaps for some purpose of moment, through a thin lath and plaster partition ; and Angelina felt stimulated instantly to explore the crevice, to learn, was it in the nature of possibility to discover, through that, any passage or means likely to lead to her escape, i4i the wild fancy of a forlorn G5 130 hope that she might, hy aid of her pocket- book instruments, widen tlie breach suffi- ciently to admit her ; and now placing a chair beneath the aperture, she again mounted, and through the chasm, to her infinite surprise, beheld the Bacchanalian party she had just separated from, and in the same apartment she had left them in ; for the parlour, she now found, ran parallel with her chamber. Much chagrined at this termination to her faintly- cherished hope of escape, An- gelina was turning away in disappoint- ment, when the sound of a bugle-horn ar- rested her further stay, by transfixing her with painful expectation, through the ex-- clamations of the party she there beheld. *' By the torch of Hymen ! here comes ■ the priest, to noose you, my enamoured boy," exclaimed Salimbini. " Or, more likely, the goodly conte, come to learn the success of our trusty mission,'* ii'cXid Scaltro. Instantly Orsino started from his seat, in evident alarm — '^ Then, signori, I must retire until the guest is ascertained^ since 131 the conte yet knows not that I hold inter- course with any of our ^ community but with you, my father; and for worlds I would not let him see me at tlie social board with Scaltro the renowned/* he ex- claimed, as with precipitance he departed; and, in a moment more. Lady Angehna heard his hasty footsteps in the room over that she occupied. Scaltro now staggered out to admit the guest ; and soon returned, ushering in a conventual figure, with his cowl so oversha- dowing his visage, that not a single feature of which could Angelina, from her elevated situation, distinguish ; but her shuddering heart, in the soliloquy of thought, ex- claimed — " It is he ! the very monk w ho accom- panied Father Ezzelino to Santo Valentino, come, come, alas ! to unite me to this w'retch's son ! but my funeral obsequies shall he perform in gladly-welcomed prefe- rence to my mystical ceremony with such a beino- I" '* It is the conte/* Scaltro audibly ex- 132 claimed, as he preceded this conventual figure, who, the moment the door was closed upon him, threw off the sacerdotal habit, and discovered the conte indeed, the Conte Fredrico di Alviano-l 133 CHAPTER VIII. The heart of Lady Angelina was chilled with horror: '^ This then/* she sighed in anguished sorrow, '* is the very Conte Fre- drico di Alviano, whose complicated crimes drove the poor Signora Salimbini to insa- nity : but could he, could he have commit- ted crimes, and smile as he did, before the altar of the Deity 1 Impossible, impossible j O, no, no, no ! that smile beamed with conviction to my senses, that he is not the man of crimes. " Salimbini, have you, have you found him, as you gave me hope?*' exclaimed the conte, in trembling agitated anxiety. " Found him ! No ; bow should 1 ? You disposed of him too well for that/* Salim- bini savagely replied, irritated at this inter- ruption to his dearly-loved libation. 134 " Salimbini/^ said the conte ind-gnantly, '* what means the injustice of this suspi- cion ? Had I not weakly and incautiously intrusted you with many of the dreadful se- crets which oppress me, had I not had, alas ! a dire occasion for your services, you dare not treat me thus," '^ The man who is shunned, who is scouted from society as a homicide, who shortly may stand a public trial for murder, and murder too that shall be proved, unless you give me your full confidence — cannot expect the homage of respect from those who know him/' retorted Salimbini inso- lently. The flush of indignation, which before had animated the cheeks of the conte, now heightened to a livelier tint. Ids eyes flashed fire, and the smile of scorn sat on his lips. " Then the murder must be proved against me," he exclaimed in a voice of flrmness ; " for never, never will I reveal the secret to you, which for your own atrocious purposes you pant to be informed of.'* ** Very wxll, very well then, conte/' re- 135 pliepl Salimbini, with a look and in a voice of malicious determination ; '^ I can take my vengeance for your want of faith in my honor without your assistance. I, I know enough of your -secret to rend you heart. — I know who did give the mortal blow ; and, 'fore heaven ! I will betray him, will lead him to the tortures he has earned.'* The before intrepid firmness of Conte di Alviano now fled at once ; his countenance was promptly faded to the hue of death,, the chill of direful terror struck on his heart, crept o'er the surface of his frame, stood in cold drops upon his forehead, taught his knees to smite each other, and only by sinking into a chair just near him, did he save himself from falling to the ground, sub- dued by anguished agitation. ^* Salimbini," he falteringly articulated, *^ you could not prove such a villain. Aly own life I will freely yield to your vindic- tive enmity, but spare, O ! spare my " Fredrico could articulate no further, but bursting into tears, sobbed in the agony of an anguished heart. " All depends upon yourself," replied Sa- 136 llmbini sullenly : ^' the man whose life is in my keeping is not to talk arrogantly to me, illustrissimo Signore Conte ! No, no, no; when you sought my friendly services, your pride and passions ought to have found an opiate. I am not to be bullied, monsig- nore. " If — if by my conduct I have irritated you to such a direful thought of vengeance as that you have paralized my senses by, tell me, teach me how to make atonement, how to appease your wrath, your terrible threat of fell vindictive enmity,** said Fre- drico, in a quick, unsteady tone, that told how painful was the supplication urged by necessity to the being we despise. *' Your first step must then be to learn humility,*' returned Salimbini insolently, '^ and to look upon me, not as your tool, but your fate.*' ^' The decrees of Fate are arbitrary,** said the conte impressively, yet smiling in the sad resignation of despair : *' I have out- lived my loss of man's prized treasure — fame, of the annihilation of the most fondly- cherished hopes of my hearty and it is 157 therefore very possible I can sui^vive servi- lity even to Salimbini. What wouldst thou then I should do to pay thee homage ?'* " Get drunk v^ith me!" " That you know I will not. When free uncontiolled inclhiation guided my actions, I never committed excesses to degrade me, and now it would luido me ; and you, who know so much, know I dare not hazard even a temporary deprivation of my facili- ties. Is there then nothing else I can per- form to appease your indignation ?" " Unlace my boots — my legs ache and swell confoundedly ; — unlace my boots, I say,*' exclaimed the savage. " Unlace your boots !" repeated the conte, coloring again with indignant asto- nishment. "' Unlace my boots; unlace them, mighty conte, illustrious heir of Alviano, upon your humble knee, with your head uncovered, or your secret comes to light, and the guilty shall suffer all the horrors of inquisitorial vengeance," shouted Salimbini imperiously. Instantly Fredrico dashed off a kind of hunting cap he wore, and, bending to his 138 knee, relaxed the lacing of Salinibini^s boots; but, "whilst his actions thus bespoke submission, his countenance proclaimed the conflict of mental di^-nitv &tru2:i>Iini>: with the harsh decrees of arbitrary destiny. This degradation ended, he arose, and, with a bow, that told the obedience of a hero,, not a slave, demanded '' WJiat further service he could render SaUmbini ?'* " A confounded wind blows down the stair-case; it makes me sneeze. Go, shut it out,** said Salimbini. The conte obeyed with dignified compo- sure, and closed a door which led to the upper apartment, and which Orsino had left open in his retreat, to hear the intru- der's name announced. " That won't do." vociferated Salimbini; " merely latching is insufficient ; the wind will suck it to and fro, and deafen us with it's rattling. Come, mohsignore, lock it ; there — there ; now draw the bolt, illustris- simo ! below as well as above. Come, the bottom bolt, the bottom bolt- — there; no- thing so salutary a lesson to pride as teach- ing it to stoop : and now, signore conte, 139 come and drink a glass of this delicious la- chiymae Christi to recruit you after such un- usual toil. Come, sit^ and drink; a glass or two will cheer you. I know the conse- quence, and will not command you to take more.'V Fredrico eagerly complied with this man- date, in the forlorn hope that, while so em- ployed, he might draw out something rela- tive to the anxious business which had drawn him thither; for, by Sahmbini's increasing approaches to impeded fluency of articula- tion, he saw that the subject of caution and reserve were threatened with annihilation by the overthrow of reason. '^ Come, monsignore,** said Salimbini^ "our first glass shall be to the health of my son's beauteous bride/' " Is your son then married ?" asked the conte, in affected interest, wishing to con- ciliate the ruffian, whom no force could bend. " Not 3'et, but to-morrow will see In'm la sphso oi . It is a project of mine; it struck me as in ambush I beheld the girl in the convent, where she has been for some 140 months secreted : but how to accomplish it was the question — when, lo ! I was em- ployed to conceal this very girl, to give death increasing speed in carrying off a tottering obstacle to mercenaries, who long to revel on the spoils of a duca's revenue." The interest of Conte Fredrico no longer was affected, it was painfully awakened, and the dawning of a horrible suspicion filled his breast with terrorised alarms. ** All was artfullv mana<2:ed," continued Salimbini, now stammering in inebriation, " to turn suspicion from my employers; and 1 shall let them rest for a time in their fancied security, until my project is accom- phshed. The girl is in my power, nay, in my very house — my son's bride she shall irrevocably be to-morrow. My employers, by their manoeuvring, shorten the life of the present possessor of certain estates and ti- tles; and, lo ! I produce the wife of my son as the indisputable heiress ; for already has a spurious bantling been im»posed upon the world; the wench who sold her offspring for this purpose, a i'avorite sultana of my own; and so I acquired that secret: death 141 took that bantling to feed it*s worms ; and, though another is announced as shortly to appear, I have my suspicions of it's sterling- stamp. One imposture may have onlj^ pre- ceded another. 1 have my spies even in the very house -, and, by fair means or foul, 1 '11 prove my beauteous daughter-in-law the heiress of . Hum 1 hum ! are you dozing, Scaltro?" The suspicions of Conte Fredrico now amounted to little short of torturing cer- tainty ; but wishing to lead Salimbini fur- ther on, who had but narrowly escaped an- nouncing names, now endeavouring, by the carelessness of his tones and manner, to conceal those suspicions which agitated his breast, he said — " And the lady is tolerably handsome, too: or at least vou seem to think her so.'* " Tolerably handsome !" repeated Sa- limbini, contemptuously; — then, with ve- hemence, he added, '^ I say she is beauti- ful; far, far surpassing in personal loveli- ness your highly-vaunted Violante.'* *' That 1 will take upon me to deny," re- plied the conte, now affecting vehemence 142 too. ^^ I'll bet you my famed war: horse Rapicio, whom you have so long set your heart upon obtaining, tiiat this intended bride of your son's is not to be compared to Lady Viol ante." ^^ Done!" returned Salimbini, exulting- ly. *' The charger 's mine ; for, by ! she surpasses all, all of beauty the hand of nature ever formed, combined together." ^' In your opinion, probably ; but your judgement decides not, the bet," returned Fredrico. ^' I must have ocular demonstra- tion of your having won him fairly, ere I resign Rapido to you." " To-morrow you shall have conviction of the animal's being fairly mine>" " But why not to-night ?" '^ No, no j thank you, nionsignore ; with all due respect to your curiosity, and plausible scheme of outwitting me, no eye shall now behold my prize until she is irrevo- cably the wife of Orsino Salimbini." Angelina, an agitated witness of this scene, now^ convinced that this moment must decide her fate, and that one instant hesitation or delay would annihilate every 143 hope of rescue for ever, sprang to the ground, rapidly unbarricaded her chamber, and taking her hght, winged her wa}^ as swiftly as her trembhng frame could bear her thither, to the parlour door, where she extinguished lier candle, then unclosing the door, exclaimed, in as steady a voice as her powerful agitation could lend her, and entering as she spoke — '' Signori, 1 have accidentally extin- guished my candle 3 will you permit me to relight it.?'* *^ Furies ! and vengeance 1 how dare you to come hither?" vociferated Salimbini, at- tempting to fly towards her to^ inforce her retreat, ere the conte should obtain a full viev/ of her; but the unlacing of his boots had loosened them about his heels, and the strong cording entangling about his legs, both combined in impeding his way, and the conte gained a full view of her. *' It is then, Lady Angelina di Balermo ! — As I suspected. Lady Angelina." He, with now no longer controllable emotion, exclaimed, as he flew towards her. 144 " Oh 1 are you, are you, hesitate not to tell me, detained here of your own concur- rence ? ' * " Oh! why insult me by such a cruel supposition?" she replied; '^ but I conjure you, if ever indeed you loved my father, to fly to my uncle, and tell him, where I am detained, and he will send sufficient autho- rity, sufficient force to rescue me.*' *' This moment must you be rescued, or else never, from the snares of Salimbini. — Come then, my lovely friend, and let the consequence prove what it may to me, I will attempt, at least, your rescue/' Angelina sprang forward, Fredrico caught her hand in his tremulous grasp, snatched up the sacerdotal robe he had come disguised in thither, and as he bore her from the parlour into the passage, he hastily threw the monk's habit around him- self and her. " By the infernal powers !" vociferated Salimbini, " I will betray thy secret if thou darest to take her hence." ^* You and your employers are now com- U5 pletely in my power, by your own communi- cations, and I will betray you all if you chal- lenge my vengeance of retaliation," replied Fredrico, undauntedly rushing forward. " Say you so ! then might must vanquish you, and retain our prize," exclaimed Sa- limbini, endeavouring to pursue him : but might was despoiled of it's powers by in- temperance and erring judgement; for the unsteadiness of Salimbini's head, aided by the slovenly state his own insolence had placed his heels in, impeded his way; while Scaltro in vain strove to open a passage for the BOW loudly- called -for Orsino to come and aid the rescue of his prize ; for the very bot- tom bolt, Vv^hich arrogance had ordered to be drawn, o'ershot itself; since each time Scaltro attempted to stoop, for the purpose of undrawing it, a vertiginous motion in his head compelled him to forego his effort; and so much were they both unfitted for the alertness of pursuers, and so much time had elapsed ere they could contrive to li- berate Orsino, or summon any one to chase the fugitives, that Fredrico, possessed of all the secrets of passing through these guarded VOL. I. £1 40 premises, sa-fely conducted his trembling <:harge out of this place of peril, mihiolested even by the suspicions of the wary sentinels, of his havincr anv companion concealed be- neath the habit of the friendly friar, for whom he passed (under sanction of Sa- limbini) in his frequent visits to that fortress of banditti ; and still unimpeded by pur- suit, he conveyed the almost-fainting An- gelina, some distance through the forest, to the ruin of a Roman bath, speaking as they proceeded, in gentlest accents, the kindest words of soothing encouragement, to reanimate the energies of her drooping spirits. — At this ruin he paused^ and cau- tiously lookino- around — '^ We are unobserved, thank heaven !** he softly articulated as he led her to the en- trance of this place, where the mantling ivy concealed., from the eye of common observa- tion, a low grated door; — the sombre shades of night now aided tliat concealment ; but to Conte Fredrico it was a familiar object. Eagerly he pulled a ring affixed to it, w^ith a touch acquainted with the secret of it's actuating spring, and slowly it opened upon 147 a dark delving passage. Rapidly now lie closed the door, and, entreating Lady Ange- lina to cherish no fears, he cautiously de- scended until another door impeded further progress. — At this door Fredrico knocked, and a venerable moRk unclosed it, and ad- mitted the fugitives into a stone chamber, where formerly the waters of a bath had run, but was now converted to other uses. — la it a lamp was suspended. '^ Is he — is he found, my son?" ex- claimed the monk, with trembling impa- tience, the moment his eyes rested on Fre- drico, when the agitated Angelina instantly recognised, by his voice, the still, tbe well by her remembered. Father Marsilio. *'Alas! no,'* replied the conte> *^ Sa- limbini is in every way a vilhiin; but we will talk of this another opportunity, since you are now called upon to welcome a much-beloved favorite of yours. Lady An- gelina di Balermo.'* ^' Alas! alas!" exclaimed Father Mar- silio, starting back, whilst his countenance most eloquently proclairiicd regret ; '' why has Fate again thrown this fciscinating child H ^ us in your way, unfortunate young man, to increase the misery of your hapless des- tiny ?" Angelina shuddered at the painful sound -of her augmenting the misery of the preser- ver of her father's life, the rescuer of herself from wretchedness. • ^' To the will of heaven it is my task to how with unmurmuring submission/' replied Fredrico with energy/^ but reverendo padre, ' if I have griefs, I have my consolations too; for even now, mine has been the hap- piness, the transport, to rescue this lovely being from the villanous machinations of the miscreant Sahmbini.'* 1 The hue of death instantly overspread the fine countenance of Father Marsilio; as recoiling in anticipating dismay, he ex- claimed : — '^ Does Salimbini know you for her res- cuer ? ' * *' Assuredly he does; no other means were mine to save her. '* m *^ Avenging heaven will have it's retribu^ tion!" faintly exclaimed the terror-anguish- ed monk; ^' allj all is now lost, and that i 149 ire fate, we have toiled to avert, inevi- table." The anticipating heart of Angelina felt at Oiice conviction of the destruction she had drawn upon her preserver j for one mo- -jinent it was stunned by horror at the be- lief^ but in the next, remembering that yet such destruction might be averted, she promptly rallied^ the forces of her mental faculties, and exerting all the fortitude her anguished feelings told her she must com- mand to pay the demand of gratitude, she firmly said : — '' Conte Fredrico, instantly restore me to Salimbini.'* Fredrico, recoiling in horrorised amaze- ment, exclaimed : — " Restore you to Salimbini ! — Why,- surely, surely — did not you tell me, Lady Angelina, your detention was compulsa- tory ?" *' Assuredly I did; for alas! thinking* only of self, I have drawn destruction upon my preserver ; but believe not the grateful Angelina will ever endure that insupportable misery, — Oh! no indeed, I will not. — 150 Take me then back to this horrible Salim- bini ; appease by that his terrible wrath, his threatened vengeance, and leave to pitying heaven some other means, less dreadful to my heart, of rescuing me from becoming the wretched wife of a bigand's s on." The conte smiled upon her in rapturous gratitude, pressed her hand with energy, and in a voice of respondent feeling, said : ** No,neverj never will I lead you to wretch- edness : even the most direful vengeance of Salimbini I would brave, sooner than yieM you to his power. But let the benevolent, generous heart of Lady Angelina cease to beat in alarm for me, through that mis- creant's vengeance : for so singularly is my fate, combined with this man's interest, that although in many instances he may have power to wound and distress my feelings, he dares not aim at my existe^ice ; and inde- pendent of this apparently-mysterious se- curity from his sanguinary vengeance, he, this very night, in the unguarded ebulhtions o^ inebriation, implicated his vile employ- ers in the ruthless viilany of conveying you to his liabitation ; a disclosure, which, the luw of bravo honor ever revoks from. On my promise of secresy, therefore, upon his having betrayed the iiiciters of this dire plot of turpitude to me, I can readily compromise for suppression of his vindictive retaliation for the heavenly protectors of innocence, or- daining me to become your rescuer from the peril that encornpassed'you y — but as the promise of secresy has not yet passed my ]'ips to Sahmbini, I can. announce to you who were the diabolical projoctors of.... *' Oh !" said Angelina, gently interrupt- ing him, " 1 heard all of their rutiiless plot, for the annihilation of my dear unfortunate uncle, through their cruelty to me, from a place of ambush, where 1 beheld you my lord, and where I formed the hazardous at- tempt of presenting myself before you." — And now with her heart filled with the con* soling hope that the vengeance of Salimbirii might thus be averted by this compromise, she attempted to make her acknowlege- ments to her preserver, in which she be-^^ trayed that her joy at deliverance was 152 equaled, if not surpassed, by her happiness in fmding her rescue was not to be attended by any evil consequence to him. ** And is it, can it be possible/* Fredrico replied in a voice of affecting sadness/' that Lady Angelina, herself so pure, so spot- less, retains one particle of interest for me, the outcast of society, a being contemned by all mankind ?** Angelina was powerfully affected by the subduing pathos of his thrilling voice; and the spontaneous tears of sensibility, straying from beneath the silken fringe of her down- cast eyes, fell from her blushing cheeks upon her throbbing bosom, now painfully agitated for the sorrows of him she re- garded. "Ah! Lady Angelina,'* exclaimed Fre- drico, in the faltering voice of varied emo- tion, *' this kindness of compassion, so touch- ingly evinced, assures me, you only know that I have been unfortunate; not" — not that I stand arraigned for direful crimes.'* '^ Alas! I do know vou are sus- pected of them/' said Angelina, in the 1 153 lowly tremulous tone of agitated kindness,. " since the voice of calumny reached even me, recluse as I have been." ^' The voice of calumny!!! — you, vou call it calumny !! — oh! how my sorrow -laden heart thanks you, my sweetly, merciful friend!'* exclaimed Fredrico, convulsively grasping her hand in overpowering grati- tude ; and trembling in agitation almost too mighty for subjugation, sunk; vanquished by excess of feeling, upon a bench beside her, unable to articulate how his heart thanked her. '' My poor son forgets," said the holy father, *' that neither Lady Angehna or himself can tarry here all night ; the hour for prayer approaches, v/hen the monks all hastening to devotion, some one may wan- der hither to perform the inflictions of a tortured conscience." Lady Angelina,^ starting from a painful 'reverie, exclaimed, '' Aliis ! holy father, and I have reprehensibly forgotten that all this ^time, my dying uncle is tortured by the aiTilction of believing I have fallen into the •iiands of banditti, or, still more direful;, that I H 5 154 am the voluntary companioa in an elope- ment with one of the attenclants,*"sent to convey me to him.'* " Reverend father!'* said Fredrico, '^ you "will permit us, I doubt not, to proceed through the convent vaults to the castle of Kossarno; from thence, under the auspices of la contessa, Lady Angelina can safely be conducted to Montalbano Castle." *^ Assuredly ; for I would venture even a greater hazard for the kind preserver of my life, whom, in my anxiety for your safety^ I have seemed to forget my debt of grati- tude to'* — replied the good padre, taking the suspended lamp from it's station t ^' come, my son, assist Lady Angelina to closely enfold herself in the monk's habit that concealed her from the sentinels of Sa- iimbini's fort, for here, too, we must hide her from observation/* And now Father Marsilio, preceding Conte Fredrico, who tenderly supported tbe trembling Angelina, led the way through a long extent of subterranean passages, which ran beneath the convent's time-worn clois- ter, until their further progress seemed ar- 155 rested by a grated door, but for this the good monk was provided with a key ; and taking^ an already trimmed lamp from a nitch in the wall, he lit it and presented it to Fre- drico ; and while unclosing the door for the fugitives to proceed, impressively he spoke : *' My conventual duties call me hence,, and I can accompany you no further; but you know the way too well, my son, to err in the safe convoy of your sacred charge. — Farewell, my children, and may the blessing of heaven rest upon you, only as long as you shall merit it's favor/' The holy man now returned to attend his > devotion, and the trembling Angelina pro- ceeded with Fredrico along the damp and chilling vaults of the monastery of Santo Stefano. 156 CHAPTER IX. A GLOOMY silence reigned, whilst our fu- gitives tiod many paces of their sombre route j for Fredrico had many perplexities to engage his meditations, and the pensive An- gelina had no longer a wish for conversa- tion ; the pang the sound of the contessa had given to her bosom, ere reflection had told her what contessa was most probably meant by Fredrico, had conveyed to her trembling heart the sad and firm convic- tion, that she loved the long betrothed of Lady Violante St. Seviero, the man accused of direful crimes. At length, having reached the termina- tion of the convent vaults, they entered those of Rossarno Castle, when Fredrica broke the gloomy silence in the plaintive voice of sadness. 157 " Alas ! Lady Angelina/' he said, " our mutual enemies have caused for you a widely different entrance to, and reception in, the Castle of Rossarno to that I once fondly- cherished the delightful hope of Fate's permitting. — Then I portrayed in Fancy's rapturous visions all — all of homage, the heart of ardent — friendship and esteem could devise ; to give to you smiling wel- come would have greeted your approach to the castle of my father 3 but now, alas! taught by the contemning world to feel shame at your conductor, you come a fu- gitive, led hither by a proscribed being, who dares not himself present you to even his once kind, his once-adoring mother." The vibration of Angelina's frame felt by Fredrico, as she leaned upon his arm, informed him how much he had affected her, for she had not power to answer him. Silence again prevailed, until they reach- ed the last of the subterraneous arcades of the castle, when Fredrico requested Angelina to dismande from the monk's ha- bit, that he might leave it in it's accustomed place, to be in readiness to form his disguise. 158 when necessary, for his mysterious visits to the fortress of Salimbini. Instantly she comphed, and immediately after they en- tered from this range of vaults into the chapel of the castle, at the rear of a magni- ficent monument of the finest sculpture ; and as emerging from behind it's shade, Angelina perceived the quickly- affecting influence of a sudden shock agitate the sen- sitive frame of Fredrico, who started with recoiling emotion, and would promptly have retreated to the vaults, had it not been too late, since the object he would have retreat- ed from had beheld him; and for Lady Ange- lina's sake he braved the torturing conflict, which he was well aware must await him, in an interview Vv^ith his mother, who, clad in the mournful weeds of Sorrow's most af- flicting state, had been devoutly kneeling before the sarcophagus of the superb sepul- chral structure, raised to the memory of her husband, until disturbed by Fredrico's en- trance with his lovely charge 3 and when with whom he attempted to advance, the contessa, with recoiling horror depicted on every line of a countenance faded and at- 159 tenuated from extraordinary beauty, by the pangs of mighty woes, started from her knees, when the majestic grandeur of her mien seemed to acquire still more com- manding powers; as in the piercing tones of indignation, blended with the thrilling ones of anguished despair, she exclaimed: — '^ Monster of unnatural cruelty ! how dare you thus appear before me? Can — can your callous heart, now black in turpitude, forget that, when your impious hand des- poiled me of my husband, I tore my diabo- lical son from my heart, and forbade him my presence for ever ?*' '^ Oh ! no, madam, I have not, I cannot cease to remember the hatred, the preju- diced injustice of my mother,*' replied the conte, in a tone of the most affecting des- pondence : then with an air of the firmly conscious dignity of innocence, he con- tinued, — " nor is my disobedience to my mother's afflicting mandate voluntary -, nor at the tomb, him you believe my impious hands have immolated, could I, however black in turpitude you deem my heart. iCO have dared to present myself before the widow of the man I murdered ?" "Murdered!'* the Contessa di Alviano shrieked — *' murdered! and by his own child! — by my own child! — by mine! oh Fredrico!'* and subdued by horror and despair, she sunk upon the ground. — In an agony of alarm and grief, her agitated son flew to raise her. " Approach me not ! touch me not 1" she wildly cried, " lest in my horror, at the contact, I learn to curse my child as often in the ravings of my phrenzied grief I have the hour which gave him birth." Trembling in the agony of his wounded -feelings, Fredrico" retreated several paces from the contessa ; his fine and fascinating countenance, clad in the hue of death, and -whilst his lieart writhed in anguish, he falteringly articulated-— '' Cuuld my mother curse me?*' ' " If mercy yet has influence over you,'* exclaimed the contessa, raising her hands in a suppliant position, '' sound not such tones as these in my ears, nor look thus on 161 me, sending your melting eyes, beaming with heaven-borrowed innocence into my very heart, to teach me forgetfuhiess of your crimes, and infatuate me into becoming an accomplice in your direful sins, by taking to my love again the fell murderer of my husband." " Oh! my mother! how you torture me ! supplicate not me, I implore you, I conjure you,'* Fredrico rephed, in all the softened pathos of wounded affection; *' yes, yes, I will obey my mother, who for- bids her heart-rived child to look upon her; — yet, that mandate is merciful, for to see you thus, must rend my very soul !" "Soul! soul! Fredrico," exclaimed his mother, wildly starting from the ground, " where is now your father's troubled soul ? w^iere his unquiet spirit, sent to an unhal- lowed tomb by Wm, his loved Zarina bore him? Oh ! Fredrico! once, once the precious treasure of an adoring mother's heart, how could you sink to infamy hke this, and teach that mother, to preserve the favor of her Creator, she must learn the afflicting les- son — to abhor you ? " U2 ** Oh ! heaven Omnipotent ! in meroy spare me such heart-torturing conflicts, lest I should be led by them to shrink from tha-t great duty, which thou, in thy v/isdom, hiust assigned me to perform!" Fred ri go ejacu- lated, with all the fervor of animated devo- tion; but while his spirit caught from piety the sublimated fire of energy to support his mental trials, his fran>e was subjugated by mortal weakness; and vanquished by the convulsive tremor of agitation, he seemed no longer able to stand beneath his weight of sor- rows ; when Angelina, starting from the steps of the monument upon which she had sunk, subdued by horror, amaze, and sympathy, caught one of his grief-chilled hands in hers, and gently drew him towards an adjoining pil- Icir, upon the base of which he found a seat. *' Heaven does grant it's mercy to me," fee feelingly exclaimed,, pressing with fervor the hand v/hich led him, as he gazed on Angelina, with an expression of grateful tenderness that no language could deli- neate : " heaven does grant it*s mercy to me, in teaching you to pity my afflictions.** *^Oh! holy saints! who is this?" ex- 163 clauiied the contessa;, first observing the presence of a stranger, and now with all the awakened terrors of a motlier,for the safety of a child trembling in her heart, she said: " Who, who, infatuated young man, have you conducted hither to witness my sacred sorrows, and hear the wild ravings of distracted grief accuse the innocent of crimes they never, never perpetrated ?*' The long- tortured heartofFredrico throb- bed with sudden, unexpected joy 5 he start- ed from his seat with every nerve new strung, and darted towards his mother, but paused at a respectful distance from her; and sinking on one knee before her, bowed his grateful acknowlegements for this spontaneous proof of stjll existing in- terest for him; and with such expressive eloquence he performed the action, it's im- port could not be mistaken, while the af- fecting, reverential homage it portrayed, subdued poor Angelina to the sobbing weak- ness of a child; but quickly starting from this overpowering sympathy, she hastily, yet resolutely, remanded her fleeting firm- ness to her bosom, and gracefully advancing 164 towards the contessa^ as Fredrico, arisen from his knees, had rfitieated to a greater distance from his agitated mother. *' Believe, madam, that il Conte Fre- drico brought not in me an invidious w^it- ness of your sacred sorrows,'* Angelina said in the soft thrilling tones of sensibility, and with the beautifully blushing countenance of interesting timidity. " O! no; he led me hither to fnid a safe asylum in your ho- norable protection, from the most pitiless scheme of treachery humanity and valor ever rescued a helpless woman from." While Angelina spoke, the eyes of the contessa were riveted upon her, expressing in that gaze the strongest emotions of ad- miration and interest, until perceiving the dress which Angehna wore as a boarder in the convent of Santo Valentino, and believ- ing her to be a noviciate of a religious or- der, the moment she ceased, the contessa exclaimed, in terror, to her son : — '' O, wretched young man ! how do your crimes accumulate ! Again, then, has your sacrilegious hand stolen a votary from the profaned altar of your Creator. O, Fre- 165 drico ! Fredrico ! in mercy stab my heart too, and give me not the rack of your in- creasing errors to writhe upon, in hngering torture, thus !'* The wounded feehngs of Fredrico were too powerfully agonised to yield him utter- ance, but he beamed the desponding smile of conscious innocence, aggrieved by the cruel suspicions of injustice, as mournfully he bent his eyes to the ground, in obedience to the wishes of his mother not to look upon her: but the grateful heart of Angelina, now painfully throbbing -with indignation at such unfounded censure, led her on to speak in vindication of her oppressed deli- verer^ and, with all the glow of animated enthusiasm in the cause, she again addressed the Contessa di Alviano. " I am no votary of conventual vows, stolen profanely from the altar of my Crea- tor, madam. O! no 3 the persecuted or- phan of a noble house, I was stolen by vil- lany from the bosom of protection, and was consigned to infamy and wretchedness 5 from which the hand of compassion, brav- ing all danger, set me free 5 and that aandj 166 madam, was the Conte Fredrico di Alviano's — Conte Fredrico, whom long I have known as my shield in the moment of peril, known only to learn how humanity could vary it's form, and by each new and surpassing ap- pearance evince more surely the celestial source from which it sprung.** Then turn- ing to Fredrico, with cheeks mantled by the indignation her pained gratitude inspir- ed, and giving her hand to him to lead her, she firmly 4^dded : — " From the unjust mother of my gallant preserver I will not ask protection. Where then, my friend, can you lead me to seek a safe and honorable asylum ?'* Fredrico pressed the hand of Angelina w'ith reverential, trembling, ardent grati- tude ; but ere his agitated feelings permit- ted his reply, the contessa, in grief, ex- claimed : — " Alas ! alas ! my profligate son has cor- rupted the principles of this lovely, this fascinating, innocent-looking, young unfor- tunate, and has taught her to become his avowed, his approving friend." " No, madam!" haughtily and emphati- 167 call J Fi-edrico replied, sensibly pained that even a moment's suspicion should be drawn by her pitying kindness to him to rest upon the spotless purity of Lady Angelina : " No ; whateji^er my inclination, I could not cor- rupt that which is incorruptible. In every instance which it pleases the sadly-changed opinion of my mother to judge me harshly, let her believe me culpable, so she acquits me in this. Ol could heaven thus set it '5 own celestial stamp upon a countenance, to index a mind that could be taught depra- vity ? O ! surely not, my mother. Then hasten, in atonement for unmerited suspi- cion, to admire, to love, and estimate, in Lady Angelina di Balermo, those transcen- dent virtues you discovered and paid ho- mage to in both her sainted parents." Zarina started at the name with no com- mon share of actuating emotion, and with a look of mournfully expressive meaning at her son (which his heart acknowleged it*s perfect comprehension of by an anguished sigh), she clasped her hands in agony of griefi as falteringly she articulated ; — 168 '* O, Fredrico !" then after a pause, in which she seemed oppressed by direful re- grets, she tremulously added : " This, then, is the interesting child of my beloved, la- mented friends, whom I was delusively led to hope I should have welcomed to my arms with a mother's sanctioned tender- ness/' At this moment a door from the inhabited parts of the castle suddenly burst open, and a man, attired in pontifical canonicals, entered the chapel. Uncommon manly beauty marked this man's countenance, which, still untouched by the harsh traces of past years, announc- ed him yet in the meridian of his days, while his ungracious deportment proclaimed the unbending loftiness of strongly felt epis- copal magnificence ; repellent austerity marked his manners, and stamped them with the harsh counterfeit which am.bition, to be deemed a miracle of piety, had borrowed from dissimulating sanctity, to deform the meek and lovely aspect of religion by. On beholding Fredrico, he started back 1G9 several paces in apparently recoiling hor- ror, and, with indignant scowl, turning to the contessa, imperiously exclaimed : *' Sinful, degenerate woman ! what infa- tuating powers of darkness have acquired dominion thus over you, to lead you into communication with that vile unnatural scorpion, who preyed upon the vitals of his inestimable sire !'* The eloquent eyes of Fredrico now flash- ed with the fire of indignation, his cheeks glowed to a painful heat, whilst his heart swelled and bounded with feelings almost too mighty to sustain, until the promptly- rising dictates of those principles which led him on to bear witli unfalterim? firmness the lieart-rending humiliations, which almost every where assailed him, spread their ma- gical influence through his frame, and tran- quillised at once the innovating turbulence of angry passions into the sweet aspect of the dignified calm of fortitude, when look- ing wnth the mild eye of patient Christian suffering upon the infuriated prelate, spoke with the unruffled serenity of conscious in- nocence : VOL. I. I 170 ^ I would recoinmend yoitr lordship to suspend your pious indignation until the transGfressions of the Contessa di Alviano may sanction so firn-" a display of it's subli- mity. A-t present, [she is perfectly innoc^ent of maternal weakness; for her reception of Ler son was not more kind than the proba- tionary Arcivescovo di Mazzarino could have wished it. Believe me, my ever ten- derly beloved mother, I mean not to up- braid von, since well do I know the toils of my pitiless foes have spun their w^b of arts so nicely around me, as to exclude even from the view of partiality itself every belief of my innocence. But, though now even thus encompassed by the snares of villany, a time may yet arrive when the s-usceptibi- lity of your heart will feel the pangs of self- reproach, for so rigidly performing what you now consider the arbitrarv dictates of an im- perious duty. But not longer to protract an intervievvj to rturing to us both, m.y beloved mother, I shall hasten to inform monsignore arcivescovo why I am here, and solicit his protecting aid, not for the proscribed cul- prit he denounces, but for the pure, un- 171 sullied child of innocence ; and to assist such, his immaculate virtue cannot feel a scruple.'* Ami now, with all the impressive anima- tion of a feeling heart, Fredrico related ihe snares of villany (as far as his intended com- promise with SaUmbini would admit of) from which he had rescued Lady Angelina; and the anxiety he experienced for her being safely and expeditiously conveyed to the Castle di Montalbano, before alarm for her disappearance should have any serious ef- fect upon the invalid duca. *' Alas !. alas! my son,*' exclaimed tlie contessa," melting into an agony of tears, *^ how came you acquainted with the haunts of banditti ? How gained 3-ou unmolested admission to the habitation of those sangui- nary brigands ? O, Fredrico !'* *' Woman!" vociferated the archbishop haughtil\^, ^* pollute not your breath by holding converse with this devoted sinner. Our present duty is, to provide for the safety of a daughter of the ilhistrious house of Montalbano, who, to deserve the protec- 12 172 tlon -of the virtuous, must first, ere we grant her ours, solemnly promise before the altar of 'Iiigh heaven, to abjure all further commu- nication with Fredrico di Alviano, and to forswear now., and for ever, all friendship for, and every grateful remembrance of* '^ What!" exclaimed the astonished and recoiling girl ; ^^ what, monsignore, vow at the altar of my Creator to become a wretch undeserving of the future mercy of pitying Heaven ! Forswear the preserver of my pa- rentis life, the protector of my own from wretchedness ! Forget my gratitude to Conte Fredrico di Alviano ! Never, no, never. And if on terms of infamy like these only I -acquire the Reverendissimo Arcivescovo di Alazzarino's protection, proudly, exultingly, in the purer spirit of superior virtue, I re- nounce it with abhorrence." *^ Indeed.]'' ejaculated the mortified pre- late, reddening with chagrin : *' then, fiister, come away; quit such degrading society, mid leave this wilfully wicked girl to the real infamy of your son's pro- tection." ** Stay, I coniure voii, stav/^ exGlalmeJ the biolilv-a me in my infant days, she said, holding out her hand in gratitude to Claudia. '' But you say the coutessa di Alviano wishes to see me : Can you tell me for what purpose she intends me that honor?" . " Why, to give you that respectable pro- tection, dear young lady, which the child 185 t)f your parents claims from her/* replied Claudia 3 '' but she must give it to you uu- dcr the mortifying circumstamie of doing it secretly^ since our intended archbishop has peremptorily commanded her to leave you toyourf^ite^ for he is as hard-hearted, and as much set againi3t all who will not shun tmd abominate my Lord Fredrico as if he himself had never done a wrong deed) al- though, if Fame says true of him, he will not be an arch — bishop in another world, if rank goes there by merit." ** Does the contessa kindly mean to send me immediately to Montalbano, to remove my dear uncle*s fears for my safety ?'^ ask- ed Angelina anxiously. " No) that could not be accomplished without Conte Giuseppe's knowlege," said Claudia ) ^* so she means that you should occupy an apartment in this castle to- night.'* Fredrico was infinitely happy at the idea of this arrangement, since he could now, without any painful anxiety upon Ange^ lina's account, proceed in his intention of immediately sending intelligence, through 186 Father Jeranimo, to the Diica di IVIontal- bano, of Lady Angelina':^ safety : and now, after promising to see her early on the mor-. row with every information he could obtain of her uncle from Father Jeronimo, and af- ter repeated adieus, and sudden recollec- tions of something more, and still more, of importance to say to her, or some further charge for her security to give to ClaiKiia, Fredrico departed for Santo Stefano 5 and tady Angelina, with a heart agitated by many conflicting emotions, attended the good Claudia into the inhabited part of the magnificent castle of Rossarno. ' '* You' need not, my dear compassionate young lady," said the loquacious Claudia, as they proceeded towards the contessa's apartments, " you need not have expressed so much concern at the idea of detaining my young lord, or, alas I now our only lord, from his pillow, by going on this em- bassy for you, as he now never sleeps, ne- ver seeks a pillow, unless he fmds one up- on the cold earth, when, overpowered by- fatigue, he drops into a slumber in his mys- terious rambles through the woods and fo- 187 rest, where he often wanders now all day- long; and then all night he sits up in my late lord's library, locked and barricaded up from the possibility of any intruder, where his enemies say ' his wicked compa- nions assemble, to plot new crimes with him;' but I say, ' how do they get in, un- seen by any one?* and then I am told, ' that those who consign themselves to the powers of darkness can become invisible at pleasure.* " Then there is the arcivescovo, as he chooses to be called, although he has not taken holy orders yet, no, nor has com- menced any of the rules of priesthood, that I know of; he is fond of nocturnal meet^ ings too, not always liking to remain in his own chamber either; but then his associates have not consigned themselves to the fiends of darkness, for they are not, like my young lord*s, always invisible.'* At this moment, a door they were passing in a long gallery suddenly opened, and the archbishop stood before them. " Whither, woman,'* he sternly said. 188 ** j.;re you daring to lead this stubborn apos- tate from all decoriun, from all propriety?" *' O5 no, most reverend signore ! 1 am rvot leading her from either, 1 i;ssure you ; sinee it is from my young lord I am leading her to my own apartment," replied the half- alarmed Claudia, with an air of the most genuine simplicity i '' for as I heard you, colendissimo Signore Giuseppe, tell my lady such things of Conte Fredrico but just this moment, when you ordered her, * on her peril, not to protect the young lady,' I thought it would be a heinous sin, which his Reveren^a Tommaso might make me repent full sorely, should I leave her in the power of such fell wickedness." The stern brow of Giuseppe contracted to a darkened expression, and, after mutter- ing something diametincally opposite to a blessing for such ofliciousness, he demanded from Angelina '' where the unexceptionable protector she had so prudently chosen was gone, that he had so readily yielded up his charge?" Gone, my lord," replied Angelina, 189 with dSgniried composure, '^ to effect the benevolent purpose of informing the Duca di Montalbano of my safety.'* ^' Gone !'* re[)eated Giuseppe with more eagerness than was quite consistent with his determined statehness; '•' gone I Fredrico gone from the castle ?" For a moment lie paused; something of the nature of a smile betrayed an effort to diffuse itself over his inflexible features; and as, with relaxing courtesy, he fixed his attention upon the agitated Angelina, he continued — ^' Then, since you are left by your chosen protector to your fate. Lady An- gelina, I may, without deviating from the arbitrary precepts of conscience, take you under my immediate care." ^^ I am nearly subdued by fatigue, and requiring rest, my lord, this good woman's projected kindness would prove more con- genial to my feelings, more appropriate to the hour, than your reverenza's meditated benevolence," Angelina replied, with im- pressively repelling dignity, '•' Certainly, most certainly," said Clau- dia, something officiously; '^ so now, re- 190 verendissmo signore, with your permission, 1 can take the Lady Angehna to more com- fortable apartments than mine could have proved," " Silence, officious babbler !'* exclaimed Giuseppe angrily; 'Mvhcn your opinions and assistance are required, I shall issue my mandate for them. I think it necessary to conduct the Lady Angelina to the apart- ments of the contcssa, before I conceive it expedient for her to retire to rest. Allow nie, disdainful young lady, to give you the consolation of an interview with my good sister;'* and he took the unwilling hand of the recoiling Angelina. The wary Claudia, promptly perceiving that he purposed taking the light fi^m her, ,and conjecturing, from that meditated ma» nceuvre, that he intended to command her absence, she became at once stupidly in ap- prehensive of his obviou5 meaning, grasped her light with more determined hold, drop- ped her acquiescent curtesy, as if she had received an order to proceed, mended her pace, and, as she seemed respectfully in- tent upon lighting them on their way, au^- 191 d'lhly exclaimed, although as if merely arti- culating her anxious thoughts — " Dear me, I hope my lady may not yet have retired to rest ; for, not expecting us {unless her devotions are extended, as they sometimes are), it is scarcely probable that we shall find her up." *' Leave that light with me^ and depart,*' said the archbi::hop, now finding he must speak his wishes; *' we shall not require your attendance, most officious dame> to the apartments of the contcssa/* ^^ O, colendissimo !" exclaimed Claudia, in affected amazement and veneration of shiiplicity, '' What 1 and leave your holy hand to the irreverence of carrying a menial's light! O, no, illustrissimo signore, I know my duty to the mother church, my respect to the Reverendissimo Arcivescovo di Maz- zarino too well, not humbly and obsequi- ously to wait upon you," and, curtesying profoundly, she still hurried on." ** Leave the light, and depart, as I com- mand you," said Giuseppe peevishly. "^ Dear now, your reverenza's holiness, I pray you command no such imprudent 19^3 tiling; for — for (pardon me, colemllssimo signore), but my mind misgives mc for yom' safety ; you painted so horribly the profli- gacy and cruel turpitude of Alonsignore Fred ri CO so short a time since, that you can- not wonder I should still tremble at the very thoughts of him ; or that I should fear, was be to return as speedily as I expect him, and fmd your reverenza protecting the young lady, that he might not with his terrible sti- letto, which you told my lady ' was still reeking with his father^s gore,* and give your holy merit a sly stab too ; and indeed, iTiay the saints protect your worship ! but I have lately had a very portentous dream about you ; fancying that I beheld your re- verenza, in the very dead of night, enter that very chamber there (and Claudia point- ed to a door), with (Heaven preserve us !) the dlavolo before you, leading you in chains, wdiich he seemed to have thrown around you ; and who knows but, as dreams come always by the rule of contrarieties, that the dlavolo may come after you in the form of Monsignore Fredrico : and, being so forewarned by my vision of some impend- 193 mg evil threatening your holy reverence, I tlare not in conscience, I dare not in huma- nity, quit my post of guarding you !" Lady Angelina had perceived, the mo- ment Claudia pointed to the door where the diavoloj in her dream, had led his reve- renza to enter, it operated like an electric shock upon the sensitive frame of Giuseppe, felt the subsequent tremor of his hand, and observed he no longer commanded the de- parture of dame Claudia — when promptly she conjectured, that the apparently simple superstition of this dream had it's meaning, which the conscious prelate understood. Giuseppe now, in thoughtful musing, led his lovely companion after the sagacious Claudia, his plans, from his rummations, seeming to undergo some decided changes, for his complacency of countenance gra- dually resumed the stern austerity it had put on with his prelate's robes ; and, on the first opportunity, he dropped t' 2 hand of Lady Angelina, which he had taken in in- novating condescension. At length they reached tlie contessa*s apartments, and, upon " entering the anti- VOL, I. K 194 chamber, Claudia darted forward, and, throwing open the door of an interior room, audibly announced — " Monsignore archbishop and Lady An- gelina.'* The haughty Giuseppe now preceded Lady Angelina into the last opened room, where the afflicted Zarina sat, anxiovisly expecting the child of her tenderly lament- ed friends, and who, upon finding by whom she was so unexpectedly accompanied, felt the most painful fears take possession of her bosom, in the alarming belief that her hav- ing dared to send for Lady Angelina, against his positive command, had been discovered by him. ^* Your profligate son, Zarina,'* said the j archbishop, when he had commodiously seated himself, ^' has left the castle, under the plausible pretence of further serving this infatuated girl. On my intended way to perform ri/y last duties in the chapel for the night, I found this imprudent child under the auspices of your woman Claudia. Now, as this very degenerate daughter, of inesti- mable parents, is not, at this identical mo- ment, under the guardianship of your dia- boHcal offspring, I think we may, even con- sistently with every conscientious scruple, venture to give her temporary protection; and therefore I have condescended to par- don her irreverence to me, and have brought her to you, with my permission for your af- fording her shelter for this night/' Lady Angelina would have only proudly bowed her thanks, for protection so ungra- ciously bestowed upon her, had not her re- collection of the perplexity she had occa- sioned to Conte Fredrico, by that line of conduct, subdued her rising indignation, and now taught her, in a voice and with a look of gentle conciliation, to say — *^ I shall indeed be most grateful to the Contessa di Alviano for permission to re- main under her auspices until my dear uncle sends a proper escort for me. I should not be thus compelled to the hard necessity of intruding upon any one for protection, had time been allowed me, ere I was taken from Santo Valentino, to apprise the Cardi- nal Gulielmo, that I was again exposed K2 m to the dangers of the Tohiiezos* enmity to me. Angehna had learned, in her long con- sultation with Fredrico upon the subject of her safety, that the closest compact, wnder the profaned name of friendship, subsisted between Conte Giuseppe and almost dl the individuals of the Tolmezo family resident -at Montalbano castle : from this knowlege, she had learned to tremble at Giuseppe's con- duct in the corridor, fearing that it unequi- vocally portended his meditating the pro- ject of aiding in their vile plots; and firmly believing nothing could more effectually secure her from the machinations of himself and allies, than the intimation of her pos- sessing a great man's favor, she was thus induced (though shrinking from the idea of .a libertine's friendship) to announce, as a friend interested for her, the powerful name': of Gulielmo. The archbishop was electrified by no very gentle shock at this high name. A crimson tint difiiised itself over his eloquently amaz- ed countenance, and eagerly he reiterated i 197 — « Th^ Cardinal Giilielmo ! the Cardi- nal Gulielmo! and is the Cardinal Gu- lielmo then interested for yoti. Lady An- gelina?'* " So kindly interested/* s-he replied calmly, *^ that I have only to apply to his eminenza to have my safety most perma- nently secured." *' It has been unfortunately, infinitely unfortunate,** returned Giuseppe, most evi- dently embarrassed and disconcerted, yet, with a powerful effort, again relaxing into the semblance of complacency, ' that I was not earlier apprised of this circumstance; for very widely different would then have been the reception the Contessa di Alviano and myself would have had the honor of giv- ing you; for since his most illustrious emi- nence, my Lord Cardinal Gulielmo, is in- terested for the safety and happiness of Lady Angelina di Balermo, she must incontesti- bly merit the respect and services of all the estimable and discerning.** ** Indeed,'* returned the grateful Ange- lina, something sarcastically, " the Cardi- nal Gulielmo stopped not to inquire my ]93 merits, M'heii I awakened his interest He learned I was a persecuted orphan, and he believed it no disgrace to a Christian pre- late to befriend me.'* Giuseppe keenly felt the sarcasm, but, endeavouring to conceal the mortification he experienced, hastily and pompously commenced a long and elaborate successioii of oilers of hearty services, and then enter- ed with the sincere contessa upon the plan most prudently to be adopted on the pre- sent occasion for Lady Angelina's comfort and accommodation, when it was at length fmally determined that an express should be instantly sent off by Giuseppe to the Duca di Montalbano, to accounce the perfect safety of Lady Angelina, who, from her re- cent alarms and fatigue, and from the du- ca's alarm tbo, they judged it expedient should take her repose that night at Ros- sarno castle, to spare her uncle and herself the agitation of their naturally affecting in- terview, until they were both better able to sustain it, by some hours at least of compo- sure, if not of sleep.'* All these matters being finally, and on 199 the part of the contessa kindly arranged, the dreadfully fatigued Angelina (who de- clined all refreshment from food, although ostentatiously pressed to it by the arch- bishop, and with maternal tenderness by the contessa), was consigned to the care of Claudia, who safely conducted her to an elegant and comfortable suit of apartments, to take her much required repose in. ^* Ah, welll" exclaimed Claudia, the moment they had entered the dressings room of those apartments, " here you would not have been to-night, let me tell yon, had it not been for my ready dream, that promptly conveyed the knowlege of my being acquainted with more of his hy- pocrisy than he suspected. Marry, hang his mock reverence 1 how he scared me when he so unexpectedly popped out upon us. Going to his last chapel duties indeed ! I wonder where was his light to guide him thither? Ah! no, no, the Deity who pre- sides there is not the one he wanders in darkness to worship. But, indeed, my dear 3'omig lady, had it not been for my fully awakened suspicion of his cloven feet, hea- SCO Ten knows what might have befallen you ; for he is on too perfect an understanding with the folks at Montalbano castle, to have proved a faithful guard to you ; and now solely to the Cardinal Gulielmo's great favor with the pope, and other motives for Giuseppe wishing to be in the good graces of his eminence, are you indebted for your present security." Angelina was again hastening to make her grateful acknowlegements to this shrewd and worthy woman, for all her kindness to her, when Claudia hastily interrupted her. *^ It was not to lay your thanks under such heavy contributions, that I mentioned what I had done,** she said^ " it was only to gratify a propensity I have for talking i for, should you come to know me better, you will readily discover that Nature in- tended me for an old maid, though Fate played her a trick, and made me a wife j for never was antiquated spinster so incura- bly diseased with agonising curiosity as I am, never one so infatuatedly in love with other people's concerns than I am 3 and to £01 talk of them, good heaven ! what a luxury it is to talk of" them ! But come, . dear 3^oung lady, hasten to bed, that I may go and gi^e comfort to my poor dear child Fredrico (whose principal nurse-maid I was: I had him from the month, and loved him from that hour), should he be yet returned, v^^itli assurances of your perfect - safety. Anxiety to spare her gallant preserver every alarm upon her account, induced Angelina to make more than usual expedi- tion in her preparation for her pillow ; and, after devoutly returning her pious thanks- givings to merciful heaven, for her late mi- raculous escape from destruction, and for her present promise of safety, she charged the good Claudia not to delay seeking Conte. Fredrico, to tell him, with her grateful re- membrances, all that had befallen her since ;they parted; and to hope she might see liim on the morrow. Claudia, promising her all that she re- quired, departed; and Angehna, again invoking the protection of heaven, retired K5 202 to her pillow, cherishing but faint hopes of finding her necessary repose there, while it was thus strewed with those thorns she had noAv only to look for in her walk of life. ^03 CHAPTER XI. Contrary to the cherished expectations of Angelina, the weariness of fatigue so suc- cessfully overpowered her with drowsiness, that, in defiance of all her sorrow's sad themes, she had benefited by some hours of sweet refreshing sleep, ere she awoke on the morrow, and found the good Claudia seated by her bed, patiently awaiting the dissipation of her tranquil slumber. Angelina, blushing at finding it was late, sprang from her bed ; and while Claudia was assisting her in her toilet,^ that good dame fully gratified her acknowleged propensity, for talking. " We have all been dormice this morn*- ing," said she, '' as it was so much, later, even than usual, when we retired : for my part, 1 scarcely think I should have been up by this time, only Conte Fredrico (I can 204 never bring myself to call him by his unfor- tunate title of Alviano) roused me by tap- ping at my door, two hours ago, so anxious was he that I should be in readiness to serve you, and to deliver his messages to vou.** *^ How good he is,** said Angelina, brightl}^ blushing; '^ you saw him, I hope, last night, Signora, before you retired." *^ Indeed I did, and, holy virgin ! what an agony he was in, when I told him, ' that pretended Arcivescovo wanted to take, you from my protection.* — Bless my sagacit}^ but I hope he has not got the freak of love into his head again ; he has had enough of that folly I should think, to steel his heart i>gainst even the beautiful face he seems now ready to fall down and worship.** '* Not but that this second choice, I have my suspicions of, is much more likely to make him happy than Lady Violante ever could have done; for amiable and lovely as she is, in mind and form, she has her faults; faults most likely to make a feel- ing husband wretched. Her vanity is even greater than her beauty, and she thirsts in- ^5 -temperately for universal admiration, as if that is all that is worth living for: it v^as her terrible propensity to coquetry, that aided the enemies of the family in the de- struction of it's once most enviable happi- ness.*' *' But/' said Angelina eagerly, most powerfully actuated by gratitude to her beloved Lady Constant! a, whom many a suspicion in her mind identified as Violante St. Seviero ; -— " but that propensity to coquetry may be, nay I am sure is, quite, quite subdued by sorrow and misfortunes; and fervently I hope, (if it is for their mutual happiness), that they may be yet united." " Ah ! no, from all that has happened, they never — never could be happy toge- ther, therefore do not wish them united, dear young lady," replied Claudia j "but surely you do not know all that has come to hght in this sad business, or you could not, even for a moment, suppose they could ever be united." *' Indeed," said Angelina, sympathising- ly, "I only know they loved, were to have been united, and that some direful calami- 206 ties prevented that union, and consigned them both to misery." *^Ah!" returned Claudia, " there was not a hveher youth upon the surface of the earth, than Conte Fredrico was, only know- ing sadness when others son'owed^ even gay as a guileless heart, the favors of for- tune, and the affection of fond, indulgent parents could make him, until aided by his elder brother Conte Rolando, he unfortu- nately carried off Lady Violante, from the convent of Santo Rosolia in Rome, where she had just completed her noviciate. " Well, this ill-omened step caused ter- rible consternation amongst us all, for she was the cardinal Gulielmo*s own niece, and the most dreadful anathemas weredenounced, by the whole conclave assembled upon the occasion, against the sacrilegious Fredrico. My lord and lady went off immediately from the villa di Alviano to Rome, where there was nothing but meetings between them and the cardinal Gulielmo ; and at last it was settled, that the young lady should live with my lady, and marry the young conte as soon as he became of age. I 207 '* The Lady Violante was as much as five years older than Fredrico, who seemed at first, as if a mere youthful frohc had led him to steal her from the convent, for love did not appear to come voluntarily to his heart ; but at last, gratitude for her par- tiality, and a sense of what honor obliged him to perform for one who had risqued so much through love for him, led him to re- turn her affection; and at length he ap- peared to become very much attached to her; but as his love seemed to increase, hers as apparently diminished; for she used to plague him shamefully with all sorts of ca- prices, to display' to every one her un- limited power over this universally-admired young man; and she would flirt too, and sometimes to an ahnc^t unpardonable ex- cess, with all the handsome young men who flocked around her, on purpose, as it seem- ed, to make Fredrico jealous : but soon that baneful passion recoiled upon herself; for upon his return from the Morea, she strongly suspected his passion was weakened, if not destroyed, and she did nothing but pout, and rage, and upbraid him. ^08 *' Soon after this period of Fredrico's re- turn, Conte Rolando unfortunately came home from the wars too, and repaired to this castle, whither we had but just removed to, and for the first time of visiting his fa- ther's house, since Lady Violante had be- come an inmate in our family. " Conte Rolando was, but perhaps you aheady know it, the only oiTspring of my lord's first marriage ; and although my pre- sent lady is a woman of a strong, as well as an amiable mind, she never could divest her- self »5f the fear, * that as her lord's first wife had been like herself, the chosen of his heart, and that, it is said, first love is always the most tender, his attachment to even the memory of his first contessa must be more powerful than that he felt for her, and there- fore hep child Fredrico could only claim an inferior place in the paternal heart.' '^ My late lord was a most acute obser- ver, and he soon developed this secret, al- though so carefully guarded by my lady* In respect to herself, this belief was totally unfounded. I, among many of the house- hold, had lived in the family during the first 2bg contessa's time, and we all saw he was more tenderly attached to his- second wife, more truly happy with her, and tlmt we all, too, thought most natural, since the second lady >vas infmitely more attractive, both in form and mind than the first : but relative to her child, my dear lady was not mistaken; — not that my lord did not tenderly love Fred- rico, but Conte Rolando was his iirst born, had first awakened his paternal pride and affection in his father*s heart, and pity mingling with it for his having so early lost his adoring mother: this sentiment gave more tenderness to his attachment for Rolando, than to that he bore Fredrico, who had known no sorrow or misfortune ; but with consciousness of this partiahty in his breast, he unluckily strove to conceal it, with the laudable view of sparing his adored wife a grief; but, alas ! in doing which, he impress- ed upon the susceptible mind of his elder son, the painful certainty of being less dear to his father's heart, than his more univer- sally-beloved brother. " Conte Rolando, six years older than his brother, was like tliat brother, one of 2 lb the noble youths the world had to boast of; but although alike in mental and personal endowments, in many of the dispositions of their minds, the resemblance failed. — Fre- drico was open, spirited, full of whim and vivacity, making friends by the fascinations of his manners, where the rank and expec- tations of the heir could command them, but Conte Rolando was meek of spirit, though still brave in battle : of trembling sensibility, and not justly appreciating his own intellectual stores, his manners wore the restraint of invincible reserve, and be- lieving all, I doubt not, his uncle Giuseppe instilled into his mind, he imbibed the mi- sery of thinking, that with his mother he had lost the only being w^ho tenderly re- garded him ; and from this conviction tor- turing to an affectionate disposition, his heart became the abode of melancholy; and his deportment was infected with that sad- ness. '' But soon after his last calamitous re- turn to the castle of his father, his habitual melancholy assumed the appearance of des- pondence. — Lady Violante seemed wretch- 211 . • . ed, and Fredrico became restless, and thouglitful, and at length set out post for Rome, and scarcely was he gone, when Conte Rolando fell dangerously ill : Lady Violante was his principal nurse, and from the whole of her conduct then, and upon his recovery, it becanle evident in all around her, that she had transferred her love from Conte Fredrico to his brother. *' At length Conte Fredrico returned, more melancholy than he departed, and had a long conference the day of his arrival with each of his parents ; with his brother and Lady Violante^ and then they all, after- wards with each other ; and after these se- parate conference?, each individual seemed to part dissatisfied with the other. — Oh I it was indeed a mournful day ; the family- met not at table ; and all was gloomy sad- ness, foreboding the calamities of the night. *' At midnight it w^as discovered that Conte Rolando and Lady Violante had eloped together. — My lord too was absent, and Fredrico no where to be found ; and from all that has been collected from pre- siimptive evidence, thus appears the horricl aspect ofafTairs. '* My lord, favoring the cause of his eM- est son, had planned the elopement, and had himself gone off with the young couple to see them united. Frecfrico, apprised of the plan, in jealousy and indignation, was in wait to frustrate it — but how the direful catastrophe was perpetrated, no witness ap- pears to tell. Lady Violante refuses to make any communications, except in an- iix>unclng * her firm belief of Fredrico's guilt.' *^ But, alas ! my lord and Conte Ro-- lando disappeared -, the attendants describ- ed ^ their being surrounded by an armed troop, who dragged their lord from the carriage, whom they saw no more.* How- ever, from the search which was made after- w^ards, a track of blood was discovered from a spot near where the carriage was stop- ped to an obscure coppice on the banks of the Arno, where Rolando's hat, some of his >c}othes, and part of the insignia of the mi- litary order of St. Marc, which he wore, w;ere found. Of his assassination there is 213 -certiiinly no doubt, although the A rno ne- ver returned his body, for into that it was surely precipitated : and in sad, sad confir- mation of the further direful catastrophe of the night, the emissaries of Giuseppe found the body of my poor lord, clad as he left home, with the well-known dagger of Fre- drico (which he had taken in battle from a JSlahometan janizary in the Morea) stuck in his heart, hid imdcr a heap of stones; but in such a state of putriditj^ that, only for his clothes, he could never, I think, have been recognised. '' You can easily imagine, my dear young Jady, what a distracted family we since liave been. Gonte Fredrico, although ar- raigned for murder, would not fly, but vo- luntarily delivering himself into the hands of justice, has been, through powerful inte- rest, granted the pontiff's protection to re- main at large, to seek some witness of his innocence, who, it seems, has fled, bribed, no doubt, by the enemies of Fredrico; yet further than the neighbourhood of this castle he has never but once wandered in th^t search; and, by that mysterious conduct. 214 mates almost all believe there is no witness to find, and that he is absolutely guilty. *^ Then, although no longer enduring the presence of her universally-condemned son, the distracted contessa v.ould not re- move from this castle, where the body of her murdered husband is interred, and to whose memory the hypocritical Giuseppe erected that magnificent monument you be- held in the chapel, solely at his own ex- pence; and remains here to irritate the con- tessa still further against her unfortunate son, to be a spy upon poor Fredrico, and to carry on still further his co-operations with the enemies of that unhappy young man.'* Most powerful w^as the effect this dread- ful narrative had upon the susceptible feel- ings of Lady Angelina -, but still, like Clau- dia, her mind clung to the firm conviction of Conte Fredrico's innocence; while the long- cherished belief of Lady Violante, and the abadessa of Santo Valentino, being the same individual, was almost annihilated. «^ No,'' Angelina thought, in grateful, af- fectionate partiality, " no, the sweet, mild. i 215 lovely excellence Lady Constantia ever evinced, proclaimed at once that she could never have been the capricious, flirting, per- fidious Violante : yet, if she was not, how came she so deeply in the secrets of Fre- drico ? how came she to learn such detes- tation of him ? O ! she could not well tell !" and the more poor Angelina meditated up- on the subject, the more perplexed she be- came, imtil her anxiety to learn, if possible, the fact, overcoming her disinclination to prolong, by even a single question, tlie sad thfeme of those direful calamities, which she considered it almost reprehensible in any one not connected with the family even to listen to, she ventured, ui the least unpar- donable method she c^idd devise for the gra- tification of a curiosity, prompted chiefly by her affection and interest for Lady Con- stantia, to inqr«!re *' if there was any por- trait of Lady Violante in the castle ?" ^^ Not one that you can see, dear young lady, although, I believe, there is one, but it is in monsignore's closet, locked up there as carefully as the dreadful secret, which, will at last destroy him, is within his bosom. 216 I ikever saw the portrait; but I fancy it was displeasing to Lady Violante's vanity, in not being beautiful enough for her, as she was heard to say, ' she saw nothing to ad- mire in it but the motive which caused it to be drawn.' That motive was Fredrioo's af- fection for lier, which she then severely wounded ; for he, dear young gentleman, answered, in an unusual tone of pique far him, ' tliat, although he saw every thing to admire in it, yet she should never more be displeased by viewing it;* mid with a coun- tenance flushed to the tint of a damask rose, he ordered Fernando, his own attached ca- 7ner.itr€j to take it instantly to his own (Fredrico) private gabiiittto, where it has since remained/* *' I wish,*' said Angelina sighing, ^' I had some description of Lady Violante; be- cause I — I think I have seen her.** *' I '11 describe her for you," replied Clau- dia ; ^' yet, if I do so, I may get into one of my long stories again, and you will stand no chance of hearing the young conte's messages to you." '' O ! signora, and have you messages 217 from Conte di Alviano to me, and forbore all this time to declare them?'* exclaimed Angelina upbraidingly. " Why, bless your little impatient heart, that I am sure is as pure and as clear as your complexion 5 I intimated something of tlie kind, just after you opened these daz- zling orbs of yours, but you did not seem to care about it.'* ** O ! I must have been still in my heavy sleep then ; for surely any message Conte di Alviano is so good to send me, must be re- ceived with attentive gratitude by me, who am under such an incalculable debt of obli- gation to him.** ** Well, it cannot now be demanded with more eagerness than the first order I received this morning was given : for me to arise, that I might hasten to your chamber, with an en- treaty * for your granting him an interview,* but in my presence, mark you ! so thought- ful was he of propriety, — * as soon as it was possible for you, in my late lord*s library.* '* *' Well I I — I am ready, quite ready to attend him now,'* said Angelina, brightly- blushing. YOL. I. L " And now he does not wish to see you, so capricious a thing is man, young lady ; for I was scarcely dressed, with all my ex- pedition to oblige him, when back monsig- nore comes, his eyes having lost all that short-li^ed animation the thought of seeing you, who did him justice, had inspired; and in the sad tones I hate to h^arhim speak in, he tells me, poor dear soul — ^ That, upon reflection, he was painfully convinced of the absolute necessity he w^as under of foregoing the happiness of seeing you, ere your departure from Rossarno; since he feared the breath of calumny might ilare to rest upon your spotless fame, were you known to hold a moment's conference with a proscribed being like him, after the dire necessity you found yourself in of ac- cepting his services to protect you from an imminent peril had subsided. He had few in the world now but foes, and some of their invidious enmity would unquestionably re- vert to you, did your compassionating feelings lead you to appear his friend ; and, there- fore, for your sake, he must henceforth — liuless you should agaixi calamitously re* 219 quire a protector — shun tbe gratification of conversing with,' or even of beholding you, until the period should arrive when even the most fastidious could deem it no degrada- tion to the immaculate fame of Lady Ange- lina di Balermo, should she own she believed him not unworthy of esteem.* " " Alas !'* exclaimed Angelina in grief of heart, ^^ and am I no more to behold my preserver until the world learns to be just to innocence?'* «f Why, so monsignore has determined, and very nobly determined, I see you think,'* replied Claudia archly; "but, al* though he is adamant in keeping resolutions inspired by his sense of duty, yet it comes into my head, I cannot tell why, that some little untow^ard, teasing, unforeseen circum- stances will be continually arising to frus» tratethis very judicious resolution of his; but, in the mean time, let me not omit to give you another message. '^ Monsignore desired me to tell you, ^ that Father Marsilio has promised faith- fully to engage his Fratello Jeronimo in your interest, who was certainly summoned to L2 Q2Q jattcnd the duca by Father Ezzclino (the iime he quitted you to proceed to San Ste- -fano for that purpose)., that he sat up with k\ siono duca, and was not therefore at the monastery whx^n Fredrico saw Father Alar- -siho upon that subject/ " But, although Alonsignore Fredrico was sadly grieved at the idea of not being < able to inform you of all this himself, yet I gave gladness to his heart when I told him how judiciously you had managed to seciu'e your safety, and the civility of Giuseppe by the intimation of the Cardinal Gulielmo's interest in your concerns. Indeed, my in- telligence seemed to inspire him all at once with new life ; ^ as it hushed,* he said, ' all the alarming apprehensions he had sustain- ed relative to your jretm'n to Montalbano Castle/ '* ^' O ! how benevolent Conte di Alviano is,'* said Angelina feelingly ; " with a he^rt rived by such direful afflictions, so kindly to turn his thoughts upon my interest and safety.** " Ah ! it will be well if the knight erran- try of his benevolence does not lead his 221 thfoughfe toO' frequently upon your interests, nntll he ceases to remember his ov/n/* re^ turned Claudia. A loud and lengthened' peal at the great portal bell now announcing an importunate candidate for admittance into the castlej Claudia abruptly quitted Angelina, to' learn who was arrived, not quite devoid of appre- hension of it*s proving some hostile harbin- ger of fearful justice to her beloved Fredrico: however, she soon returned with a bright- ened countenance, to announce to Lady Angelina, *' the arrival of the courier who preceded the Duca di Montalbano's ph} si- cian and la duchessa's confessor, who were on their way to Rossarno, to conduct Lady Angelina to the castle of her uncle. ^ *' Giuseppe, I have found out," conti- nued Claudia, " sent a private letter to that bird of his feather, Ezzelino, when he dis- patched the messenger. tO' announce your safety to il signore duca ; so I warrant me, you may thank his Eminence Gulielmo for this speedy and respectful escort home, as well as for our probationary archbishop*s civihty ; for he has himself ordered your breakfast to be served with all possible ele- gance and attention, but in these apart- ments s as ,he has expressly forbidden my iady*s intention of receiving you at her breakfast table, and, indeed, has prohi- bited all further intercourse between you and her at present; I suppose, because you are so stedfast to your gratitude for Fre- drico ; and he fears you might soften the mother's heart from that harshness and ab- horrence he has toiled so hard to steel it ivith against her unfortunate son ; and my lady's griefs have so unhinged her once strong mind, that she no longer seems to act from her own judgement, but rests im- plicitly upon this man*s advice, because he is the brother of her lamented husband; and that, with all my endeavours, she has yet imbibed no suspicion of the hypocrisy of his heart.'* Another loud peal of the portal bell pro- claimed the arrival of Fathers Jeronimo and Ezzelino, when Claudia would have hurried away, to yield further gratification to her insatiable curiosity, had not the en- trance of Lady Angelina's breakfast pre- i^ 223 ' vented her departure ; as she considered it her duty to remain and assist in attendance upon her — U duty which, she felt assured, would oblige both the contessa and her son by her voluntary performance of. Sg4 CHAPTER xri. At length Father Jeronimo, having a nu- merous list of patients to visit, became im- patient at the protracted consultations of Ezzelino and Giuseppe, which they held ia ^ earnest and private conference, when an- nouncing that he could no longer delay the performance of the duties of his medical profession, the congress unwillingly broke up, and Lady Angelina was summoned to depart; but, ere she quitted the apartments she had reposed in, she received a message from the Contessa di Alviano, by her chap- lain. Father Tommaso di Sanfermo, expres- sive of '* her infinite concern that the do- mestic calamities, by which she was over- whelmed, had prevented her giving, to the child of her once dearest friends, the recep- tion her heart would have dictated under happier auspices.*' 20^ To this politdy kind remembrance of her. Lady Angelina returned a courteous re{)fy ; and, after making her acknowlegements to Claudia,, for all her goodness and attention to her, sl:^ obe3^ed the summons of the arch- bishop. In the grand saloon of the castle Lady Angelina was most graciously received, by the probationary archbishop, where every bow of homage he met her with, she placed to the account of the cardinal patron, whose gratitude alone was debtor for such an inno- vation of revenue and courtesy ; but Ange- lina soon perceiving a stranger monk pre- sent, and concluding him to be the physi- cian Jeronimo, she hastened to make her anxious inquiries relative to her uncle's health from him. Her tielief was just ; and Father Jeroni- mo conveyed to her affectionate heart the unexpected gratification of a promising ac- count of the Duca di Montalbano's health, since the dreadful alarm he had been ui> guardedly thrown into upon her account the preceding night, had been productive of the most happy consequences; having L5 '226 aroused him from a nervous a[*athy, or le- thargic languor, which it might have proved difficult, even by medicine, to overcome; and, from all the energies of his mind being thus awakened to the acutest sense of feel- ing, the ultimate consequence might be hoped for in the most auspicious form. The joy of Angelina at this most happy and soothing intelligence ' was lively and sincere ; and she felt almost reconciled to the terror she had been doomed to endure, since it had led to so fortunate a change in the alarming indisposition of her uncle. The wary Ezzelino^ perceiving that Lady Angelina had not bestowed upon him even the common place civility of a meeting compliment, and trembhngly alive to the apprehension of any suspicion, combined with her alarming adventures of the preced- ing night, resting upon him, resolved to as- sume the aspect of indignant feeling at un- merited slight ; and, with a sarcastic smile of highly- offended dignity, he addressed her : — ** I should have thought — should have expected, that the exquisite humanity, and pre-eminently refined urbanity of Larly An- gelina di Balermo, would have led that most renovvnedly amiable young lady to the in- quiry, at least,, of how I found myself, after the very direful degree of alarm her myste- rious appearance occasioned to me ?** *^ CouM I have supposed it, in possibi- lity, for Father Ezzelino to have felt the surprise of an alarm for my fate,'* replied Angelina,^ calmly, '' I should most certainly have gone through the ceremony I omitted; but as I saw that most reverend father had survived the greater trial-of hearing of my safety in honorable protection, I perceived all inquiries^ for the state of his nerves were totally unnecessary.*' The voluptuous purple of Father Ezze- lino's cheeks changed to the pale shade of death; and, while his lips quivered with spiteful passion, his rage and mortification stifled his reply, in each attempt he made to utter it ; and Angelina, no longer conde- scending to bestO¥/ her attention upon him, requested the archbishop's permission to depart; when Father Jeronimo anxiously seconding the request, the wily Giuseppe 228 graciously granted permission, and Ange- lina set out, without further delay, to the castle di Montalbano. The mellow tones of the portal bell, an- nouncing her arrival, vibrated with melan- choly thrill through the heart of Angelina. It seemed to toll the knell of her lost pa- rents, of her devoted uncle, and of the fell bight of all her own individual happiness. To this castle, and all the possessions of Tier illustrious ancestors, she had now con- viction that she still might prove the only lav\fal heir; yet now she was about to enter as a poor persecuted dependent, despoiled of the favor and courtesy of all ; where once every sweet smile of aifection, kindness, and respect, most fondly greeted her. She sigh- ed ', tears trembled in her eyes. " But, are not these trials," whispered pious reflec- tion^ ** which you are thus doomed to en- du*e., inflicted by the all-wise and unerring Ruler of the universe?" — Angelina blushed, in penitent acquiescence. ^' Assuredly they are/* she firmly, but mentally ejaculated — ** and, Oil ! may I never, never, falter in the task of submissive dutv ; never murmur at 229 the thorns which strew my path of life, but still cherish, in the memory of my heart's veneration, a lively recollection of the sa- cred hand which sheds them there/* These were the thoughts, and such the aspirations, that gave fortitude to the heart, firmness to the steps, and serenity to the fascinating countenance of Lady Angelina, as she once more entered that castle, where pained reminiscence told her,.'* how she had been loved, and how severely tortured/' The last venerable porter, whose hoary head proclaimed the past years of faithful service, was now replaced by a youthful voluptuary, reared by sloth and dissipation. Nothing familiar to the fondly-cherished remembrance of local attachment met the wistful eyes of Lady Angelina, but the an- tient wails of the palace of her ancestors. All those living objects were removed, which still retained a lively image in the memory of an affectionate heart; and sighs only of regret were now left to iill the void so painfully made, by being so lost, and so regarded. The domestic, stationed to watch for the arrival of Lady Angelina, instantl}^ (ac- cording to the orders he had received,) an- nounced this event to Father Patrick O'Car^ rol, who promptly appeared to receive her. This Catholic Priest had a face that, while it refused to answer the inquiring eye, relative to the store of intellectual en- dowments he possessed, most promptly and* irresistibly prepossessed every beholder in. his flivor, by the invincible good humor it betrayed, and the stamp of a guileless heart it guaranteed. He was a native of Ireland, born of pa^ Kents who,, although tenaciously impressed with a visionary belief of their claim to an- tient high descent, classed with the most indigent of their fellow beings. At an early age he evinced a strong propensity for the achievement of learning to read; which none of his then-living kindred had ever discover- ed. The priest of the parish he resided in, pleased with this little fibre of genius, be- came his instructor, and, in the course of a few years, accomplished him for the prac- tice of an itinerant professor of knowlege ; a sort of occupation followed in that counr- 231 • try; under, the denomination of a" poor scholar;" and never, perhaps, was appella- tion more appropriately bestowed, than it then was upon the hero of our present di- gressive tale. But, although humble his pretensions to knovvlege, some pious Ca- tholics thought otherwise; and, believnig him a saint in embryo, who would, if pro- perly nurtured, mature into an ornament to learning and the church, they commenced a subscription for his benefit, which enabled them to send him, for the completion of his education, to the convent of St. Bertam's, at St. Omer's ; and when that great task was performed, and that he had entered mto holy orders, the principal of his partially- kind Hibernian patrons exported an only son from Ireland, consigned to the care of Father Patrick O'Carrol, under whose aus- pices he was to make the then grand conti- nental tour of Europe. This task being at length most conscien- tiously accomplished by the. worthy Pa- trick, he, with his pupil, were about to em- bark at Naples, on their return to their na- tive country, when, to the unfortunate priest's infinite dismay, his sacred charge performed a most unexpected frolic, by elopin ^ with a beautiful opera-dancer, vtith whom, totally unknown to the unsuspecting Patrick, he had united his fate ; not only lo his own complete ruin, but to the eternal disgrace of poor Father G^Carrol, who, im- plicated as a coadjutor, was utterly, and for ever, discarded by his Hibernian friends. After the elopement of his pupil, whose valet contrived to rob poor Patrick of all his cash, and every valuable he possessed, ere he departed with his master, the now desti- tute priest wandered about Naples, encoun^ tering a diversity of fortunes, but chiefly of ungenial aspect, until the lately ennobled Lorenzago, elder brother to the Duchessa di Montalbano, to the poor priest's infmite amazement, as well as joy, appointed him domestic chaplain and confessor to the hy- pochondriac Duca di Montalbano. Although nearly thirteen years had elapsed since Father Patrick had quitted his native country, he still retained his na- tional brogue; every peculiar idiom of speech, with each endcmial expression, as S33 powerfully as the language he now spoke in would admit of, as if he still scrupulously cherished them with religious veneration ; indeed so cherishing them, that, if he fovmd no Italian word ready to assist his meaning, he unhesitatingly made use of those he had been accustomed to in his own country ; so that those, who associated with him, soon learned to understand the definition of ** kilt ! palaver I botheration ! spalpeen I &€. &c." as well as he did himself; and in whom the wary Lorenzago having deve- loped a simplicity of heart, and an unsus- pecting, open, unreservedness of mind, which led him to perpetually to repeat, in his blundering ingenuousness, all he heard, or all he knew ; not even making his own concerns an exemption from this unbridled flow of communicative propensity, which so exactly suited him for Conte Lorenzago's purpose, that he gladly gave him that al- ready-mentioned lucrative and honorable situation, in which the guileless Father O'Carrol was often unconsciously a power- ful agent in the promotion of plots, from 234 which, had he been aware of, his integrity would have led him to recoil in horror. The moment Father Patrick beheld Lady Angelina advancing towards him, a smile of animated pleasure beamed proniptly over his evei -placid countenance; and, hasten- ing to meet her, he seised her hand, more with the air of honest plebeian cordiality^ than with any thing like a tincture of courtly polish. " Och ! welcome as the flowers, in May ! — welcome, as a beautiful, drizzling shower> to the parched np traveller, in the desert, are you to my two looking eyes, jew^el of the world !** he exclaimed-—*' for sure it was myself (and more grief to me for it) who kilt the Duca (and good luck to him) with the black tidings, of the banditti, hav.- ing brought you away, with all the other rubbish, which brother Ezzelino, made such a botheration about ; — but success, to my own big blunder ! for after the duca was kilt, \\\X\\ my news, his faculties suddenly started from the knap, avc thought was upon them, for life; and from their bed ridden ^35 sloth, began to be making such a kiilabaloa^ of feehng; that myself thought, he never would, any how, survive this sure, and cer- tain, road to dying, but when the gay nevv3 came, that you were found my honey ! Oh to be sure, he was not glad ! Och the fates ! and sudden dissolutions ! but it was I, who thought, it was all over with us ; and that joy, would be, our mutual executioner 3 for there was the poor duca, chattering his glee, in an ague fit ; and myself struck dumb, with the choking quinsy, of sympa- thy." Angelina was sensibly affected at this ac- count of the distress her affectionate uncle had been overwhelmed with, by that direful plot of villany, from which she had so mi- raculously escaped ; and Father Jeronimo, apprehending some evil consequences to the invalid duca, from the guileless l^atrick's acknowleged propensity to blundering, was he intrusted to announce the arrival of Lady Angelina, undertook to be himself the he- rald of that pleasing intelligence. Wliile waiting iii the anticliamber to the duca's apartment, anxiously expecting her 236 summons to attend her uncle, Angelina learner?, from the communicative Father Patrick, some particulars of the scene of consternation her disappearance, the pre- ceding evening, had occasioned in the castle. ** ' The hours, seemed to have got, mill- stones round their necks -/'' said he, « 'and the minutes, to be having leaden wings, to their heeLs''^ from the instant, the^'poor duca, and myself, sat, with the time-length- ening cap, of expectation on us ; he with his watch, in his trembling hand, eying it eagerly, with reproachful glances, for the tardiness of it's motion. ^^'Alasl holy father!' *' he says—says he. " 'Time lags even more than ever, I thinks and it has gone, but heavily with me, since my beloved Angelina, forsook me. This slothful progress, of time, tells me, in anti- cipating despondence, she will never, never, return to me.' " '' *Ah! then, can't you be easy, you crea- ture you .?' " says I, *' 'and don't be mind-^ ing, what any of the tribes of sloth, will w hisper to you ^ for they are but a spalpeen ^37 . race.! — *tlio indeed, indeed, myself is tired too>; and thats a sure thing, in this gloomy waiting room, of expectation ; for sorrow thing, exhausts the patience, of an Irish- num sooner; than to be waiting, to give the kind, and cordial welcome, of hospita- lity, to any one/'* *^ Just at this moment, tatter away, went the portal bell, ready to bother the deaf. " * My niece ! my child ! my darling !* *' exclaimed the duca, in the shaking palsy, of joy. " ' Oh ! run, fly holy father, and bring her, to her parent's arm .' " ^'^ Faith jewel !'" says I, " ^'11 run for the bare life ; but a« for flying, thats out of my element ; altho my wild Irish wings, were never dipt, even by that careful housewife, adversity.' " '^ So with that, down I went to the big hall ; where who should I meet, but my brothers, Jeronimo, and Ezzelino ; the lat- ter, thumping his breast, for all the world, as if death was come without a moment's warning, to bring him away; and that he wanted to belabor, every sin out of him, be- fore the leveller of all, should lay him mo- 238 tionless ; but as soon as he set eyes, upon myself, he began to chaunt out, his ItaHan howl of lamentation, ' about Lady Ange* Una, being brought away, in the forest, by theives of a banditti ; with his own strong box' ( — '' henn myself is mighty apt, to suppose, out of tlie same stone, with his heart") — ^ in which was contained, the title deeds of an estate, just dropped from the moon, to him ; and the manuscript of a work' — (^^ written as, 1 take it, by the hght of that same, convenient moon") — ' for which he expected acardinalate.* ^^ On my safe conscience, and you inay expect y to the end, of every chapter, in your last labor, thinks I, to myself; for I was so stagnated, with all this tribulation, that sorrow speak, could I, speak. " Then comes Conte Lorenzago, picceer- ing into the hall, to add to the hulabaloo ; and there he kept singing out, about your loss ; which would inevitably kill, your poor uncle; while Ezzelina, whined out his reci- tativo lamentation, for the loss of his estate, and cardinalate; which those more fortu- nate rogues, had invested themselves with 3 239 and at last, they both chimed into a duet, of botheration to me ; * not, to let the duca be knowing a morsel, about the loss of his niece; until every tiling would be attempt- ed, to discover, and regain her;' and then, bid me, ' hurry back to my patron, and in- vent, some plausible excuse, for Lady An- gelina's nonappearance,' but somehow, sor- row worse hand, at invention any where, than Father Pat. — 1 never could be getting a he, to rise out of my throat, in all my born days; and even a sermon, myself could never invent, for the edification of our con- gregation, at St. Bertam's; so that it was I, was the fine fellow, to be sent, as the mo- ther of invention, and by dad ! so overcharg- ed was I, with this secret ; that in hiding it, it was so big for my bosom, that I betrayed it all ; every word of it ! and if it was not lucky, that Father Jeronimo, was within call, I wonder at it !" , At this moment the medical monk ap- peared, to announce the Duca di Montal- bano being ready and anxious to embrace his niece, when the lovely and affectionate Angelina, summoning at once all the firm- ness she could command, to sustain her, without subduing the sensitive invahd, through their affecting interview, promptly followed Father Jeronimo to the chamber of her uncle. ai 41 CHAPTER XIIL SiGlSMUND, Duca di Montalbano, was at this period in his thirty-ninth year ; his brother (Theadore, the father of Angelina), and himself, had been the only children of their illustrious parents. Theadore, three years older than Sigismund, was endowed with every personal attraction, every mental excellence and treasure of the heart. Sigis- mund, equally gifted by nature with intel- lectual stores and goodness, had, from his earliest days, drooped beneath a weakliness of constitution, which unfitted him for any of the active, health-inspiring pursuits, his brother found delight in y neither in their mode of education could they tread the same path. Strong in genius, as robust in frame, Theadore seised at once all knowlege pre- VOL. I. M sented by his preceptors to him; and en* dured every deprivation and toil of educa- tion, at a public school, without feeling them as such, or regretting the pleasures his absence from home debarred him of. Learning to him was no exertion, yet it was no delight, since his pleasures he found in a more active field i exercise was his loved pastime ; and tilts and tournaments, cam- paigns and battles, the idols of his bosom ; and he was, in consequence, the pride and treasure of his father's heart; who, himself, a renowned general, estimated only in man- kind the heroic hardy soldier. Sigismund, in helpless weakness, clung to his mother, and upon him her tenderest maternal affection rested ; although pride still taught her to glory in the beauty, ta- lents, and valor of her elder boy. Under the auspices, therefore, of his fond indul- gent mother, poor Sigismund received his education from private preceptors, whose principal charge was, to exact no diligence from him inimical to health. But while she considered almost every species of exercise too powerful for his delicate frame to sus- 243 tain, she injudiciously, by promoting seden- tary pursuits, awakened in his mind a love of deep and intense study, injurious to that health, her anxious wishes panted to pro- mote. In vain did his father remonstrate against the evident errors of her plan ; in vain did Theadore, disapproving of what he saw was rapidly increasing the w^eakness of his bro- ther's frame, seduce him from his studies, and place him on the least spirited horse of his own stud, and carefully lead him round the demesne ; in vain teach him the use of the gun — place a bow and arrow in his hand — or give him the lightest bar he could procure to fling. The anxious duchessa, missing her tender charge, would promptly seek him^ lecture Theadore for cruelty, and lay her nursling up again in inactivity, to polish his mind more brilliantly, and to find his amusements in the varied attain- ments and accomplishments of the arts and sciences. The result of this different mode of edu- cation and indulgence to propensity, was, that when Theadore attained his twenty- 1244 tliird year, Siglsmund his twentieth, the elder brother was the glory of his father's heart, the beloved of his friends, the pride of his countrymen, as a distinguished pro- tector of his country, and the admiration of the fair; w hile the poor younger was the ri- dicule of the indiscriminating multitude, and loved only by a very few. Nothing could rob the naturally fine countenance of Sigismund of it's attractive sweetness, and eloquence of expression ; but the pallid tints of sallow sickliness and lan- guor overspread it's surface, whilst his figure, formed on a slight fragile scale, had sunk in the ungenial nursery of sedentary employ- ments, from it*s natural height ; and droop- ing to the line of weakness, curved into al- most deformity. His mind, while enriched by all the stores of science, had still, by in- dulging too deeply in all the fascinations of poetry and music, cherished and encouraged the natural susceptibilities of his heart ; and now, with all the propensities to romantic enthusiastic love in his mind, he found him- self, in form, an antidote to the inspiration of reciprocal attachment 3 and whilst thus. U5 too, in pursuit of sedentary love^ his natu- ' turally weak constitution was enfeebled 5 until infecting his mental powers by it's sym- pathy, it gave to them the unfortunate im- pulsion of wooing sickness -, and, in the im- becile malady of hypochondriacism, he learn-> ed to rest his chief happiness in the fancied accumulation of every incurable disease. Theadore, covered with Fame's immortal laurels, had a second time returned to his father's castle, from Venetian contests with the Infidels, when the smiles of propitious love hailed his approach; and, under the auspicious approbation of their mutual friends, he was happily united to the lovely and accomplished niece of the Ducadi Mo- dena. The susceptible Sigismund had long be- held the matchless fascinations of this daugh- ter of the house of Modena, witij admira- tion too powerful for his repose; but promptly finding she was the beloved of his brother's bosom, he sighed in secret hope- lessness ; and when she became the wife of that brother's choice, he heroically exter- minated the glowing flame, and gently fan- 246 ning it's embers into tender friendship and esteem; he bestowed both with sincerity upon her whilst she hved, and then gave them, transformed into parental affection, as an inheritance from her mother, to her only offspring, the little Angelina, who expe- rienced the dire misfortune of losing this young, lovely, and incomparable parent, ere she had completed her fourth year. Shortly after this period of sorrowing mourning, in the family of Montalbano, the partial mother of Sigismund alsopaid her debt to nature ; and her death was speedily fol- lowed by that of her husband ; who, irritated and disgusted by the nourished weakness of his younger son, cruelly and unjustifiably cut him off with a shilling ; in the vain hope that necessity might arouse him into vigor, and teach him the blessings and comforts of activity, in the pursuit of maintenance. But Theadore, tenderly attached to his un- fortunate brother, in despite of all his adven- titious foibles, no sooner found what was his revered father's last testament, than, in the zeal of paternal affection, (but with every precaution to save his late parent from cen- 247 sure, for injustice), cancelled this partial will; and not only cancelled it's disinherit- ing clause, but added considerably to the formerly- arranged patrimony of Sigismund; in the considerate belief, that bodily infirmi- ties and defects, like his, absolutely required affluence, to secure attention and respect ; and further made it as his most importunate request to his grateful brother, that he should henceforth consider the Castle di Montalba- no as his home. From the hour he sustained the deeply- rooted affliction, the early loss of his adored wife overwhelmed him with, Theadore seemed to acquire a still greater fondness for a soldier's life ; as if, in the toils of war, and the din of battle, he could only lose the poignancy of that grief, which consumed his happiness; and the Venetian contests with the Turks gave him full and ample field for the indulgence of this specific, against the increasing malady of his woe; and the fa- mily of Montalbano, like the Alvianos', be- ing Venetian, (although their property chiefly lay in Tuscany), he gladly laid his claim to Venice as his country, and fought us it's battles, as one of it*s most successful champions, leaving his adored child to the care of his brother at Montalbano Castle, during his campaigns; except in the last unfortunate one, when he lucklessly per- -. mitted her visits to the wily family of Tol- mezo. From the period of Theadore's marriage, Sigismund, exerting some particles of the native energy of his mind, carefully guard- ed his bosom against the inroads of the ten- der passion, until the unfortunate time of Minora Tolmezo's accompanying Angelina to the Castle di Montalbano. It had been the original plan of the spe- cious and insinuating family of Tolmezo, when they instructed the beautiful Minora to ingratiate herself into thefavor of Angelina so completely, as to obtain from her an in- vitation to the castle of her father, that the heart of that father should, oh his imme- diately-expected return from the Morea, be assailed by his daughter's fkir visitor, with the ambitious view of her becoming l)u- chessa di Montalbano. Well instructed by her wily preceptors, Mhiora judiciously . 249 paid the flattering and seductite incense of respect and attention to the susceptible Si- gismund ; well initiated in the knowlege of his brother, highly reverencing his opi* nions, and being likely to make no second choice without his approbation. But the effect of these assiduities went further than was first intended ; and, where she only aimed at inspiring esteem, to insure com- mendation and kind services, she made a tender impression on the heart of Sigis- mund. This secret, the penetrating Ezzelino, then on a visit to the really- amiable and un- suspecting Viletta di Tolmezo, soon deve- loped; instantly he wrote home an ac- count of the discovery he had made. " The presumptive heir to the dukedom was capti- vated i the duca himself, from all that he had artfully learned in the family, most likely to prove invulnerable. The duca might not live to return from the supposed embassy he was gone upon ; ^nd, without further trouble, the ambition of the family might be gratified." A new line of conduct was now marked M 6 250 out for Minora ; and, with seductive, half- retiring, half-encouraging tenderness, she promptly secured that conquest she had un- intentionally made. The astonished vanity of Sigismund here proved a pow^erful auxiliary; he thought himself voluntarily beloved by a most fasci- natingly-beautiful, and, as he believed, in- nocent and amiable young woman, whom he had not even attempted to woo -, and his gratitude now aiding his love, he offered himself to Minora, who had, by her blan- dishments, lured him into making this offer, without even waiting for the approbation of his brother ; and with eagerness she ac- cepted him, for her heart, only devoted to Fredrico di Alviano, was now writhing in the jealous pangs of unrequited, nay, even rejected love ; for she had here quitted the villa di Castrioto, revealed to him her pas- sion, and had been politely, but unequivo- cally repulsed ; and wishing to marry im- mediately, to prove to this young man she did not break her heart in despair for him, cared not to whom her hand was given : and further, to promote this her plan far 251 braving the slights of Fredrico, she readily obeyed the commands of her subtile rela- tions, in luring on the ardent and infatuated lover Sigismund, not to delay their nuptials, even until the arrival of his now hourly-ex- pected brother ; as they dreaded that arri- val, lest Theadore, in alarmed solicitude for his child's threatened succession to the ti- tles of her ancestors, might devise means to break off the union. But scarcely had the nuptial revellings commenced, when Conte di OrdelafTo, a friend, and eau-de-camp of the Duca di Montalbano, arrived, with the afflicting in- telligence of his liaving fallen, with Conte Nieastro, in their unfortunate rash pursuit of the retreating Ottomans. Their bodies not having been found among the slain, had given to the generalissimo, the gallant Fran- cis Morosini, a soothing hope of their hav- ing become prisoners; and, whilst he had been exertiiig all the influence of his power to ascertain their fate, he had forborne to announce to the world, or to his family, the irreparable loss the Venetian arms had sus- tained by the death of the Duca di Montal- / 552 bano, and thus had caused that apparent mystery, relative to theduca's return by va- ried routes, which for so many weeks had prevailed; and during which weeks of anxious, and, at length, fatally terminating inquiry, the generalissimo had deceived his family by a rumor of the not-more- gallant Boldier than profound statesman, Theadore of Montalbano, being engaged in a secret negotiation for the Venetian senate. The grief of Sigismund for his brother, in it's first anguished feelings, subdued the re- collection of every other idea in his mind ; but as time poured it's ass nasi ve balm into that wound, he recovered the faculty of thinking, and his afiliction changed to de- spair, inspired by themisery of self- upbraid- ings. Infatuated by passion^ and the blan- dishments of a syren, he had married, with- out bestowing one thought upon possibili- ties, and their concomitant consequences. He was now, by his brother's premature death, become Duca di Montalbano ; his heirs must, therefore,, unquestionably inhe- rit the titles ; and, from his brother having cancelled every disinheriting clause in his 253 father's will, the estates also of hts ances- tors, and by his reprehensible marria-e, he had ungratefully, cruelly, and periiaps irrevocably, injured his darhng Angelina, the orphan of his brother, and of his own ge- nerous benefactor. The anguish of his mind soon spread it's baneful influence to the ever-too-easily af- fected frame of Sigismund ; and those ideal maladies which love had given a temporary suspension to, now returned with renovated violence from their banishment. When moping, in his own apartments, a prey to every fancied ill, he left his beautiful wife to her own devices; and his estates, and worldly affairs, to the mercy of his du- chessa's numerous family, who now, like locusts, came pouring in, to devour and de- stroy- . ^. . , Secluded in his chamber, Sigismund brooded over the ruin he had brought upon Angelina, without taking one active mea- sure to prevent it's full extent. The late Duca di Montalbano, knowing his own de- termination against a second marriage, was too deeply rooted in the stamina of his heart 254 ever to be exterminated; and fully believing his brother^s ever entering the pale of mZ trimony, out of the nature of possibility, considered his adored daughter's inheritance of the wealth and honors of her forefathers, as secure, as if she had been a male heir; and therefore, unwarily, made no kind of provision for her, in case of contingencies ; and Duca Sigismund, not enduring the, to him, terrible idea, of her being excluded by him from the succession, felt invincible hor- ror at the thought of making any settlement upon her; weakly fancying, that, by doing so, it would seem like a wish, or foreboding implication, that she was to be disinherited. At length that event, so much dreaded by Sigismund, was exultingly announced by Father Ezzelino to him. The duchessa's pretended pregnancy was declared; and, though Sigismund tenderly adored her, (in despite of his repentant grief for his mar- riage, and her inattentive and unamiable conduct towards him, since she had become his wife), yet with horror he anticipated the birth of his supposed child, as a being who would come more forcibly to attest his in- 255 gratitude to his brother ; and a severe ner- vous fever now aided his imaginary suffer* ings, in weakening his ever-feeble frame, and in taking strength fom that mind, which nature had gifted with superior ener- gies. In these dormant moments of the duca's bodily and mental imbeciliity,the expulsion of Lady Angelina was planned and executed. She was maliciously sent off to the then ob- scure convent of Santo Valentino, with every appearance of ambiguity, in invidious management, to make the world believe she had unkindly forsaken her sick uncle, when most he had wanted her attentions; and had absconded to gratify her not- to- be- van- quished propensity to a conventual life. The poor heart- rived invalid was easily persuaded into a belief of it's being Ange- lina's own choice to quit the castle, but he also believed, from the unkindness he well knew she had been treated with, that she was driven to the rash measure ; and, in all the anguish of his grief-torn bosom, he implored them to seek out the convent she had retired to, and entreat her to return^ 255 This ;he perfulious league of Tolmezo pro- m-sed ; and this they assured him, their agents were dispersed about all the states of Italy to that eflect; but, upon every report ot such pretended search, " still, still, with- out success." At length, in the full success of artful arrangements, the pretended accouchement of theduchessa took place, and- the spurious Child, the chance of whose sex the confede- rates had been forced to compound for, in- troduced at the castle as the heiress di Montalbano ; and, to veil the circumstance of Minora's not herself nourishing her off- spring, incapacity was pretended, from a cold caught 5 and to give plausibility to that excuse, she was compelled to lengthen most annoyingly, the term of her confine- ment. Then great indeed was the chagrin of this iniquitous woman, on findin-r, in some months after she had submitted to the inconvenience and privations of a long se- clusion from the gay Jiaunts of revel ; had endured all the agonizing alarms of detec- tion in her fraud, that she was actually in that state she had ajGfected to be in. She 251 had now, in her eager haste to cut ofF An- gehna from the succession, perhaps as ef- fectually, (should her coming offspring prove a girl), destroyed her own child's birth-right, by the imposture she had prac- tised, and which she could not. avow, with- out overwhelming herself with infamy. And now the bitter recollection of the miseries of confinement she had endured unnecessarily, must, in time, be renewed inevitably. Her mortification and ill humor surpassed even the regrets she experienced for the in- justice she had done her child. The consternation of her confederate re- latives, when this most unexpected circum- stance was announced to them, was indeed extreme. In the mind of Lorenzago it strengthened some painful suspicions to the disadvantage of his sister's purity, which he had lately inibibed 5 while her lenient confessor, Ezzelino, careless whether the coming ofispring was, or was not, the Duca di Montalbano's, only felt concern that they had shackled themselves with this spurious child; which, he determined, should be got rid of, and accordingly, with the barbarous 2j8 Ez^elinb for it's fate, the helpless infant ex- pired, in some weeks after, in terrible con- vulsions. But, however, ere this deed of cruehy ^vas perpetrated, Ezzelino, well knowino- the horror with which Sigismund recoiled from the idea of further progeny, hastened with the intelligence to him of Minora'spreg- nancy, in the diabolical hope of it's fatal effect upon his shattered frame. As the ruthless Ezzelino expected, the information overwhelmed him with poignant distress ; but, as Ezzelino hoped, did not terminate his existence; on the contrary, it seemed to awaken the slumbering energies of his mind, and instantly he sent for his notary, Brondelo ; on whose arrival he immediately made a noble provision for the child of his beloved brother. * The integrity of Brondello the Tolmezos well knew was incorruptible, and they dared not to tamper with it. In his care, they contrived to learn, an important deed now was placed 3 but it's exact import,with all their art, they could not discover ; and all they now had it in their power to effect for 259 preventing this apprehended great decrease of wealth was, to aim at establishing a be- lief of the mental derangement oftheduca, at the period this deed was formed. To aid in this atrocious purpose, yet under an appearance the most friendly to Sigismund, was Father O'Carrol introduced at Mon- talbano Castle. Lorenzago, although keen and unerring in developmg the characters and propensi- ties of his countrymen, as the eagle eye of deep and searching- penetration could make him, yet, in fathoming the disposition of a guileless Irishman, he was in many conclu- sions egregiously mistaken. From Father Patrick's still glaring defects in the polish of his manners, (for neither education, or im- proved society, had divested him of his na- tural want of the refinements of gentility), Lorenzago thought that, like the generality of low-born and unenlightened people, he would soon become a venal tool to those,' whom it suited to bribe him to their inte- rest; but, although he quickly found his integrity was invulnerable, and that no sum could lure him into becoming a mercenary 260 ^abettor in vilJany ; yet, from his propensity to blunder and repeat, lie .^^till hoped for the niost essential services, in the advancement of their vile project, by Father Patrick^s in- nocently retailing to all he met with, the eccentric whims of the poor fanciful inva- lid 5 who, in return, was likely to derive no consolation, as a friend ; no comfort, as a companion ; no benefit, as an adviser, from this unpolished, and imprudently unguard- ed man. But at length the duca finding, that the medicines he was given seemed to increase, rather than diminish, (as they were calcu- lated to do, being powerful soporifics), his alarming lethargic stupor, he determined to take no more of them; and a suspicion of the fact having, for the first time, dawned upon his mind, he firmly resolved no more to follow the prescriptions of his wife*s i'a- mily, which they were ofijciously fond of recommending to him; and from the time he discontinued the use of these opiates, he found himself materiallv better. Father Patrick believing he was perform- ing his duty, earnestly remonstrated with 261 liim against this total suspension of medi- cine, when the poor forlorn Sigismund ju- diciously told him, with the hope of it's being repeated toLorenzago, " That he was determined no medicine should again pass his lips, until his beloved niece should re- turn to administer them; and that if he soon was not gratified by beholding her, he should send his notary with a petition to his Holiness, to have her restored to him.** The duca's stratagem succeeded; the confederates shrunk from the idea of the pontiff's mterference. Some late accounts of Father Patrick, related in a numerous company, had been calculated to give powerful support to their affirmation of the duca*s insanity ; and this, therefore, was the express moment in which they wished he should die. And ere Brondelo should con- vey the petition of sound faculty to his Ho- liness, Lady Angelina was, therefore, im- mediately sent for ; as the almost enthusi- astic tenderness of affection he bore his niece; the unrestrained joy he evinced at the idea of once more beholding her ; and the slender thread, they believed, he held 262 the continuance of existence by, had in- spired them with the determination of adopting a diabohcal manoeuvre, which, they doubted not, would fatally operate upon his sensitive nerves. For the comple- tion of their plan, they had recourse to agents; who, from former services, they believed might be depended on. Anfania, from arbitrary reasons, was in the full con- fidence of the duchessa ; and she, there^ fore, was considered a safe auxiliary too ; and as they had arranged every thing with plausibility, to turn from themselves, as they hoped, every shadow of suspicion ; and had placed Father Ezzelino*s strong box as the attractive incentive to such an outrage, they congratulated themselves in the happy prospect of having thus laid a successful train for the removal of every impediment to their revelling on the spoils they panted to obtain, by the death of Sigismund, through horror and dire affliction at the cruel fate of his niece, in becoming a hapless victim to sanguinary banditti; and by that of Ange- lina herself, by the fell hand of assassina- tion, which they each, in their own bosoms, 263 had resolved to give their pitiless mandate for. Nor did it ever once enter into their imagination, in this exulting triumph of expected success, that their agents in vil- lany had the power, as well as the inten- tion, of outwitting them ; or, that the mer- ciful protector of the helpless could, even by the turpitude of the wretch they had employed to destroy, send a champion to defend and rescue the innocent from their diabohcal snares. ''k 264 CHAPTER XIV. On entering the chamber of her uncle, Angelina, to hor infinite joy, unexpectedly beheld him up, and seated in his easy-chair, to receive her ; but his pale, languid, and care-worn countenance assailed the heart of Pity at one glance, and awakened there it's tenderest emotion; and with these promptly-awakened pained sensations of compassion, now adding to her agitated feelings, slie flew to the expanded arms of Sigismund — but the effect of her long fondly wished-for appearance, her affectionate look, and thrilling exclamations of tender kindness, proved too much for the almost- exhausted frame of the poor duca to bear; and he wept upon the sympathising bosom of his beloved Angeliiia, in joy at having her — the child of his adored brother — a be- ^65 ing who did regard him, who did really feel interested in his fate, restored to him; so alTecting w^as the scene, that Father Jero* nimo, respecting the feelings he beheld, re- tired, and left no one to witness the fur- ther ebullitions of the heart, in the first in- terview of those long estranged, attached relations. '^ O, Angelina! loved, yet injured child of my sainted brother,** exclaimed the agi- tated duca, as soon as he could articulate, ^^ how powerfully your very looks affect me I How has time, in the nearly two long* years of your absence, with it*s unceasing pencil, touched and retouched your countenance, until he has completely finished you into a striking model of both your sainted parents, and sweetly combined, fron\ persons so op- posite in aspect, the most harmonious as* semblage of Nature's beauties to blend to- gether in you. O ! may you in mind in- herit too this striking^ resemblance 1 Your father knew no weakness, no guile; his heart contained not a fault. Your mother was — O ! she was perfection 1 She loved VOL, I, N 266 your father, and deceived him not with the phantom only of tenderness. In sickness, or affliction, she would never, no, never have forsaken him. But I was unlike my brother in mind and form ; I could not ex- pect to be loved as he was: I ought to have been aware, that interest only could lead the venal beauty to kneel at the altar of Hymen with me. I know it was egre- gious folly, reprehensibly absurd vanity, — but yet my disappointed heart writhes in the anguished feehngs of being unjustly treated.*' In this moment, when Angelina could only look her sympathy. Father Jeronimo, anxious to attend his other patients, re-en- tered, to prescribe for the duca, and to in- form Lady Angelina of what he wished to have done to promote his recovery ; and, when these necessary arrangements w^re made, the good monk departed ; and Father Patrick soon after entered, to inquire his pa- tron's commands ? " The duchessa knows of my niece's ar- rival, I presume, holy father?" said Sigis- mund. 267 if there were nine score of them ; and if the performance of every one of them, was an impossibility.** *^ O ! thank you,** replied Angelina smil- ing ; " but I shall not exact from your knight errantry the achievement of impossi- bilities for me : 1 only now ask you to re- main with my uncle until I return, and amuse him with all the pleasant, interesting, and lively anecdotes you can thirik of; but, if you enter upon the retrospectio.i of the alarms of last night, or of any past griev- ances, I will become unchristian, and never forgive you.'* 270 " Faith jewel, if you keep your anger off myself, until 1 offend you; we will continue, the best Darby and Joan friends, that ever sipped in th^ honey-pot, of harmony, toge- ther,'' returned the good priest. " And now to begin this sweet career of amity, do pray tell me, ere I depart, what you meant, holy father, by your expression of a black dog upon any one's back." " Why jewel, it is a sort of a barometer, in the form of an ugly mongrel, cabbin cur, that some pe€^ple are apt to be mounting upon their backs -, to growl, and be snap- ping at people's heels, to show the temper is under a dark, and lowering cloud/* " This defmition however, Angehna, por- trays no inviting prospect ibr you, in this condescension of yours in visiting the du- chessa. If such is the gloomy aspect of the atmosphere, I shall not choose that you should be exposed to it's inclemency," said the duca gravely. *^ Fear not for me, my dear uncle,*' An- gelina replied, trembling in heart, but as- suming the aspect of unfaltering courage ; ^' weather can change, and time flies swiftly* ^71 Although it was winter when Father Pa- trick quitted the clime I am going to visit, it may be spring when I arrive there; and, I trust, it may be summer ere I depart from it: but, if not, I still shall find, upon my return, those genial sun-beams here, that cannot fail to cheei' me through every threatened storm," The duca pressed her hand in gratitude, and summoned his own earner ihx* to attend her on her amiably condescending visit; when Angelina was grieved to see, that the old and respectable servant of her uncle was exchanged for an insolent looking cox- comb, whose countenance at once proclaim- ed him to be one of the most unfitted persons in the universe for an attendant upon a con- stantly-suffering invalid. At length Angelina reached the apart- ments of the duchessa, which had once been her own mother's ; and where now the alterations of showy fancy had superseded, with her gaudy fopperies, the, chaste and simply elegant arrangements of refined and genuine taste. Her supercilious conductor, * Valet. 272 Sigriore Rospo, threw open the folding- doore, and announcing '* Lady Angelina/* she entered the dressing-room of Minora, who now was making her toilet ; and who, beheving she was little less than the goddess of beaaty herself, had the Graces, in the form of three waiting gentlewomen, to attire her; yet not in perfect simihtude to the at- tractive attendants of the Cyprian queen, she had selected her handmaids from among the least charming of their sex, for the judi- cious purpose of all the advantages to her- self arising from the force of contrast. One of these homely damsels was now employed braiding the long and glossy tresses of the duchessa's hair. Another, with her strikingly coarse and ruddy hands, was twining strings of pearls around the fniely polished alabaster arms of this vain woman, whilst the tliird was arranging those jewels about her beauteous throat and bosom ; which the sanctified and pompous probationary Archbishop di Ivlazzarino, with right reverend zeal, was carefully selecting from a casket, to adorn this modern queen of love. Four pages, rivaling Cupid.^, or the Zc^ ^73 phyrs, in youthful charms, and fancifully at- tired, had here perpetual employment, scat- tering odors round the room, and replenish- ing innumerable costly vases with fragrant incense, or the most beautiful and sweetly- scented flowers ', whilst, at a luxuriously- adorned veranda, Conte Lorenzago stood, warily observing, with no sensations of sa- tisfaction, the further confirmation to those painful suspicions of his. sister's purity ; which the levity of her conduct had awaken- ed, in her present reception of the impas- sioned glances of the archbishop ; and at the toilet table, filling up another depart- ment of this vain woman's suite, sat a de- pendent cousin, as plain, and as subservient as a dependent cousin need to be, with a beautiful small greyhound in her lap ; one hand of hers engaged in tenderly stroking the popular favorite, asleep on her knee ; the other supporting her own head, in the attitute of contemplating the beauties of her cousin, the duchessa, which she failed not to extol in the highest flights of rapt?] rows pa- negyric, as slie pointed them out to obser- vation, as each new adornment, or judici- N S 274 ous movement, displayed them to her watch- fully-adulating eye. And now this luxurious apartment, so fitted, so dedicated to attractive adornment, the only and orphan child of the elder branch of the illustrious house of Montalba- no entered, attired in the plain grey stuff habit, worn by the boarders in the rigid convent of Santo Valentino ; it's form like the costume of a Persian slave ; her only . ornaments, a plain ebony conventual cross, suspended from her neck, and a correspond- ing rosary, hung by the knotted cord of black silk, which encircled her slender waist* The long and flowmg veil of the order had fallen, unconsciously, ia graceful drapery around her, and left her exquisitely-formed head and lovely face uncovered ; displaying her luxuriant hair> unrivaled in beauty and silky burnish, twisted and twined in grace- ful meanderings, by the simple and unstu- dying hand of intuitive taste and fancy ;. it's only confinement,, a curiously- wrought gold bodkin, the gift of the abadessa of Santa Valentino to her. The blush of agitation and alarmed ex* ^15 pectatioii heightened the bloom of beaiUy upon the cheeks of Angehna, on her en- trance, whose name and appearance seem- ed to electrify the facuUies of the principal persons present. The dignified pride of heartfelt superiority taught her to recoil from the debasement of humbling herself iu courtesy to such worthless beings, as they had proved themselves to be ; but it was for her uncle's sake she bent to them; and never did conciliating sweetness, tinctured with unsubdued dignity, appear more at- tractively lovely than Angelina, unhesitat- ingly advancing to the duchessa, and, with a smile that seemed gifted with the magic of effacing from the heart the remembrance and the feeling of all enmity, presented-her hand, accompanied by a short sentence, expressive of that pleasure which politeness instructed her to assume the semblance of, upon meeting, after such a lengthened ab- sence. But the now exquisitely-finished figure of Angelina, with the beauty of her coun- tenance matured into surpassing loveliness, was more than the duchessa was prepared C76 for; more than she possessed firmness to behold, unmoved by an invidious envy that Mould betray itself. Scarcely articulate -was- her unconnected reply, given- in the imharmonious tones of vexation and aspe- rity, while coldly she took the offered hand ofamitv; but the moment she beheld the trar}sparent whiteness of tlmt hand, yet stamped by health, with it's delicate carna- tion hue, it's streams of life meandering through their slender tubes of bhie and vio- let, the full rose-tinted palm, and the taper lingers, with their nnrivaled terminationsv touched it's smooth surface, and felt it*s downy softness, than, electrified by her en- vious propensities, she dropped the hand with a recoiling motion, expressive of her real feeling, although she maliciously meant that it should evince disgust. The moment Lady Angehna di Balermo' was announced, the probationary prelate felt ashamed of his employment; and, awkward in a situation, so little according with that pious austerity he had labored to impress her with a belief was his dig- Tiified characteristic ; while the sagacious 277 cousin 5 Signora Zola di Tolmezo, promptly taking her one frona the duchessa, turned up her thin and bloomless hp in strong con- temptuous disapprobation of the whole ap- pearance of Lady Angelina, whom Conte Lorenzago, to the infinite amazement of every one present, with a countenance of smilingly-flattering welcome, rapidly ad- vanced to her with extended hands to greets and to receive. Conte Lorenzago was then in his thirty- eighth year, and told most forcibly by alf he still retained undiminished of uncommon beauty, how superior it had been, to that generally possessed even by the most favor- ed sons of nature, when the potent spells of youth aided, resistlessty, the enchant- ments of surpassing personal endowments. But, although great and alluring were his beauties of form and face, they had ever been considered, by all who knew him, as even less seductive than the fascinations of his manners, thriUing with the soft magic of bewitching all who were unacquainted with the secrets of his heart and disposition 3 se- crets, which no glance of his amenable ^78 eyes, no tone of his well-regulated voice, no expression of his obedient countenance, ever betrayed, leaving to those only, whom the habits of unrestrainted intimacj^, or who, from experiencing it's effects, had dis- covered his dissimulative powers, to know, that his mind resembled a deep translucent well, whose surface yields the purest liquid of the fountain; but whicii, on fathoming, is found to shelter some of the most noxious deformities of nature in the reptile form, of mining art, and treacherous design. Proud and ambitious, beyond all con- trol of reason and of justice ; and even stung with the unceasing recollection of the mean origin from which he sprung, he, early in life, strained every power to please, to adu- late, and to charm J to give their seductive aid in extricating- him from the humble state of his family s and to lead him on to soar in that exalted sphere. He resolved no boundary of honor or of conscience, whilst in secret he could overstep them, should impede his way. Under this aspirinv sparkled joy, almost amounting to the transports of superlative happiness, at be- 282 holding once again some long-lost, most loved, and valued object of esteem. ** Heavens!" he exclaimed, after taking an earnest survey of the blushing Angelina, with eyes expressive of the most animated admiration, ** how much you are grown in the tedious interval of vour absence from VIS; and how exquisitely have you fulfilled your more juvenile promise of future sur- passing loveliness !'' " Conte Lorenzago forgets," said Ange- lina gracefully, with the happy combination of youthful timidity, and inherent dignity of piind, '^ that, through the cloister wail, the sound of earthly flattery could not reach my ears ; and, in pity to the poor re- cluse, should spare her the probable conse- quence of subduing her senses by this intoxi- cating homage of unmerited incense." " In mind, as in form, perfection !" ex- claimed the conte, in a subdued voice, in- structed to express how heart-felt was his admiration. Angelina was siu'prised and embarrassed at this new and unexpected line of conduct adopted by Lorenzago ; but, not choosing to betray her being so, made a successful effort to rally her rather faltering spirits, and smilingly replied : — " You have, I fear, indeed, fathomed my understanding; and, from that experiment, have formed the belief of it's being too ea- sily overset in the overwhelming tide of un- qualified praise." " I have, indeed, fathomed it, and must devise some other method more congenial to it*s sensitive delicacy, to regain your now highly-prized lost good opinion,'* replied Lorenzago gravely, bowing with the marked reverence of profound respect. " And so!" exclaimed Signora Zola, " Lady Angelina never heard flattery in her cloister. Of course she never heard nothing but truths; and we cannot, there- fore, wonder at her humility." *' Oh! Conte Lorenzago," said Angeli- na smiling, *' I may now, indeed, defy your enlogiums; since, if you present the poison of flattery to my understanding, this kind signora will, I perceive, humanely sup- ply an antidote." 284 Signora Zola, highly disconcerted at this open discovery of her malicious propen- sity, and more fo, at it's failing in it*s in- tended effect of mortifying and provoking^ now coloring in passion, vehemently caress- ed her sleepinj; lap-protegee, who growled at having his slumbers so roughly broken. " Heavens ! Zola, how barbarously un- gentle you are,'' cried the duchessa, pet- tishly, ** you will absolutely spoil the tem- per of my darling FH'o, by your savage treatment. Come, my love, my precious treasure, to your adoring mistress/' And, with affected tenderness, she drew her fa- vorite into her beauteous amis, and seemed almost about to smother him with caresses. *' I am, I am, surprised at this attach- ment," said Lady Angelina, in a tone of more reproach than she wished to betray, *^ for 1 thought you had an unconquerable antipathy to dogs, duchessa?" '' So I have to oldy hideous, and annoy- ing ones," replied Minora, scornfully. " Mine certainly had grown rather old in a faithful service ; yet even his approach to age, had not made him in the least an- S85 noying. May I take the liberty of asking you, duchess a, what was the fate of my poorFedeho ?'* " Mis fate ! ! The fate of your dog, girl ! ! ! — Can you really conceive, Angeli- na, that I condescend to shackle my mind with the remembrance of such growling things? Ask my people. Was the animal shot, drowned, or strangled, domestics ?" " Neither, illustrissima signora," replied one of the pages. " By your excellenza's orders 1 gave him to a blind beggar you saw kick his leader to death in the forest." The thrill of horror and grief that now struck upon Lady Angelina's heart, stole at once the roses from her cheeks; and, in despite of every effort of that rule for her conduct, which reason and reflection had pointed out for her to pursue, tears started to her eyes, and forced a passage thence. '* Heavens ! girl,*' said the duchessa, contemptuously, *^ weep for your favorite's being restored to his original station ! — Surely a renewal of those habits he pursued in early life, must be a restoration of com- fort to him.** 286 *^ What the origin of my poor degraded sacred trust's family may have been, I was not old enough, when they first became the leaders of the venerable Richardo, to recol- lect. But a restoration from an exalted to a degraded situation, although it might possess the charm of early habit to recom- mend it, might not always be deemed a comfortable change. And to many, whose origin I do remember, I am sure it woidd prove no source of pleasure,*' replied An- gelina, aroused irresistibly to sarcasm, by that ferine cruelty wreaked on her protegee, solely for the purpose of giving pain to her, The low-born Tolmazo keenly felt the retort -, and Angelina, ashamed in finding herself surprised out of that forbearance she had hoped rigidly to persevere in, made a successful effort to regain her lost compo- sure ; and, with that genuinely impressive dignity of a superior mind, that never fails of it's effect, calmly admired the beauties of the surrounding plants, and judiciously con- triving to turn the conversation from per- sonalities to general topics, was ^labled to extend her visit to the duchessa for some ^87 time longer; and, until the arrival of more company, afforded her a fair pretence for withdrawing, when she hastened to the apartments of her uncle ; where, in her de- tail of her reception from, and interview with the duchessa, she, in the goodness of lier heart, suppressed all that she believed would be heard with ]iain by him. 28 since last they met, save one, but that one, direful and agonis- ing, nitenacing destruction to his existence> even to Aingelina he shrunk from the idea of disclosing. The helpless and interesting appearance of her uncle > the touching pathos of hrs grief- tuned voice ; the melancholy resigna- tion of his countenance, combined with this recital of all the heart- w^ounding array of injuries he had sustained, most sensibly wounded the aiTectionate and susceptible feelings of Angelina; and the pain of sympathy found an agonising increase in the terrible conviction, that she possessed no pQwef to shield him from such cruelty. 295 ** Grieve not, my love,'* said the duca, endeavouring to soothe his beloved niece, ** grieve not for what is now inevitable. I brought all my woes upon myself, every misery upon you ; and I cannot, cannot bear to see you sorrow for the infatuated monster of ingratitude who has undone you. I — I ought to dissolve away in Affliction's saddest tears of penitence ; and yet I weep not for your undoing and my own. No, no, no, in my heart are my griefs ^ like the desolating Sirocco, blighting, withering, all, and expelling the salutary dew of tears. '* From my birth, to the evil hour of my infatuated marriage, I was gently treated by all around me ; and, though ruthless maladies afflicted me, yet, from all who approached me, I learned the belief, that the native dwelling of kindness was in 'the human heart. Terrible, then, my Angelina, was the shock which undeceived me ; and led me to feel, in contrast, how I had miscon- ceived the whole of my species. In all my latter months of misery, I have had no sympathising bosom to repose my griefs in > no friend to unburthea a heart breaking 296 with sorrows ; no one to beguile into pity lor me ; but now my beloved Angelina is restored to me, that grief is removed, and again I shall know, that kindness and affec- tion are inhabitants of this world.** Angelina, with reverence and filial ten- derness, took the sorrow- withered hand of her uncle, and pressed it to her lips, to her heart) now throbbing with sympathy for his miseries; miseries for which she had no consolation ; and feared to give utterance to those sensations her pity, grief, and indig- nation had awakened, lest they might too much affect him by the novelty of their kindness; but, at length, after a success- ful combat to subdue the violence of her emotion, she gently inquired, ** What was become of Father Erasmo ? who had been her uncle's preceptor, his confessor, his friend.'* *' Alas ! my child, gone ; torn from me, because he was inflexible in virtue, firm ia his purposes, exalted in understanding, and zealously my fiiend. He disapproved my marriage,; exerted all his influence to prevent it; was never forgiven by Minora 297 or her family ; and was expelled my castle in that fatal illness of mine, in which you, too, Angelina, forsook your helpless un- cle.'* ^* Oh ! say not, say not, dear zio, that I forsook you. Believe not I could have been so barbarous, so ungrateful ; for, in very truth, force only tore me from the chamber of him I tlien believed to be my- dying uncle.'* ** Wretches !" Sigismund exclaimed, with powerful indignation. " Yes^ yes, they can tear all tender ties asunder ; rend hearts; burst bonds of friendship. My friend, my second father, Erasmo, was^ I now doubt not, forced, like my Angelina, from me. No common. means were those made use of, to urge him to quit me in sickness and sorrow. In vain, upon my restoration to perception, did I entreaty implore, to have him recalled. In vain did I write let- ters of supplication to my friend to return ; but, alas ! he came not, wrote not ; and the direful pang was added to my miseries, in the torturing belief of his being no more. — But that rankling grief was takeafrom xikj o a 298 bosom about six months since, when I saw, in a list of new publications, that he had recently presented to the world a work of great celebrity, at Rome." *' At Rome ! — Know you, or can you learn, the name of his bookseller ?'* " Know it ! — Oh 1 yes. I treasured up the page wherein his name was so honorably mentioned, treasured it up, with all your father's letters tome, with one little beaute- ous lock of hair, belonging to her who is now a saint in heaven; your mother's, An- gelina» I stole it from my brother. It was the only act of fraud I e'er committed. — But when I married, I took it from the locket in my bosom, which! profaned with *a syren's hair; a serpent's sting. Here, Angelina," and he unlocked a drawer in a writing- table before him, " behold my trea- sures, and remember, upon you I depend for comphance with my solemn re€[.uest, for having them inclosed in my last resting place with me." " But, my dear, dear, uncle, '^^ said An- gelina, endeavouring to shake off all mourn- ful sympathy of voice, aad to look enlivecb- ing cheerfulness, " we will, at present, if you please, make a better use of one of these treasures; I will write to Father Eras- nio, under cover to his bookseller, if you will permit me, and give it to the care of Father Jeronimo to convey Securely forme. By this plan we shall elude all inspection and interception; for I cannot but think your letters never reached the reverend father, no more than my numerous ones did you/* This project of Angelina so overpowered the sensitive Sigismund with hope and joy> that the emotion it created so alarmed her> that she hastily poured out some of a cor- dial which Father Jeronimo had left with her, to administer at her discretion. The duca, smiling touchingly and grate- fully at her, as she presented it, said, " I would swallov7 it when presented by you, even unknowing who prescribed itforme^ because you would offer it only in the hope of it*s proving efficacious to me.'* He now eagerly drank it, and then added, '' It warms me with thy affection, my child ;** and then, after a pause, in which he found considerable renovation from the medicine^ 300 but much more from the innovatuig sun- beam, penetrating with cheering influence to his heart, in the flattering hope of once again hearing from the friend of his earhest youtli, his looks began to assume the as- pect of much-diminished sadness ; for he no longer doubted the success of Angelina's project; and that his ardent wish would b^ promptly realised, by the return of Erasmo to ^fontalbano castle. " Not, Angelina," said the duca, at length traveling full speed in the fascinat- ing regions of hope. " Not, though my beloved and venerated friend should return to me, will 1 send poor Father O'Carrol from me, or displace him as chaplain to my household ; for although he still retains, im- impaired, many of the vulgarisms of the sphere in which he originally moved, he yet possesses too many virtues of the heart not to have obtained my cordial esteem." At length, after much more earnest and confidential conversation between the Duca di Montalbano and his lovely niece, Ange- hna found, by the intimation of the duca's dinner bell, that it was time for her to go 301 and arrange her hair, and re- put on her- gown, as the only preparation she had it in her power to make, for appearing at the duchessa's tables but infinite was her asto- nishment, on her arrival in her dressing- room, to find. Anfonia waiting her coming ; and who immediately hastened, with the innovating appearance of civility, to an- nounce — " That as her ladyship had unfortunately lost her great stock of clothes the preceding evening, the duchessa kindly and consider- ately wishing to remedy, as much as possi- ble, the inconvenience she must suffer from the circumstance, had sent her thither with a temporary supply -, and, with an order, to offer her services in the honor of assisting to put them on/* Angelina made her grateful thanks in sin- cerity, for this apparent kindness, ere she turned to the table where the clothes were laid ; but soon she found how unme- ritted were those premature thanks. Yet still she possessed sufficient command over her feelings not to betray the smallest symptom of chagrin, as she calmly looked 302 upon this supply of pretended kindness, although she beheld the dresses were a col- Jection from the castle theatre; where, at a stated period every year, some comedians from Florence performed before the Mon- talbano family, from time almost immemo- rial; and so grotesque and hideous were the forms and texture of the habits selected, she could only believe they were sent her to make her ridiculous, for the pastime of Minora and her satellites; and when all was carelessly inspected by her, she quietly said — " I shall retain the linen, and be thankful for it, Signora Anfania, until I can procure some of my own. The dresses and orna- mental parts of this very kind supply, I must beg leave to return, having no present oc- casion for them. So long accustomed to the close stuff habit I wear, I should run great hazard of taking cold, was I at once to throw it off.'' '' Bless me!'' exclaimed Anfania, visi- bly disconcerted at the failure of this plan of ridicule in every expected effect. " Surely you will never have the rudeness^ the unpar- 303 donable disrespect, to appear before your su- periors, at the duchessa's table, in a paltry stuff gown?" '^ It is a religious habit/' replied Angeli- na, gravely, '^ and the duchessa is too in- nately pious to object to it/* Anfania could make no possible answer to that plea, without implicating the piety of her lady, therefore most unwillingly she found herself compelled to acquiesce; and finding there was no employment for her in disfiguring Angelina, and having no inten- tion of offering her assistance, as a real ser-- vice, soon after withdrew. ^04 CHAPTER XVt. Shortly after the departure of her tor- I mentor, Angelina returned to her uncle, who instantly expressed his sui-prise on seeing her still in her conventual dress. '' My uncle forgets/' said Angelina, •* that I have no other. You know I lost my whole wardrobe last night.'* " But the duchessa did not lose hers; and surely it was in her power, as it ought to have been in her. inclination, to supply your present necessity.'* '' She was very kind, and did supply me ^vith linen,'* replied Angelina, blushing at an evasion, which her amiable wish of sparing this unfortunate relative every un- necessary pang inspired ; <' but the duchessa is formed so much on a larger scale than I am, her clothes could not very well fit me; 303 and, and, beside, I feared to throw off my long-accustomed warm dress all at once." Father Patrick now made his appearance, as the duca*slast dinner-bell had summoned him, to be in readiness, to perform his duty of saj^ing grace for his patron, with whom he partook of all his meals. At the request of the poor invalid, Ange- lina performed the honors of his table for him 5 and performed them with such pe- culiar grace, and winning kindness, and so resistless he found her affectionate and duti- ful attentions, that he was beguiled by them, into taking more food than his tlown appe* tite had long permitted him to partake of. But, although he looked, and was grateful for her kindness, he appeared often ab- stracted in thought, and the moment the at- tendants departed after the termination of his repast, he mournfully said : •^ Ah ! Angelina, the ingenuousness of your nature betrayed to me, that there was evasion in your excuse, for still retaining your conventual dress; and I fear, alas! that I have penetrated the true cause. — You, you continue it, Angelina, from pre* 306 dilection. and I have not been deceived, when assured, you meant to take the veil/' '' My dear uncle/' said Angelina, with a playful smile, yet accompanied by a con- scious blush, " whenever, or rather I should say, if ever the male, whOm I could be content to coo in a Cage with, for life, should appear to demand me from you, I will soon convince you, that I have no p'as- sion for the life of a *menoca." *' Ah I then, who would have suspected," exclaimed Father Patrick; ,- that your dress to day, jewel, should have given such a big fright to his excellenza, and myself. The duca in thinking, you were so be- witched, as to turn nun ; and myself in fear- ing, you would be creazy enough, to be put- ting on, some of those, hogmagog coats, and petticoats, the Duchessa, Signora Zola, and the maids, caballed about sending you, to tiy, and make a bugabow, of you, to amuse them/^ The duca instantly demanded an expla- nation, to which Father Patrick, not feeU *Nun. 307 in- Angelina's delicate scruples upon the subject, unhesitatingly gave in as glow.ng colors, as the grotesque clothes had been composed of. Sigismund was painfully disconcerted.— « Ah' my child," he said, " and the ami- able kindness of your heart leol you to con- ceal all this low malice from me. but yet, they have not deprived me of all pecuniary power. I will have you dressed as the child of your father ought to be. I will have your dress beyond the shafts of ridicule to * aim at. I will have you wear nothing be- longing to that narrow-minded, ungratelul woman; whom, in the climax of folly, I made my wife. Write, therefore, as speedily as possible, to the most approved trades- people for such purposes ; and order them, forthwith, to supply the wardrobe, in ap- I propriate magnificence, of the late Duca di Montalbano's daughter." Angelina was deeply penetrated by her uncle's kind consideration for her feelings of female vanity, but she knew not the names of any trades-people; for ere her ex- pulsion from the castle, her respectetl go- I 308 verness had ordered all things for her ward- robe 5 and since that eventful period, all she wore had been made in the convent of Santo \aIentino, or presented to her by the abadessa, procured from she knew not whom ; and these insuperable impediments to acompliance with his desire, she hast- ened to impart to Sigismimd. While making this statement to the duca Father Patrick stood behind his patron's back, making the most ludicrous grimaces, and unintelligible gesticulations, to her, to desist; but at length finding them ineffec tual, he came round to her and, whisperingly, said : " Take him, in the humor, take, the elegant coats, and petticoats, a vurneen, for I'll be bail, we will find out, some clever hands, to sew for ns/' ^^A^as! Angelina,^' said the duca, *' and I cannot assist you in this most singular dilemna ; I have been cut off, by the an- tipathy of my wife, from all society.; and from the seclusion I have lately lived in, I know nothing of modern fashions, or their most celebrated artij^ans; and were we to 309 apply to the duchessa for information, we now cannot shelter a doubt, of her meanly and invidiously misleading you/* " That's what, she would," exclaimed Father Patrick, eagerly, " So I would not be, telling her about it, at all, at all. Let us have tit for tat, my darlings ; and find our vengeance, in surprising her. Sure my- self, has not been cut off, from society all, my born days. Was I not, after living nine- teen months, at Naples, until I was starved : looking for bread, and more grief to me, for sorrow morsel, would pop into poor pat's mouth, though I gorged day, and night, on my troubles; ay and success to my me- mory, of those days of yore ; for it helps me to an elegant, modern friend, for you jewel ; my particular acquaintance, the Queen of Naple's barber." *^ But," replied Sigismund, beguiled of one of his melancholy smiles, " but though her majesty of Naples may require the aid of a barber, my niece does not, you plainly see, reverend father." *' Ah ! then be easy; and don't be joking 310 tis, Monsignore/' returned the zealous, Pa- trick. '* Sure barber's can have wives, though priests must not; and more grief to us and my friend Signore Mode, is married to the queen of Naple's, right-hand. Och ! such an elegant fashion-monger ; makes and fancies, all the queen's dress's and undress's, her coats, and her aprons ; her stays, and her topknots. — Oh ! flounces, and furbelows ! but 'tis she's, the real, dandy." '^ But," said Angelina smiling, both pleased and grateful for the good priest's zeal to serve her , '' I have no gown to send to Signora Modo for a pattern, being reduced to one ; and since she never saw me, we can devise no method for her fitting me.'* " Oh ! jewel ! where there is a will, there is always, a mighty accommodating, way. I'll bid her step to Florence, and measure the Venus di Medici, there ; only to make the coats, and petticoats, somewhat longer; since in the race, of sprouting upwards, you out- topped her, or if that, would be taking up too much time : I'll bid her to cut out all. 311 for the form of perfection ; and they will find the model here, ready to slide into them." '^ Upon my word. Father Patrick,*' said the duca, again smiling, *' your kind in- terest for Lady Angelina, can only be equaled by your gallantry.'* " Och ! then, who thanks any man, that is not blind, for being gallant, to youth and beauty? but never do you mind my gal- lantry, my good duca, but proceed to busi- ness. If myself had a morsel of tape, I think with your assistance, we would con- trive to send some sort of a bungling mea- sure, jewel, to Signora Modo; who v/ould work for the bare life, to serve poor pat^ or so for that matter, would her husband; only you want no wigs. But to prove, iis no palaver in my self 5 and that I have interest, with them; and that they are no botches, whom I want Vo job for; I'll be after telling you, just, hovylgotinto the cockles jf their hearts, and good luck to them. *' Why, one day, when the starving fit, was mighty bad upon me; I went into the fijst church, Imetj to pray for bread; and 312 some how, when one prays earnestly, the exertion I suppose, is mighty apt, to make one's eyes, a httle hmnid; so mine began to keep company with my teeth ; and water for bi-ead ; so myself thought, would some one give me, even a hard crust, the tears were ready, to moisten it for me ; and just at that moment, a beautiful, elegant young lady, — Och ! such a creature ! arose from her knees, nigh hand me: and passing near, in her way out, dropped a pistole, into my hat, which laid beside me. Well jewels, you may well suppose, how my heart blessed her; but though ravenous I was, myself had the grace, to stop, and say, all that was so highly due, to the great inspirer, of cha- rity : but when my thanksgiving, was ended; may be I did not run ! faith I did ; for the bare life, to the first baker's shop, that came in my way, and bought a young loaf; for says prudence, says she : — '' Pat my boy, sure you would not be, improvident in the days of prosperity; for remember the knawings of hunger, may come again, like the bitings of remorse. '' Well my darlings, in the days of pros- 313 perity, the pride, of us Irisli gentlemen, is mighty apt to rise, with our fortunes ; so myself, that was glad, a minute before, to receive alms, was now forsooth, ashamed to eat my loaf, in the Street; for fear, some internal impulse, should make me cram "it up, greedily, as if I wanted it. So off I trots, to the first obscure lane ; and down I seated myself, upon a bench, under a gateway ; and was beginning to devour; when myself, sud- denly saw, two eyes, swimming in the rheum of sorrow, rivited upon my loaf. So I looks, in my turn; and fmds they be- long, to a creature, as old asthel)i]ls; and as crippled, as a dunce's capacity ; for he had lost his supporters in the wars; and was now carried about, by two wooden spindles ; like a good oeconomist, he was clad in rem- nants; and he shook, och ! concussions, and ague fits ! how the creature shook, with age, pvill have the goodness, to assist our ta?^te, in replacing these things, this fatal cata-r ^trpphe, lias destroyed.' Agh, then sor- row fashion, was ever led more neatly by her niajesty, than that san>e, of civility \0 the poor signora I '' Well jewels, by the queen desire anc[ success to her 1 Signora Modo, took a grand house; and went on,, more elegantly than ever; now who but she, and who but. Fa- ther Pat, for myself was made so much of, by the grateful husband^ and wife, as the queen made of the latter, and so hy their kindness, uncle Pat, and myself, got out of the sinking bog, of poverty > and through their kindness, I have beei,i enabled, to settle the ©Id warrior, in comfort at Naples ; for it was through their recommendation, that Conte Lorenzago took myself up, and gave me the big honor, of being chaplain, to the- Duca di Montalbano. , " So, now jewels, you see, by my rig- «:iarol story> it is not a hedge mantua makers I am after recommending to yoxi ; and that I have a big morsel of interest, with Sig- nora Modo y which will ail be ei^erted, to 3Q3 make her work expeditiously, and beautiv' fully, and elegantly, for you.*' Angelina gracefully expressed her grati- tude for the intended kindness of Father Patrick, whose anecdote of himself, and Signora Modo, was not calculated to lessen either in the estimation of his auditors; and as the duca seemed determined that she should avail herself of the assistance of Fa- ther Patrick, in the present instance, it was at length arranged, that at night Angelina was to take proper measures from her gown, for the reverend father to send off, the subse- quent day, to Naples, accompanied by a letter from him, to Signora Modo; with an order from the duca himself to the sig-> nora, to spare no expence m procuring every thing necessary and proper for the wardrobe of Lady Angelina di Balermo. After every thing relative to this business had been adjusted, and that Angelina, with affecting sweetness, made her acknowlege- ments to her generous uncle, Sigismund said : " I wish this arranQ:ement of ours might be kept secret ^ for I own I have littleness of mind, sufficient to enjoy the idea of reta- liation, in the mortification of those who were so mahcious, as to plan the mean pro- ject you have recounted to me, reverend father^ by our suddenly and unexpectedly showing to them, it was no longer in their power to disfigure Lady Angelina.*' *' Sure, that will be the beauty of it,'* exclaimed the good priest. " And yet, I fear, your ingenuously ac- knowleged propensity, to disburden your heart of every secret, may betray us. How can we contrive to lure you into silence, upon the subject?" said Sigismund. *' Faith I know not, monsignore ; for if my wish to comply with your excellenza*s desire ; and to retaliate for that sweet crea- ture there, cannot keep the long tongue of me silent; nothing in the wide worlds- can/' " We will try some expedient, however,' said the duca. '< AVhat think you of the efficacy of a wager upon the subject? Come, I'll bet against your new missal, an annuity of twenty pistoles, for your uncle Patrick, during his existence.'' 3^5 Tears started to Father Patrick's eyes : hastily he arose from his chair, pressed the duca's hand to a heart throbbing with gra- titude; and profoundly bowing, precipi- tately withdrew, to conceal the overflow- ing of his feelings. "Good and benevolent creature!*' ex- claimed Sigismund. *' Good and benevolent creature!*' re- peated Angelina, taking her uncle's hand, and looking at him with an approving and affectionate expression, that identified her application. In a very short interval after the col- lected firmness of Father O'Carrol per- mitted his return to remain with the duca, during the absence of his niece. Lady An- gelina was summoned to attend the dinner- party of the duchessa; and with a heavy heart, recoiling from that society she doubt- ed not, either from inclination or precept, would be found by her most ungenial to her feelings, she followed the gentle page, Flo- rio, who appeared with the mandate for her attendance. 326 CHAPTER XVIL In the drawing-room Augelina found as- sembled, beside the family party of the du- chessa, (composed of herself, father Ezze- lino, Conte di Lorcnzago, and Signora Zola) the Princess di Belcastro* and her daughter, "by a second, imprudent, and rather degrad- ing marriage. The princess had been a celebrated beau- ty ; and her love of admiration still conti- Hued,, what her charms did not, unimpaired; although with the utmost exertion of art she strove to retain the appearance of youth, long after it's reality had flown ; but in de- spite of her personal vanities, and conse- quent follies, she possessed strong intellectual powers, most highly cultivated; but inter- mingled with her mental endowments, were the base alloys of worldly intcrestedness and mining art; and although her aggrandizing faculties had been superseded in her second choice by love, she bad long resolved that her two children, a son by her first marriap;e, and a daughter by her second, should fully compensate to the declining fortunes of the House of Belcastro, by wealthy and advan- tageous alliances, her own lapse from pecu- niary considerations. For her son she had, early in her speculating visions of ambition, marked out the heiress of Montalbano; but Duca Sigismund's most unexpected mar-f riage destroyed all the allurements of that! embryo project; and at this period of her introductiori to Angelina^ she was sedulously wooing the reversion of the duca*s beauti- ful wife for the prince, who, never having felt the power of love, quietly acceded to Ihat of interest, and made no objection to his mother's plans for him. The beauty of the duchessa pleased his fancy ; and although her mind arwl manners were not exactly- suited to his taste, yet as her family intimat- ed, that, upon the duca's decease, her wealth would be immense^ the charms of riches 328 preponderated the scale against his chances of happiness with her. Bertha Osimo, the princess's daughter, whom her highness had arrogated to herself the privilege of dignifying by the title of Lady Bertha, was destined by her ambi- tious mother for the bride of some illustrious man, of immense wealth ; but this girl, now in her nhieteenth year, had unpropitiously, for her highness' s projects, imbibed an invin- cible horror, at the idea of every alliance, not founded upon enthusiastic love; and with a mingled tincture of strong susceptibi- lity, aiid romantic propensities in her dispo- sition, she was ever, in fancy, subdued by the tender passion, sighing for some lovely youth, but hitherto without any reciproca- tion of sentiment from any of the varied ob- jects of her numerous ardent attachments; nor was she very likely to prove a successful votary of enthusiastic love, since Nature, af- ter lavishing every personal charm upon her mother and brother, took a sudden capricious turn in the family, and gave to poor Lady Bertha no attraction but in a pair of soft lan- guishing blue eyes. The present object of 329 this romantic g'lvVs passion, was, In defiance of her mother*s ambitious precepts, Florio, the ah'eady- mentioned beautiful page, who the enamoured Bertha, with all the painful alarm of jealous apprehension, beheld stop to steal a glance, of unequivocal admiration, at Lady Angelina, after he had conducted her to the duchesa*s presence. Not even the seclusion of a cloister could despoil Lady Angelina of the native grace- ful elegance of deportment with which Na- ture had so eminently gifted her, and the striking beauty of unstudied ease in her movements^ on her entrance, befitted the dignity of high birth, and the refined polish of an elevated situation. The moment Lady Angelina appeared, Conte Lorenzago flew to meet her, and, con- ducting her to the princess, introduced her, with a most flattering eulogium, to her high- ness, and Lady Bertha; then attended her to the seat she seemed to choose, (after pay- ing her civilities to the rest of the circle) took a vacant place beside her, and strove to engage her in conversation, exclusively to himself, until dinner was announced. S3i^ when be handed her out, seated bimselfnext to her at table, and appeared determined, by the most profound adulation, to efface, if possible, from her minJ, the recollection of he must have succeeded in deceiving them into a firm be- lief of his sincerity. At length, Lorenzago alluding to his be- ing about to quit Tuscany, the duca inquir- ed, *' Was his absence fiom the castle meant to be a long one?" *' Not very," he replied, <*he was going to Rome, where he should be happy to exe- cute any commission of his £ccellenza*s, or Lady Angelina's. My son/* he added, •* has just completed his studies there. I am going to make his departing arrange- ments; and mean, with your permission, Monsignbre^y to bring him back with me to f» the castle, to pay his compliments to your Eccellenza and the duchessa, ere he sets out upon his travels.** " To me," said Sigismund, impressively, ^^ your son must ever prove a welcome guest, since to me his conduct has uniformly been that of undeviating respect, and atten- tive kindness." Shortly after, Conte Lorenzago departed, first obtaining the duca*s permission for Lady Angelina to dine with the duchessa's party ; — an invitation which Minora (to ap- pear amiable, and conceal her envy and hatred from the eyes of her guests and ad- mirers,) found herself compelled to give. c ^ . ^ y I . X Mk . f\fr^ 1 c. r^^ -^ S43 CHAPTER XVIIi, When the moment arrived for Angelina's retiring to arrange her hair, for appearing at dinner, and re-dress herself in her only gown, nothing could exceed her astonish- ment, on finding all her baggage, which had accompanied her frorri Santo Valentino, in her dressing-room, laid out in complete readmess for her to unlock, and all the vases around her apartments filled with the most fragrant flowers. Angelina's amazement at this most un- expected restoration of her wardrobe, took from her every power of bestowing even k thought from gratitude upon the attentive kindness of some friend, in this beautiful present of flowers. *^ Oh ! who," she mentally ejaculated, " can have procured for me this restoration 344 of my baggage ? Assuredly not the Tol- mezos ; since that measure, by betraying intercourse with the banditti, would at once implicate them in the villany that threw me into the power of Salimbini. Who, then, possessed suiTicient interest in the brigand's fortress, to draw my treasures thence ?" *' It was — Oh ! it vvas Fredrico di Alvia- no!'* she exclaimed, and eagerly her heart welcomed the suggestion; for while it told her she lived in his remembrance, proclaim- ed at once that the employers of Salimbini were indeed in Fredrico's power; that he had successfully compromised with the fe- rocious chief; and his safety was no longer endangered by his gallant rescue of her. And now, with a heart bounding in joy- ful measure, and a countenance illumined "with it's glad feelings, Angelina flew back to the duca, and announced to him and Father Patrick, the unexpected restoration of her clothes ; but knowing the peculiar delicacy of Coate di Alviano's situation, already too much implicated by supposed friendship with the baaditti, she forbore to point out 345 him as the being she conceived herself ob- hged to. Siglsmund was thrown by her intelli- gence into the most powerful astonishment. The same ideas,, relative to the Tolmezos not being the restorers of her baggage, that struck with conviction upon Angelina's reason, could not operate upon the mind of her uncle ; since he, like her, had neither proof or suspicion of their bearing any part in the villany of Salimbini until now ; when, alter a train of deeply-mental investigation, the horror of a suggestion, that it was pos- sible they might be guilty, struck upon his recoiling heart; and now, as some trlew to confirm or banish his a^-^onising surmises, he rang for Rospo, and ordered him to in- quire, minutely, who had brought Lady An- gelina's baggage to the castle, and who had deposited it in her dressing-room ? Rospo remained absent some time, and then returned with the extraordinary infor- mation, ** That nothing belonging to Lady Angelina had been delivered at the portal ; and that nobody had seen her ladyship's 0.5 545 bagg^tge, or had deposi^etJ it in her dressing;^ room/^ The cluca could not give credence to such intelligence, and requested Father Patrick to immediately investigate the business for him. Shortly after Angelina again retired, now invested really with the power of dressing for dinner ; for, although she really possess* ed nothing of the costume of the wOrld,- she yet had been presented, a very short period before she quitted Santo Valentino, by her beloved abadessa, with a very beau- tiful convenient habit to wear on gala days in the cloister; for as out of it she never now appeared, any other style of dress than that arbitrarily arranged for th^ boarders would have proved useless ^ and Lady Con- stantia, wishing to see her, on every festi- tity, attired according with her rank, had every part of the boarder's habit made up with the most expensive elegaixce. The robe Ion g,^ and gracefully flowing, was made of soft grey silk ; the veil an'd drapfery for the neck, of the finest Mecklin lace | the cross and rosary were composed of jet ^ and 347 when all combined and worn by Lady An- gelina, nothing could appear more simply pleasing and becoming. But while Angelina made her toilet for this day's dinner, the flowers, which per- fumed the surrounding air, attracted her attention, and, for a time, drew her thoughts from the interesting Fredrico, and her sup- posed new obligation to him» to wonder whom in (he Castle of Montalbano she could be indebted to for this fragrant in- cense, when she soon determined it to be some piece of insidious flattery of Coiite Lorenzago's; some spell to lure her into his sinister projects against her uncle; and, in this behef she firmly resolved, while she ad- mired the beauty of each rose, to beware of the thorns they bore to wound. The moment Angelina's dress was com- pleted, she returned to the apartments of the duca, where Father O' Carrol shortl}^ after made h's appearance, bringing with him intelligence not more satisfactory than Rospo's had been,, relative to Lady Angeli- na's ba, gage. '^ Sorrow morsel of Father Ezzelino's i>Ig 348 treasures are restored," said Father Patrick>. with an arch smile, '^ and what was a- mighty queer thing, he forgot all about them, until myself, roused up his memory, and reminded him of the rage, he ou^ht to be getting into> by just wishing him joy ; supposing for all the world, that he had come in,, for his share of the restitution. — Faith my joy to his suspended grief, came like electricity to a benumbed faculty ; — it made him sensible, in a moment ; and alive to misfortunes, that were sent to repose, in the repository of his philosophy ;— but now the hulabaloo he is kicking up for the loss of his essays, that are gone to improve the rogues^ instead of making him a cardinal! Och [ Thunder and hurricanes ! if he is not the man, for an extempore passion, the vo- cabulary mint, of little Ireland, never clapt it^s sterling mark, upon it*s own coinage *' ' Humbug P " and now he says, ^' * by that very scandalous partiality shown, in the business; the diaboHcal Conte di Alvi- ano, is at the bottom of tlie restored bag- g^o and 349 with playfulness,, to hide a conscious blush; " for had he been there, I should have un- packed every thing to find him out, and bring him hither, for my dear uncle to thank the preserver of his Angelina/* " Whoever was at the bottom of the bu- siness,'* said Sigismund gravely, '' I cannot feej very comfortable in the idea, that some invisible emissaries of a banditti have the power of visiting my castle at pleasure.'* " Faith,^' replied Father Patrick, *^ was the castle mine, the first time, ever these invisible agents, appear again ; I'd make them give an account of themselves, — 'tho as the bringing back Lady Angelina's clothes, was a good, and honest thing, sor- row harm I'd harm them, for that, same my honey.** The mystery of this matter gave to the duca an infinity of uneasiness. It seemed to argue his being in the power, and, per- haps, devoted to the villany of the banditti of the forest,, with who-ra, and some indivv dual, or individuals, beneath his own roof, there could exist no doubt of there being a perfect understanding of mutual interest; 350 and, without delay, be issued orders forSig- nore Drondelo's being instantly summoned, that he might consult with him upon the most effectual method of discovering this se- cret correspondence. At length the duca's dinner-hour arrived, and in some time after that repast was end- ed, his lovely niece joined the duchessAfeid her guests, at the summons of the last din- ner-bell. This dinner-party had no increase from the preceding day, except by the Mar- chese di Cantazaro, who, subtile and wary, had learned by this time, to shape his man- ners to Angelina, by those of tlie duchessa and her satellites. ^ Ans^elina coldly received by all but Conte Lorenzago ; his flattering attentions became more glaringly conspicuous, by the force of contrast ; and soon, by their exu- berance, led the penetrating object of his homage, to more complete conviction of his having some new project in view against the peace or interest of her unfortunate untie, and, to lure her out of her acquiescence, he thus assailed her by this overwhelming tide of adulation: and thus impressed with ap- Sol prehensions of further evil awaiting her helpless uncle. She stole many a momentj while she apparently listened to the fasci- nating conversation of this man of art, to meditate upon what possible mischief he had in view, in hopes that, could she anti- cipate it's purport, she might fmd out the means of averting it ; but ,at length, frorh one of these painful ruminations, inspired by alarm, every faculty was aroused, and cen- tred into the one,^6f rf6imd-devouring atten- tention ; for the general conversation of the table had, by the malicious maneeuvring of Father Ezzelino, turned upon Fredrico di Alviano. " The more you hear of that execrable daemon of iniquity," replied the invidious Ezzelino, to a remark of the Marchese di Cantazaro's, '^ the more you know to con- demn and to recoil from. Beside this dire- ful murder of his relative, and his shameless ifntimacy with the banditti of the forest, an- other very nefarious fact has lately transpir- ed, of his having seduced a most lovely and fascinating yoimg female, Hermione bj name : — tore her fi'om her mother's shelter- 3^2 ing care, and drove that wTCtched parent to the most dreadful of human mahidies; and "who has since continued a raving maniac, without a hope of cure/' A dreadful thrill of agonising horror vi- brated through the sensitive heart of Ange- lina; and the chilling creep of terrible con- viction pervaded her whole frame, until the bigoted belief of Fredrico's calumniated in- nocence, consecrated into hallowed faith at the altar, where he smiled in pious resigna- tion, arose in severity of mental censure, for her own momentary injustice ^ and, full of indignation at Father Ezzelino, for cir- culating this invidious tale, (which, although she had herself heard, in the very semblance of undoubted truth, she yet disbelieved, as the wild phantom of a maniac's ravings), she turned to him, with cheeks of glowing re- sentment, and eyes of deep research, and impressively she said — *^ How came the Reverend Father Ezze- lino so well acquainted with the history of the Brigand Salimbini's family ? — Did his son Orsino inform you, in his tetea-tete w^alk to the convent of San Stefauo ?** 353 I . llie. expressioa of Angelina's coiir>ter nance, and her questions, surprised the cheeks of Ezzelino by a conscious blush ; but soon the crimson effusion changed to the deepened tints of anger, and haughtily he answered— ".The interrogations of good-sense and * politeness! am ever happy to reply to j but the questions of impertinence I uniformly- disdain an answer to.'* ; u I^ay,'* returned Angelina impressive- ly, " my questions were not those of im-j>. pertinence, nor, I trust, the reverse of good sense , since their source was a Chris* tian spring, arising from the laudable wish of reminding your reverenza, that Conte di Alviano's knowlege of the terrible banditti, from whom he gallantly rescued me, and even his removal of Signora Plermione from her mother's care, niay have sprung from means and motives as pu'x and innocent, as those from which your information came.'* Lorenzago, not choosing that Lady An- gelina should encounter more of the betray- ing intemperance of his uncle's violence, eagerly and judiciously proposed an imme- 554 diate excursion to visit a lately- err c ted edi- fice in the neighbourliood; and the party^ separating to prepare for their ramhie, An- gelina gladly availed herself of thi oppor- tunity of retiring to the apartments of the duca, which she quitted not again, until the hour arrived of separating for the night. Although Angelina generally arose with the sun, Anfania was in her chamber belore she left her bed the succeeding morning, with a peremptory command, more than a request, to her, " to lend the silk robe she had worn the preceding day, to be sent to Florence to have one made by, for the du- chessa to appear in at a masquerade she was invited to in the neighbourhood. And I suppose," added Anfania, " that you may possibly have it back again by to-morrow." The natural disposition of Angelina de- lighted in obliging, and promptly benefiting others by any advantages she possessed, but in "this instance she felt an innovating un- willingness to acquiescence, for well she di- vined the request was propelled by the mean ill nature of depriving her of the only dress she possessed, befitting her rank to ap- ^ 355 pear in. However, wishing to avoid every thing that might lead to warfare with the wife of her uncle, she quietly yielded to the unreasonable demand, and Anfani-a, with a malicious sneer of triumph, soon bore this spoil of invidious policy away. The departure of Conte Lorenzago for Rome took place this day, according to his arrangements; and Angelina, during this morning, made the painful observation of the energy of mind her uncle had evinced tsince her arrival, being but the momentary flashes of animation, awakened by the joy and action given to his mental faculties^ since her restoration to him ; and that now the tumult of anxiety and pleasure, with the novelty of her presence, were in part sub- sided, his intellectual powers were sinking back into their unfortunate imbecile weak- ness, encouraging liis propensity of welcom*- ing each real bodily ill, and wooing every ideal one ; and, with all the gentle incen- tive of humanity, Angelina determined se- dulously to combat this dreadful mental f weakness, not by argument^ but by ad- 356 <3res5; and promptly she resolved to remove all books upon medicine, from time to time, from his view, and to replace them by others, selected from the different branches of reading her uncle used to take delight in, yet only upon such subjects, as, while they possessed fascinations to allure his thoughts from their favorite and destructive contem- plations, were calculated to awaken the energies of his mind and talents^ to their original firmness; and to accelerate and as- sist her laudable design, she took an oppor- tunity of deploring her own imperfect knowlege in many branches of literature, ■in which she felt most anxious for proficien- cy, and entreated the duca's aid to perfect her in -, w^hich, with all the amiable kindness of his nature, he cheerfully promised her.^ . The duchessa had, the preceding evenr ing, intimated to Lady Angelina, that she should expect to see her every day at her dinner-table ; an ; appearance of courtesy assumed for the purpose of gratifying her own malevolence, in seeing her placed there as an o])jcct of contempt and derision, where 357 once she had presided, and had been loved by each inmate, and esteemed by every guest. Angehna, to preserve that appearance of concord most likely to conduce to her be- loved uncle's tranquillity, determined to ac- cept the specious invitation, in defiance ot whatsoever humiliations it might subject her to, whenever the state of Sigismund's mind permitted her to leave him, without deviat- iiig from that kind attention his distressing sit^uation called for; but this day, beholding in him many symptoms inimical to that mental health she earnestly wished to be- hold in him, she made an effort to accom- plish her desire of dining with him ; but the duca persisting in his anxiety for her join- ing theduchessa's party, she was compelled to^'acquiesce ; and, at the accustomed time for making her dinner toilet, she retired to effect the only alterations in her dress which the invidious Minora had now left in her power to benefit by. When arrived in her dressing-room, An- gelina beheld a new selection of the choicest flowers; but firmly believing their arrange- S5S ment there was by order of the wily Loreii- aago, took no farthr i* notice of them, than what their fragrance and their beauty claimed; for she had many a momentous theme for contemplation, and found the time occupied by her toilet, too short for indulging in her manifold perplexing and afflicting cogitations; for now her uncle*s spirit drooped, she no longer dared to look for happier prospects through his exer- tions. 359 CHAPTER XIX. At lencitli the dinner-bell summoned Lady Angelina from the apartments of her uncle, to go and enter a formidable circle of the gay and fashionable, in mean attire ; but she had been early taught by her exceb- lent governess, justly to appreciate dress , neither worshiping it as the deity of her idolatry, nor despising it as beneath her at- tention 3 and fully convinced, that rnind and manners were the unerring drapery which best proclaimed pretensions to re- spect, she rallied promptly all the firmness she could muster, to sustain her^ without betraying humiliated discomposure, as she took her seat amongst a large assemblage of fashionable personages, of that thickly-in- habited neighbourhood, herself the objectof universal gaze, scrutiny, or interest. 560 Many of this numerous train of guests i»ad known and estimated the parents of Angelina, and many had known her ^\heu fortune smiled upon her, as heiress rf that castle. Her eady disappointments and mis- fQj:tunes could only affect the hearts of the worthy with pity and solicitude for her fate; nor were the fascinating graces of her manners, nor the mild dignity with whick she bore such a transition of fate, likely to dimmish the esteem or admiration of those who were not actuated by attachment to Minora, to view her through the perspec- tive of prejudice and envy -, and soon the invidious duchessa found the intended mor- tification she had prepared for the lovely niece of her husband, recoil upon herself, by quickly beholding Lady Angelina paid, by the majority of this large assemblage of guests, the most unequivocal homage of re- spect and admiration ; for while in self-de- lusion, she believed she had devised means of lessening the charms of Lady Angelina, she had prepared odium and abhorrence for herself; for memory now faithful to the ru- mor of Minora's never-efTectually-conceoled 361 iietestatioii of her husband*s lovely niece> awakened the well-fouiided conjecture, that it was through her machinations the ward- robe of the bereaved heiress of Montalbano was so shabbily supplied. It had been cir- culated too, that the duchessa had influenc- ed her infatuated husband to destine Lady Angelina for a conventual life ; and her ha- bit not giving conviction to that belief, all cried " Shame 1" in mental indignation at the diabolical projector of such a sacrifice. But although Angelina received the most gratifying respect and attention from many individuals, of whom this dinner-party was composed, yet sincerely she rejoiced when the moment arrived, in which, with pro- priety, she could withdraw from it^ since she had felt completely miserable in a so- ciety, where all, influenced by universal prejudices, were unanimous in condemna- tion of Fredrico di Alviano, and each eager to repeat some direful tale in proof of his depravity ; and though Angelina consider- ed all as calumny, although she was firm in her conviction, that he merited the world's esteem, and not it*s censure y and that she VOL. I. R 362 felt the most painful indignation at all the injustice she was thus compelled to hear, yet a consciousness that she could not at- tempt the defence of Fredrico, without the almost certainty of betraying the carefully- guarded secret of her unconquerable attach- ment to this aspersed young man, silenced all that her enthusiastic gratitude would otherwise have urged her to plead in his vin- dication, by a fair and candid statement of his amiable conduct towards hei*self, in his heroic rescue of her from the villany of Sa- limbini, in doing which, she believed, she could give an unanswerable refutation to one, at least, of the calumnies she had been doomed to hear. " Of his friendship with the banditti being incontestabiy proved, by it*s chief having *becn seen tliat very day mounted upon the conte's celebrated war- horse Rapido,*' an anecdote that, by still more powerfully awakening her gratitude, led her, i^i the glowing tumult of her feel- ings, to consider her own conduct as inex- cusably reprehensible, in not generously braving all apprehension of betraying herself to scorn, by attempting to pay some part of 565 her incalculable debt to her preserver, by undauntedly proclaiming how Rapido had become the property oi* Salimbini j but, in every effort to give utterance to what she wished to tell, her bounding heart, her con- scious agitation, destroyed at once her fa- culties of articulation ; and, with a bosom saddened by self- upbraiding, she fled from societv, the moment she found herself at li- berty to retire, and was rapidly hastening to give free scope to her self reproaches, in the seclusion of her own chamber, when her design was frustrated by the pursuit of Lady Bertha, who, half breathless with speed, had followed her to implore an hour's con- ference in a walk together. Politeness, combined with the natural sweetness of Lady Angelina's disposition, forbade her offering any negative to a re- quest so earnestly made^ and, although panting for solitude, she accompanied Lady Bertha to the most sombre part of the castle- grounds; for the pensive Bcrtlia, in con- cord with the romantic turn of her mind, and to suit her love-sick fancies, ever where inclination could guide her footsteps, bent R2 364 lier way to the scenery most congenial to the nurture of the tender propensities of her susceptible feelings. And as Lady Bertha now led her lovely companion to the chosen spot of her pre- sent gloomy fancy, she, in a preface form- ed of the'sweetly-tlowing words of senti- ment, and uttered with all. the melting soft- ness of heart-subduing pathos, gave Lady Angelina the unwelcome information, that it was to confide in her a tale of love, and maternal persecution, she had solicited a private conference. Angelina, by no means anxious for such a distinction, would fain have turned her from the project of this intended confi- dence, but the fair inamorata was resolved upon disclosing her tender weakness ; and, eager to fulfil her vyise determination, hur- ried her lovely and unwilling companion to a secluded spot, where, on a rustic bench, beneath the shelter of a luxuriant willow, she purposed the deliciously- interesting communication should be made^ but how was her project demolished; how her sus- ceptible heart palpitated, when, on ap- 365 preaching the grand scene for Friendship's sweet and sacred disclosures, she beheld the object of her fancied passion, the beau- tiful Florio, rechned upon the very bench she was proceeding to, weeping bitterly as he seemed arranging some papers into a small packet. ^\ngerina, pitying and respecting afflic- tion wheresoever she found it, would in- stantly have retreated, to leave the sacred haunts of sorrow unmolested, but Lady Bertha was resolute in her determination to stay, add intrude upon the griefs of the inte- resting mourner. " My destiny calls,*' she emphatically exclaimed. " See you not sympathy led rne hither, to meet the ecstasy of au eclair- cissement ; to give transports to his bursting heart, and ease my own? Ah! see you not they are my pathetic billets, my melting- sonnets, that have thus unmanned rne ?" kcm Nothing could exceed the astonishment of Angelina, at exclamations which at once revealed to her the ol^jectofl^dy Ber- tha*s passion, except her indignation at be- ing so ungenerously drawn in to become a 266 confidant of a clandestine, ill-suited attach- ment. ** Lady Bertha/' she cried, with cheeks mantled by the brilliant glow of the deli* cate resentment of wounded propriety, "if you have forgotten your rank, your duty, I cannot cease to remember mine. If you are thus resolute in degrading yourself, in opposition to both, you must excuse my be-* coming a witness to a scene that, under every existing circumstance, I feel, could not exalt me in my own opinion/* ** Ah! cruel, cruel girl I leave me not, I conjure you, at this awful moment, the very crisis of thy poor persecuted Bertha's fate,'* exclaimed the enamoured fair one, in so elevated a tone of energy, that the ac- cents vibrated on the ears of the astonished Florio, who, overpowered by confusion on being .so surprised, started from his seat, hastily hid the papers in his bosom, and, in the most painful embarrassment, would have retreated from the gaze of his observer, had not Lady Bertha called to him, in the gentle voice of tender entreaty, to approach her. Florio, in the trembling perturbation of ^ 367 shame and chagrin, respectfully obeyed the tender summons ; but, while his varying cheeks betrayed his emotions, he turned his timid eyes, with- a supplicating expression, upon Lady Angelina, as if to implore her aid, in extricating him from this perplexing situation. " Ohj Florio!'* exclaimed the lovelorn Bertha, and then she ceased, conceiving a pause would then have an interesting ef- fect, and, by its sympathetic operations, work in her cause ; but Angelina promptly destroyed it's effect ; for feeling powerfully the impropriety of Lady Bertha's conduct, the degradation of her own situation, as her confidant, and, in pity to the well compre- hended tacit supplication of poor Florio, she, with intuitive delicacy, resolved to free all from the errors and embarrassments of their situations, and mildly, yet hastily, ad- dressed the trembling page — " Signore Florio,*' she said, " Lady Ber- tha has been most unfortunately taken ill on her walk, and has not been herseJf for some moments past. I must therefore en- treat you to fly to the castle, seek out Lady S68 Bertha's own worn an, and send her instant- ly to me, to assist in conveying her ladyship to her own apartments." The decisive dignity of Lady Angelina's manner, as she iannounced by her request, her wish for llorio's absence, would have insured immediate obedience from, even the most presuming; but the poor agitated page's wishes so exactly co-operated with herown, that he was prompt in compliance, and with eyes beaming gratitude to her, for thus relieving his painful embarrassment, and with a profound and graceful bow, he precipitately retreated. And now we find our feeble powers of delineation totally inadequate to the task of portraying, in the full force of the fierce colors it appeared in, the everescence of the hitherto-apparently gentle Bertha's resent- ment against her lovely companion, on be- holding the prompt obedience of Florio, and 4hat his parting look was directed to Lady Angelina: her cheeks glowed, her eyes glared, her lips quivered, and franticly she flung the arm of Angelina from her, that "was linked in hers, and, in the trernulou?, 369 almost inarticulate voice of ungovernable passion, she exclaimed — ** Base ! cruel! ungenerous ! diabolical perfidy! Yes, yes, I see, clearly see, the developement of your insidious scheme, of preventing the eclaircissementl panted for, you smiling hypocrite.'* " These are harsh sounding epithets. Lady Bertha,'* said the astonished Angeli- na, with mild, yet impressive dignity, '' and v/ill, in your cooler moments, give your heart as severe a shock for having inspired their utterance, as my amazed ears received on hearing them addressed to me.'* " Oh! yes, calm and collected like all- consummate dissemblers : yes, yes, thus you would veil j'-our treacherous design of iiisnar- ^ ing the heart of my adored Florio from me." '* Be assured. Lady Bertha, the heart of my aunt's domestic is not tliQ prize the daughter of a Duca di Montalbano will ever aim at insnaring from you,',' calmly return- ed Angelina. *' Dare not to call the lovely youth a do- mestic!'* exclaimed the almoat-phrensied Bertha : *^ Does not his majestic look and R5 570 mien, his rare acquirements, his every \\or S72: draw the Prince di Belcastro^s affections from her?*' " What cause ? Does she not ah'eady know your propensity to such honorable -achievements ? Was not Conte di Alviano her devoted wooer, until your envious ma- lice led him to believe all evil of her; and, in the moment your misrepresentations swayed his mind, she, in the just indigna- tion of aspersed innocence, became herself the victim of your arts, by bestowing her hand upon your hateful uncle. And now, to my own affliction, have I not further proof of the baseness, the perfidy of your heart, in your thus treacherously aiming to insnare my Florio from me ?" The wounded feehngs of Lady Angelina now peremptorily inforced her instant re- treat, nor one moment longer to subject her- self to the insults of this infuriated young ■woman, on whom she fixed the unfaltering eye of offended rectitude, as impressively she said — " When your present unfounded irritation of temper permits your reason to resume it's 5^ influence. Lady Bertha, you will do what yet I have never had cause to do for mine — blush for your conduct.** And now, wing- ed with desire to escape from so ungenial a companion, Angelina made her rapid way to the castle. 374 CHAPTER XX, Early the succeeding mornmg, Ange- lina appeared in the ducats apartments^ full of anxious impatience to commence that plan, which dutiful aifection had suggested to her ; and with all the energy of a fair built hope in his ultimate success, she en- tered upon her course of instruction, from the highly-informed Sigismund^ but much as her ardent heart panted for the prosperity of her project, so auspicious in promise, of peace to her uncle's mind, and knowlege to her own, her truant thoughts would often: stray to the events of the preceding day -^ to the recollection of the direful censures pronounced against Fredrico di Alvianoj and of the conventual imprisonment which menaced herself. Of each imputed crime, Tredrico's smile — that smile which piety 375 beamed, and seraphim in kindred syn>pathy had borne to heaven — ^assured her he was innocent : but still those alleged crimes filled her breast with terror; for it was pos^ sible that enmity might prevail against even innocence ; and then, indeed, the convent, so direful in it's present aspect, would lose it's horrors for lier: or should the assertions of Anfania and Lady Bertha prove true, and that the beautiful Minora had indeed su- perseded the image of the lovely Violante in Fredrico's heart, then should she care not wliat cloister entombed her sorrows. Fredrico's union with Violante St. Seviero Angelina had long contemplated as one of the first wishes of her heart, because slxe then believed them reciprocally attached, and that such an union would insure tlie hap^ piness of Fredrico ; but when undeceived by Claudia, as to the existence of that sup- posed attachment, it was then that hope first kindled into glowing sparks those em- bers of dormant love, which lay concealed amidst the almost idolatrous veneration, her heart had disinterestedly cherished fcr Fre- drico, ever gifting him in her fancy's visions 376 With happiness bestowed upon him by an- other; but when the possibility arose, that 'she herself might constitute the happiness she wished to be his lot, she shrunk from the appalling idea of a rival, and most of of all, a rival in the Duchessa di Montal- bano. The Duca di Montalbano seemed to de- rive both pleasure and benefit from the Tiew and salutary employment Angelina had devised for him ; but still his thoughts often reverted to the singularity, of neither the Alonk Jeronimo or Signore Brondelo making ^heir appesirances. This was the very day the former had assured his patient he should return from Florence, and Brondelo had n^ver before omitted the most punctual at- tendance ^' yet the whole morning passed away without the expectations of Sigis- TOnnd, of the arrival of either being re- alized; and with murmuring impatience he mourned his disappointment, as he felt al- most assured of having received benefit from thie pre^scriptions of Father Jeronimo, and t^amcstly ^wished to consult him further ; ^wbfe, 4>f side the investigation of the ban- 377 ditties connexion with his household, he wanted to arrange, with his notary, an inde- pendent establishment for his amiable niece, and found each moment would be felt by him as an age of pain, mi til that important business should be completed; while An- gehua herself, caring little about establish- ment, felt grief only for the protracted ab- sence of Father Jeronimo, since that might retard the recovery of her uncle, and would in certainty still longer delay the convey- ance of her letter to Erasmo. This day Lady Angelina again most un- willingly appeared at the duchessa's dinner- table, where the party assembled, was only comprised of the Marchese di Cantazaro, and the castle inmates; the latter of whom had that morning been increased by the arrival of Vasco di Tolmezo, the duchessa-s younger brother, an addition to the guests, of no pleasurable kind to Angelina ; for of all the Tolmezo race whom she disestcemed, this young man was the most obnoxious to her. Ere her expulsion from the castle of her forefathers, and indeed during her visit to his family in the republic of Venice, h<» 378 had avowed the most ardent love for her, but uniformly made his impassioned ad- dresses to her clandestinely, which even child as she was, she repulsed with the most dignified determination of rejection; and disgusted with the glaring impropriety of his conduct, which had every thing in it repugnant to a mind of delicacy, strongly devoted to every duty, she took no pains to disguise her sentiments of condemnation and dislike from him ; so that baffled, mor- tified, and enraged that partiality which had added fuel to his ambitious projects, changed to the feelings of vindictive hatred; and no heart could find the deadly passions of the human soul more congenial to it, than this very man's. Vasco Tolmezo was, at this period of his return to Montalbano Castle, in his twenty- sixth year, and was, in person, tall, athletic, and boldly moulded in the rough cast of colossal symmetry. Nature, to display the incalculable varieties of her powers, had seemed, when she modeled this man, to form him in the capricious fancy of showing how she could give charms, even to a ruf- n9 fian's aspect; for while she portrayed 'the assassin's ferine character, in every lin©, still all was stamped with uncommon beauty-. With such an exterior, his intellectual fav culties most aptly corresponded ; and the strong lines in his face and form found their congenial energies in the composition of his mind, where all was clear from the inert masses of imbecillity. His passions, . too-, were mighty, formidable, impetuous, and ungovernable; so love, or hatred, ebulliated to excess in his determined breast, where the faltering pause of hesitation rarely eur tered ; since their inactive station, borne on Celerity's expanded wings, was ever to be found the spontaneous power of prompt, yet firm, inflexible decision. Of evil pro- pensities, his heart was the iron repository : of good, it contained one solitary virtue — candor; for his exertion told his disposition \Vas savagely ferocious, and scorning dissi- mulating, he threw no veil over the defor- mities of his nature, where the arbitrary vengeance of the law enforced not the coi> cealment of his misdeeds, or diabolical de« signs. 380 With implacably envenomed maTIcc, Vits* CO now beheld the sweetly-expanded blos- soms of Lady Angelina's beauty, which, in their bud, he sighed for and adored. Now he cursed tiie partiality of fate, which had not blighted them as they opened to per- fection; now he sickened with hatred as he viewed her charms 3 and as the pos- sessor of such transcendent fascinations scorned him, he vowed, " since he could Tiot blast her to deformity, that he would sweep happiness from the tablet of her dawn- ing life, and remorselessly yield her to de- struction.'' Morose and gloomy in meditated venge- ance, Vasco scowled his hatred on the lovely Angelina. Lady Bertha, in jealous enmity, aided every slight and insult which the duchessa, Signora Zola, or Father Ez- yelino seemed disposed to level at her; antl they were not inactive in the pursuit of that kind of pastime, for they seemed to possess no other business or pleasure in exist- ence, but that of sneering at and bestowing their invidious sarcasms at poor Angelina ; who, firm in her resolution ofdoing all things 381 to promote her uncle's peace, sat in placid dignity, bearing all with a calm philoso- phy, that infuriated her tormentors ; and drew at lengJi the tears of vexatious disap- pointment, in the form of a violent fit of hysteric sobbing, from Minora, who, the mo- ment the convulsive agitation of her passion permitted articulation, answered to the adu- lating inquiries made, as to the occasion of this sudden indisposition, '^ That Ange- lina was the cause." ** For this horrible composure of hers," she, sobbing, said, '^ I cannot, cannot bear; i^ paralyses me.with direful alarm ; since in it I clearly see rapid approaches to that state of lunacy her poor maniac uncle is reduced to; and, horror of horrors ! in iinding it thus, indisputably, a family malady, I have the maternal anguish to know, my poor devoted unborn babes are doomed to tiie most direful calamity that can befal the human specie." This was a chord which vibrated in- stantly upon every discordant tone in the mind of Angehna ; not for the invidious and puerile stigma, attempted to be thrown up- 58* on the sanity of her own mind, but for the more diabohcal one leveled at her beloved tincle ; fearing it as the confirming progress in the execution of that pitiless plot, which Anfania had informed her was in agitation, to bereave her now sole parent of liberty, and every hope of earthly happiness; and alarmed, and irritated from, for her plan of stoicical serenitude, she darted the light- ning of reproach, from her eloquent eyes, upon the malevolent Minora ; as, with all the energy of offended affection, she ex- pressively said : ** If the minds of your unborn babes, duchessa, expand into half the sound intel- lectual endowments of the Duca di Montal- bano, you will, indeed, have just cause to triumph, in the amiable pride of maternal ex- ultation, at the superior talents and un- clouded judgement of your offspring; but, with his mental superiorities, I sincerely hope they may not inherit the sensitive susceptibility of his nature, lest, in their path of life, they should be doomed to meet unkindness, which, feeling to excess, as he does, might leave it in the power of thos^ 383 who wished to find it so, to mistake the sad ailments of a wounded heart, for the stiil more direful distennpers of an unsettled brain." *' Insolent girl!" exclaimed Vasco, al- most infuriated to madness, at beholding f^ow the enthusiastic animation of her coun- tenance, the graceful di.nity of her manner, heightened that beauty he sickened at be- holding. " Insolent girl ! how dare you hold such impertinent language as this to your superiors? You seem totally to forget whom you address, whom you utter such sarcastic insolence before.'* " No, Signore Tolmezo," Angelina re- plied, with provoking calmness; " my me- mory is very faithful to all you fear it has failed in. I forgot not that it was a wife, who proclaimed her husband a maniac, I, addressed; and as to the recollection of whom I spoke before, — had my remem- IjU'ance been inchned to so good-natured an oblivion, your style of language would have most forcibly aroused it to full reminis- cence." Leave the room ; instantly quit the du- 384 diessa*s presence, presuming babler!*' ex- claimed Vasco, envenomed now, almost to the blasting power of the basilisk ; for in aid of other deadly passions of his breast, which she had innocently awakened, was the baleful mortification of finding no dark furies deformed her aspect ; but still, even in resentment, that she looked amiable and lovely. " Instantly quit the duchessa's pre- sence,** he exclaimed — '^ How dare you, an atom in creation as you are, insinuate a censure against the Duchessa di Montal- bano, as an affectionate wife ! Defaming presumer ! you forget the existence of truth ; you forget....'* " Not the respect that is due to a daugh- ter of the illustrious house of Montalbano," Angelina proudly replied, " and therefore will certainly not await a second mandate from a Tolmezo, to quit an apartment in the castle of my ancestors :'* — And with such a striking grandeur of mien she arose from her seat^ and left room, that it created a new source of vexation for the Tolmezos present ; since \ it drew the Princess di Belcastro, and the Marchese di Cantazaro, from their chairs. 38o tt to make to her the homage of profound re- spqct at her departure. Swiftly anil unmolested An^fehna wino-ed her way to her own chamber, where, for some time, she gave free indulgence to an agonized flood of sorrowing tears, for her own insulated situation ; exposed to all the persecutions of insolence and malice, with- out a friend, who possessed the power of ■snatching iicr from such injustice. Feel- ingly, she there deplored every source of grief which filled her heart with anguish, tmtil, in the wide scope her thoughts now^ ranged in, they soared to the great Throne of Mercy; and there, catching the bright spark that re-kindled the pure fire of un- murmuring piety in her bosom, the truant resignation returned with it's placid aspect to her breast; and by the sv/eet sere- renity it insj)ired through every facultr, proved it was, indeed, a gift from heaven.^ At length, the hour for the duca\s awak- eniiiglfrom- iiis siesto arrived; and Ange- lina, with a countenance irradiated by the sweetest 'smiles of cheerful duty, entered the apartments of her uncle, to give him VOL. I. 5 3B6 all the comfort her solitary efforts couW yield to his maladies and misfortunes ; but in the tenderness of her affectionate, unde- viating anxiety to please and amuse him^ he found a host of consolations. This evening passed more pleasingly, and, on the part of the duca, more cheerfully than any preceding one, since Angelina re- turned to the castle ; and when the hour for rest arrived, she retired with the heart- felt satisfaction of having, by her dutiful attention, soothed the sorrows and lightened the cares of her unfortunate relatives ^ and %vhen she breathed her last orison to heaven |br that night, in it was mingled a devout aspiration, for the re-appearance of Father Jeronimo on the morrow, to bear away her packet for the good Erasmo, which she doubted not would soon bring that reverend father to Montalbano, to comfort and be- friend her amiable uncle; and in full hope of the speedy completion of this, her apxi- ous project, she sunk to rest; and slept the tranqiil slumber of innocence. But severe were the disappointments which awaited Angelina ; the morning came> but not Fatbcr Jeronimo. Th& store of me- dicine was exhausted, and apprehending the inauspicious consequence of a c€ssatioa of what had seemed to prove of such Essen- tial benefit to her uncle, and more and more anxious for the conveyance of her letter, she proposed to Sigismund, to dis- patch a messenger to San Stefano, to learn if the Monk Jeronimo was vet returned from Florence ? when instantly tiie duca ordered ilospo to proceed on that embassy to the convent, and to bring back an immediate answer ; but Rospo, a worshiper only of the rising suttj took his own time in returning with intelligence, ** of the holy father not being yet returned ; nor did it appear, that he was expected even that day at San Ste- fano/* Angelina was, if possible, more discon- certed at this unwelcome information, than even the disappointed duca himself; for in addition to her other serious causes for re- gret, she had to deplore the loss of expected necessary assistance, from the medicines of this cruel monk, to support her unclft S 2 388 tlirough the unpleasant account she had to give him, of her having been commanded to quit the duchessa's presence, by the tur- bulent Vasco Tolmezo ; intelligence which, she had just reason to apprehend, would have the most distressing effect upon his sensitive and shattered nerves : but for the amiable purpose of deferring her unpleasant communications, until the aid of Father Jeronimo could be obtained, she deter- mined, as the only means her feeling heart was left the power of adopting, for once, to to deviate from sacred truth; trusting the motive might expunge the stain from the record of her offences, yet not without a blush of ingenuous shame, for what, how- ever, by circumstances extenuated, she yet felt as a transgression, — she entreated " the duca's permission for dining with him that day, as hePvsilk dress had not yet been re- stored to her ; and, as she understood the duchessa was to have a large company to dinner, she owned she had discovered, upon* a former occasion, that she possessed not sufficient philosophy to subdue her female vanity, and therefore wished not again to exhibit herself, in her ahuost shabby stuff habit.'' . The duca, considering the reason, assign- ed by her for this entreaty, a most natural one, readily granted her request; and this day's dinner proved to him the most plea- sing repast he had made for many a day ; the smiling face of his lovely niece, par- taking of it with him, gave it a cheering comfort, that brought with it a zest, his long-declining appetite had ceased to feel ; and his gentle spirits were exhilarated to an unusual pitch for him, Angelina, in delight at this auspicious change, caught from his cheerfulness an augmentation of her own. Father Patrick unofTendedly gay, and whim- sically ludicrous, increased their disposition to forget a while their cares, until something relative to the ungracious manners of the Confessor Ezzelino, being said, the good priest replied : — " It was myself, that fell, among some of the flourishing briars, of his rhetoric this morning, when I went to take the air with him, in his little clg^e carriage ^ that is us S90 narrow a^ his conscience, r?.nd as uneasy too, for that matter. — lie is mighty fond you must know, to be showing his learning, to these, who are blind to it; and he is forever coming ov€r myself, with his botheration about his logic, and his mathematics; and all his brain works, (which I am mighty apt to believe, are but botch works, if the truth was known) on purpose to make me look small; but sorrow mind, I mind him, for success to myself I but I tell him, whenever he wades out of my comprehension, in any of his little puddles of knowlege, *I was af- ter learning that matter, differently; far every nation, has it's own rules : for what is called learning, in one country; may be thought, the bigest ignorance, in another ; without disparagement to the parts, of either ; as for instance, what would the most learned Laplander, in the wide world, have to say for himself, in Trinity College Dub- lin? or the most enlightened wild Indian, in your Italian Universities?* and then I glibly fun a change, upon all their hard names, until I bother him out of all recollection, of what branch of knowlege, I fell off of, into 391 the bogs of my own dear country, that hid my deficiencies from his detection.* ** But when he gets into his palaver, about religion; it is I, that am up sides with him ; for what myself wants in it's theory, he lacks in it's practices so my darlings you know, when he comes shaving with his sharp ra- aor, the poor bald pate of my ignorance ; I came whack with a brandish of my shilala, across the knuckles, of his omissions." «' And in such a contest,'* said the duca smiling) " I should consider your shilala tli« most cutting weapon of the two.'' '« Faith honey and you may say that ; but then he is provided with a stiptic, in his indulgences, and absolutions j arid sorrow thing, for a wounded conscience, like Friar's Balsam, from the Pope's laboratory.— But in our cabal to-day, he began a palaver, about what country, the Catholic faith, was fost established in. " * Ah! then, what does that si'gnify, my jewel >^ says I> 'we all know, where it is to end ; aud if it begins in the heart, there is it's true primitive seat s and mighty satis- 392 Ucury, to the carious researchers, of self- inquiry/ - " Then he went about, with his flourishes, of gall, and wormwood, laid with his holly- bush, upon the thin canvass, of ones feelinirs ; about how a wise, man, was to obtain know- legc, if he only looked inwards, upon him- self; and then oil he trots, through all the narrow lanes of his information, to prove that Rome, was the mother of the true faith. *' * Och ! hold your palaver,* says I. — ' Little Ireland, was it's father, and must take precedence. From it's, soil, the neat illustration of the Trinity sprung -, so the best J5aint in the calendar, Saint Patrick himself, took up our shamrock, beautifully to exem- plify, the Holy Trinity in the trefoil leaves, proceeding from one stem; and there, where, the simile was it's native growth, may be he did not erect the first standard, of faith.' ** ' What!' exclaimed he, « in that country, of proverbial error; that nation, re- nouned for blunders P " • Ah ! then be easy,' says I, * for 393 there his the proof. What are the Pope's edicts, called ? Why bulls. — And what are blundei^j called ? ^^hy bulls. — Now may be,* says I, ' the first Pope, did not issue his first, edict from Ireland ; and not being deep in learning — for I'll engage knowlege was but a poor puling infant, in the cradle then — it might have been a blundering per- formance, sure enough ; and so ever after, from this notorious mistake; an Irishman's errors, from becoming known in this edict, got interwoven with it's name; and so from thence forward, every lapsno hnguie of ours; obtained the stigmatizing appellation, of a bull.' **So my honey, with this bit of waggery of my random maybe's, I staggered this vauntingly learned man's belief, of the pre- cedence, in the true faith, of his own coun- try, over mine ; and while I laughed in my sleeve, at my glaring humbug of him, he stuttered out, tvv^o or three botching etforts, to prove my statement erroneous^ but being in this point, every morsel as deep in the bog of ignorance^ as myself, he thought it S 6 394 the best plan, to get on firm ground once more ; and so with that, out he leaps of the mire at once, upon tj|e back of tlie Trojan horse; and brings me behind him, without leave or license, before the walls of Troy; where he carried on the siege for some time, with the odds in his favor, for sorrow an op- })oncnt v.as there, since myself was the only Greek to be found; and I was as peaceable, as the wooden beast, he bestrode; which at length in some sudden piceering, reminded him of poor Laocoon ; and with that, off he pranced to Florence, to review, and praise, the merits of a cast, he showed me there the other day, of Laocoon's sons, one of whom he thinks, strongly resembles, his beautiful nephew Vasco ; and so it would to the life, that's true for him, if the serpents instead of going in, to feed on himself; were made to be coming out of his heart, ready to sting others; for all the world, like his envenomed breath, when he yesterday had the audacity to bid you get out a vunieen.** ** Bid my niece, get out ! — Lady Ange- lina di BalermOi get out!'* exclaimed the 895 diica, his languid eyes kintlling to the fiery flashes of vehement indignation. — *' Vasco Tolme20,.bid my niece get out I ! !*' Angelina, in the most distressing conster- nation, threw an upbraiding glance at Fa- ther Patrick, followed by a beseeching look of supplication, to extricate her from the di- lemma he had plunged her into^ and the good priest, promptly perceiving his error, and all contrite anxiety to rectify it, hastily said to the duca: — *^ Yes my honey, t ** This moment only have I learned how you have dared to insult a daughter of the illustrious house of Montalbano, and that outrage cannot be committed with im- punity. The castle in w hich you have pre- sumed to command Lady Angelina di Ba- lermo to quit an apartment in, shall no longer afford you shelter. Learn my pe- remptory mandate, and yield it immediate an(^ becoming obedience. Quit my castle instantly, — and for ever ! " Montalbano.*' Angelina, though with dutiful respect, gently ventured to entreat so violent a mea- S99 sure might aot be adopted ; one so little calculated to conciliate peace and har- mony between him and his duchessa ; but the duca was arbitrary ; the billet was sent, and Father Patrick soon returned with the following laconic reply; bearing all the proper illiistrissimo^s, eccellentissimo^Sy and colendissimo'Sy in the superscription, that could denote profound respect. *' MONSIGNORE, ** I only obey such 7na?idates as suit my inclination ; therefore learn 7ni/ determina- tion. I will 7zot quit your castle, nozv — ■ or ever, until my own wishes lead me from it! " Vasco di Tolmezo.'' The displeasure of Sigismund, at such un- precedented insolence, now flowed into it's proper channel, and arose to the mingled resentment of dignity and contempt; that whilst it glowed at the presumption, felt too 4oa much scorn for the offender, to allow his insolence to arouse the more turbulent sen- sations of his mind ; and firmly he now re- solved to take effectual measures, under the guidance of Signore Brondelo, to rid his castle, without delay, of such a dauntless of- fender^ and Father Patrick accordingly re- ceived instructions to proceed to Florence, in a chaise and four, the subse(}uent morn- ing, to bring Brondelo to the duca, to make arrangements for this object of his inflexi- ble determination. ^' I'll engage," replied the zealous p.rit?st, ** I'll be off, like the mist of the morning, when the sun rises to light me ; — but as for the matter of the carriage; sorrow better one, than my mare at full gallop, for expi- dition ; for she can trot ten miles an hour, without flagging ; so I had much better go on horseback, for then, I can take a short cut, roundabout the new mill; and then I can hire a carriage at Florence, with four nags, fresh and fasting, to rattle the old Notary here, in a trice ; and 1 can take the Convent of San Stefano, in my way back. 401 for 'tis only just two miles out of my roaJ, — that is, if myself can't find brother Jerry at the Archduke's, for Til be bail, I'll scent the old druggist out, dead or alive, to learn at once from him, if it is humbug- ging of us he is?" 402 CHAPTER XXK Scarcely had Lady Angelina entered her unck*s apartment the succeeding morn- ing, when Father Patrick, with a flushed countenance, and an air of much discompo- sure, appeared to perform the matin service for Sigismund and his lovely niece, accord- ing to their estabhshed custom. " Father 0*Carrol here !'* exclaimed the duca, in powerful and chagrined astonish- ment : *' Why, I thought you promised to be on your road to Florence long, long ere this time ?'* ^' I'll tell you what duca,*' replied the good priest, in the hurried tones, of emo- tion '' I promised, that's a sure thing ; but the will of others, has peiformcd for me. By dad, this samg castle of yours, is Liberty Hall, and in the spirit of freedom, 405 that reigns, your people have made a pri« soner, of my four bones/' " A prisoner! a prisoner T' reiterated the duca, shuddering with anticipating ap- prehension ; '* What is it you can mean, re- verend father?" " Och ! jewel we are bastiled, and more grief to us! that's my meaning; and bad luck to Master Vasco !" replied the agi- tated Patrick. ** Myself was up by the dawn, for I never went to bed, at all at all, for fear of oversleeping myself; so the very first moment I found the grooms were stir- ring, off I goes to the stables, to get my mare ; but sorrow morsel of her would they give me; but up and told me, * they had orders not to let me have her.' " * Why then by dad,' says I, * but I must have a carriage, with four nags' — • No by mam' says they * but you must not, for we are forbidden to let you have any conveyance, to take you from the castle' ' What!' says I « is it dis- obeying the duca's orders you are, you re- bels of the world?' * Yes' says they < the duca*s but a cypher now, and we 404 obey the duchessa,* * A cypher ! Och ! you raps r says I * A cypher ! why then tis a cypher, that will be summing up a pretty long account against you, out of the multiphcation, of your imperti- nence.* *' So with that, they snapped their saucy fingers at me; and bid me go to the porter, for further information; when myself, hke the biggest fool in Christendom, trots off to the hall of judgement, to hear my sentence of imprisonment, from stern Cerberus there, for out of the gates, he had orders not to let me pass» ' Why,' says I, • sure you would not, be making a prisoner ; a jail- bird, of me? I that escaped such disgrace, even when I was famitjhed to death, at Na- ples ? But I'll tell you what *s, what, Mr. Turnkey,* says I * if you are after com- mitting the sacrilege, of imprisoning a con* secrated priest, I'll make you sup sorrow for it, out of the bitter cup of fasting, and infliction. I'll soon surprise your fat sides, with an unexpected view of their own ribs, I'll treat you with a striped jacket, from the wardrobe of Penitence ; and may be, I won't 405 nvrite to the bishop to complamof your coii- -duct to me.* *' ' And who will convey your letter ?* says he, grinning ^ for I can tell yon, no letter, message, or messenger of the duca's. Lady Angelina's, or yours, are to be sulTered to pass these gates.' " Anofelina looked on her uncle in dismay- ed consternation, but soon her emotions were centred in a more powerful alarm ; for the agitated Sigismund, now believing him- self and beloved niece completely insnared in the toils of those who had resolved upon their destruction, with a convulsive shiver, sunk back in his chair in a death-resembhng swoon. Every thing which the affectionate An- gelina and the goodnatured priest could de- vise for the restoration of the duca, thev promptly tried, and at length with success. Sigismund recovered, and^ with the renova- tion of his faculties, returned a powerful sense of the destruction which seemed ine- vitably to encompass him and the child of his beloved brotlier, when his censures upon bis own infatuated folly, as the source of all 406 these evils, were so severe, his lamentations so affecting, they called forth every sooth- ing effort of Angelina, to calm the tumult of his troubled soul ; and when, in pious conviction of where the only efficient con- solation for sorrows jcould be found, she gently led his thoughts to build firm hope of succour upon the mercy of heaven. She feelingly reminded him, *' that in the mo- ment of her almost-phrensied despair, when believing in the fortress of the banditti there was no deliverance for her from Wretched- ness and horror, the ministrant angels of pi- tying Providence sent forth ^ champion to her rescue.** ** Just'* said, the sensibly- affected. Father Patrick, *^as when my self was starved to death, and thought my skeleton was ready made, for the anatomists, the beautiful gift of heaven's own daughter Pity, came glittering in the sterling form, of a pistole, pop into my badge of poverty, my tatterdemalion hat ; that lay beside me ; and allowed me to fos- ter my poor uncle Pat; and what but Pro- vidence, sent the bedpost to come whack against me, to the rescue of Signora Modo 's 407 child, from the devouring flames, that would have made tinder of him ? and what myself would be mighty glad to know, but divine mercy, s.ent me to Montalbano Castle, to be with you, and comfort, and befriend yon, in this time of trouble ? So now my honey, to effect the great purpose of Pro- vidence, which sent me to stay with you, discharge me out of hand.** ^'Discharge you!** repeated the asto- nished and agitated Sigismund : " What mean you, sir ? I do not comprehend you.** ^* Och ! but *tis I, that comprehend my- self, and that*s the same tilings so be quick; discharge me; pack me off; pick a quarrel with me, instantly jewel; *thd on my safe conscience, that *s the last thing, 3'Ou will ever be picking out of poor Pa- trick, in earnest; — but now dismiss me your service. — Sure you can do it, on account ^of my failing to go to Florence, as you or- dered me.** " But, holy father," said the amazed and indignant Angelina, ^' will your deser- tion of my dear uncle, in such a moment. 408 perform that 'mission of a comforter, a friend, which, you beheve, divine mercy confided to you." " To be siire it will, jewel; for when I am packed off, they must let me out -, for who keeps a discarded chaplain ? — so then, I can be after following the bent, of my own inchnation ; which will bring me to the world's end, to serve you; and farther too, for that matter; so as I suppose there will be no search warrant, issued against me, I can bring all your letters, and messages to the old notary, Father Jeronimo, or any other friend, Avho can redress you; and sor- row a more faithful- Mercury, ever flew on the pinions of diligence, than sturdy fat Pat; and if any of the leaguers, come to knock me on the pate, with their wily tongues, of inquiry ; success to them ! but they'll find, they have got the wrong, sow by the ear.*' Both uncle and niece were considerably affected by the good priest's genuine kind- ness, but the duca firmly, yet .gratefully re- jected the plan, unless subsequent despaigr should compel them to adopt it. 409 *' No, most good and reverend father/' he said, *' I will not deprive my Angelina and myself of the only friend we yet have spared to us, unless we should indeed have the painful conviction, some future day, of such a sacrifice being our only mean for at- tempting to rescue ourselves from the snares of our daring enemies. But that we may lay some claim to the protection of heaven, let me not forget my duties to it; let us, in humble reverence, unite in prayer, and then we can, with surer hope of success, enter upon our consultations for projects to eman- cipate ourselves from this vile Vasco's toils/' In meek and heart-inspired devotion, Si- gismund, Angelina, and Father Patrick joined in prayer; thanking heaven, in ar- dent gratitude, for mercies past, and im- ploring it's protection from impending evils; and at length, from this duty, so renovating to Christian fortitude, they arose, with all the consolations of hope, the calm of resig- nation it awakened, and after a few serious moments passed in a solemn pause, while recalling their thoughts from heavenly ta VOL. I, T 410 sublunary themes, the unfortunate duca pro- ceeded to the projected consultatioti. *^ But first/' he said, ^Uhat we may know if the porter's information to Father Patrick is authentic, I will order Rospo to set out to Santo Stefano to inquire, * if Father Jeroninio is yet returned?' '* A peal was therefore rung for Rospo, but which was obliged to be several times re- peated, ere that consequential gentleman deigned to answer it by attendance. With an aspect of conspicuous insolence he at length made his appearance, and Sigismund inquired " the cause of such a tardy per- formance of his duty ? " *' I was otherwise engaged," he replied saucily:. " Engaged!'* repeated the duca sternly, *^ Do you not know, man, that the en- gagements of a domestic must ever bend before his duty to his master ? — And now, in spite of your mal- apropos engage- ments, Signore, it is my command that you instantly go to San Stefano, with my request, to see Father Jeronimo, if he is yet returned." 411 " We are about preparations for a mag- nificent masquerade,** returned the came^ rieroy insolently, ^' and the duchessa has full employment for us all, therefore your commands I cannot at present obey." *' Not obey my commands!'* exclaimed the duca, starting from his chair with a firm elastic bound, that filled the minds of Lady Angelina and Father Pat|:ick with pleased surprise : " Dare to disobey my orders, and instantly you quit my service ;" and stamping his foot with vehemence, as the signal for Rospo*s departure, the asto- nished valet, in alarm at a renovation of mental and bodily faculties so little expect- ed, recoiled to a more respectful distance, and, despoiled of a considerable portion of his insolence, with something of an air more according with his station, he, bowing low, replied — *' I dare not obey, Monsignore ; as we are all prohibited, ia the most absolute manner, from passing through the castle gates, without a special permission from the duchessa. Father Ezzelina, or Signore Vas- 00 i a^d, upon the peril of the most severe T 2 412 infliction of punishment^ '^ ^ commanded not to perform any service for your excellenza or Lady Angelina out of the castle.' ** *^ Leave my presence, and learn to trem- ble at my infliction of punishment, v^^hen I decree them for you,*' said the duca em- phatically, andw^ith an impressive dignity, that enforced the instant and respectful de- parture of the crest-fallen Rospo. " So, my friends," Sigismund despond- ingly added, '^ we have gained nothing by this experiment, but a mortifying confirma- tion of Father Patrick's intelligence." " Yes, my dear uncle," replied Ange- lina, her brilliant eyes beaming with the animation of Hope's cheering influence, '^ we have received the heartfelt pleasure of being assured your bodily faculties are not so enfeebled by your ailments, as we all had cause to apprehend. It is many a month, as you have told me, since you were able to arise from your chair without assistance; yet now you did so, unaided; and the eftect of this successful effort I hailed as an aus-^ picious omen of future benefits. Your as- tonished servant no longer beheld in you the 415 enfeebied master, sinking fast into the Im- becillities of closing life, which he had con- sidered you : no, he saw in 3^ou the reno- vated fire of energy, viihich hwed him into instant respect, and I imbibed conviction from the circumstance, that if vou could but summon up sufficient resolution to en- courage the renovation of many of your long-apparently dormant faculties, by call- ing them daily into action, they would ga- ther strength by exercise, and in a short pe- riod, I doubt not, you would be enabled to appear, to your usurping persecutors, in full possession of the power to guide your own affairs i and, taking the reins into your own hands, govern your family and your vassals, as the lord of Montalbano, with jus- tice, benevolence, mildness, and steady firm- ness, happily combined/' The duca listened with grateful pleasure to his beloved niece, while with animation she portrayed the probability of his resto- ration to health and strength, which her affection so flatteringly presented to her imagination ; but, in the true spirit of hy- pochondriac despondence, the poor valetu- dinarian shook his head despondingly, and AU pronounced her hopes and project a vision^ ary flight of impossibility, never to be real- ised ; but Angelica's observations had struck her with conviction, that, would he but give her hopes, the basis of his exertions, to rest upon, her prophecy would soon lis happily be verified. And now believing the execrable Tolme- zos had indeed adopted eyery unjustifiable measure for severing himself and niece from the aid of every friend or redress, the unfor- tunate Sigismund earnestly communed with his companions upon the most judicious me- thod to pursue, for obtaining the means of elfectually conveying intelligence to Sig- nore Brondelo, of the imprisonment his wife's family had inthraled him in 5 that he might adopt those means most likely to in- sure immediate redress. And so success- fully had the Tolmezos spread their toils around him, that he found himself compell- ed to the degrading necessity of seriously considering who among the domestics was likely to be won from the Tolmezo interest, to befriend and assist him ; and after deli- berating for some time with Father Patrick 415 upon tlie subject, they united in opinion that not one among them could be confided in, when Angelina, erecting faith upon the tenderness of feelings which Tlorio had demonstrated for some powerful afflic- tion when intruded upon by the roman- tic Bertha and herself j upon the de- licacy and propriety with which he shrunk from the imprudent advances of the infatuated Lady Bertha, and upon the re- spectful courtesy he upon every opportu- nity evinced for herself, ventured to say, ** That she thought the page Florio would faithfully deposit any letter in the post for her/' " Florio V* exclaimed the duca, " What possible interest can you, my child, have with any of the duchessa's pages ?*' '' Faith,'' replied Father Patrick, " the interest, which youth, and beauty, is mighty apt to find, with such sort of gentry ; and it is possible, jewel, he will promise in the honey, of his courtly pala- ver, the secret conveyance of any letter ; for those tricks, come like mother's milk, 416 to such spalpeens; but if myself knows nvhatj is what, trust the gossoon, no further than you could throw him ^ for sure 'tis he, the rap I that is the Pan, or^ Pandora (sor- row one of me knows which, the name is, since it is not of Irish extraction) to the du- chessa, that is, one of her go-betweens, her love-letter carriers, her " " The duchessa's pander ! the duchessa's love-letter bearer!'* the duca exclaimed, again starting from his seat, with almost phrensied elasticity. " Yes jewel,^' Father Patrick, promptly replied, with a transient flush of cheek, as he recovered his recollection, of the impro- priety he had uttered. " Yes jewel, to a — letters, to her own kiff, and kin, to her un- cles, and brothers, you know.'* •' Love-letters to her imcles and bro- thers 1" repeated the duca, with a ghastly smile of contemptuous increduhty. " Och I yes, such as one affectionate re- lation will indite to another; which in my blundering impetuosity, I miscalled, — but that same, was natural too; for sure His not 417 the province of a priest, and worse luck to to him ! — to know much of the true genea^ logy, of love, epistles.'* Sigismund, with a groan of heart-riving anguish, sunk back into his chair, the pal- lid semblance of despair. Angelina, in all the pained sympathy of her affectionate bosom, felt this new source of anguished sorrow, given so inadvertently to the bursting heart of her grief-strickeu uncle ; but eager to attempt, at least, to withdraw his thoughts from the new tortures presented to them, she hastily spoke at random upon the first subject which pre-* sented itself to her imagination, by asking Father Patrick, '^ had they no hope of as- sistance from the lady who occupied the nursery of her own infancy ? Has she no domestics, holy father ?*' added Angelina, mechanically speaking, her every thought devoted to commiseration for her uncle's woes. *^ She has only one, belonging to her, 2V Yurneen; and that's herself; for never was seen such a bigoted domestic animal, as^ T 5 41^ she is ; for sorrow morsel of her, ever leaves her own fire-side, at all at all/* " What ! here for the benefit of the air P**" said Sigismund, endeavouring to abstract his thoughts from a new page of misfortune, the perusal of which inflicted anguish too mighty for his heart to bear. " Here for for the benefit of the air, and yet lead a so- Ktary confinement? — How is this account- ed for, reverend father?** oi. soned table of luxury, to atoms, with a whack of their little fingers. Agh ! then my honey, 'tis theirs, is the strength, of the starvation of indigence, that to re-pay them for their forced temperance, has clapt the hammer of death, and the sledge of destruc- tion, into the muscles, of their case-hard- cned limbs, so, as you see, what the whole- somes of necessity, can do; don't be after desponding, or throwing out weak excuses, to knock down the hopes of the creature U2 436 liire, who would be giving you freedom, and peace, and an evening's amusement, with an excellent supper (when you are starving) into the bargain, and TU be bail now, I'll keep a watch on my tongue, not to blab, that it is learning to walk you are again ; and if you can get no better a disguise, for the occasion; you shall be as welcome as the flowers in May, to my best canonicals (v/hich we can make shift to tuck, and take in for you) so if you pro- vide your own footing there, I'll engage, I'll furnish you with a dress; and your friends no doubt, with redress ; so if that w^on't be setting you a going, I wonder what's what." The valetudinarian Sigismund still shook his head in despondence; yet, still believing , it a propitious prospect, could it be adopted, after contemplating it's probable advantages for some time, at length actually summoned sufficient energy to make a deliberate ex- ertion; and, with the aid of Angelina and Father Patrick, he accomplished what he had not attempted for many months,— he walked about his chamber for several mi- ; 437 nutes; and, to his own infniite astonisbmenty he found this effort did not subdue him with fatigue^ when he made his anxious comjja- nions most happy, by 'assuring them, " he would renew his exercise on the morrow,- and daily, if not overpowered by want of nourishment.'* Shortly after the very unexpected event, of the duca's using one of his long dormant faculties. Father Patrick performed the ves- per service, and then retired; but, to the agreeable surprise of Angehna, and certainly not to the displeasure of the duca, he al- most immediately returned with the anima- tion of joy, irradiating his guileless counte- nance, and bearing in his hands a small tray of refreshments. ** Here'sforyou, darlings!** he exclaimed " See with your own eyes, the Pity's gift, like the pistole of Signore Modo, which came pop, unexpectedly into my hat; and long life to the giver! — May be, I didn't find these beautiful cakes, and elegant little loaf; and three glasses of jelly, as clear as the conscience of true charity ; with this flask of wine; and three neat glasses, to 438 tlfjnk out of, cocked on my table, insteard of my red night cap.—Och feasts, and ju- bilees I how my heart capered, at the sigh-tl * Welcome as potatoes, and buttermilk, to a fan)ished sj>a]peen, are you to my longing sight, my wiiidfals ! ' say I,. * and more wel- come still, in the proof ye bring, that we have a friend in the market of Plenty.' — All clear as the noon-day, ready prepared for the poor jaiUbi^'ds > so cl>eer up my ho- neys; eat and drink for the bare life; since vou are as welcome at the board, as the board is to you ; and then may be, we wont be chanting a tedeum, that all the men aind woman about us, are not tigers." Our readers can readily imagine, that Sigismund and his lovely niece hesitated not to partake of a repast, the merci- ful boon of some benevolent friend : the due a,, as he eat of it, mentally ejaculated a wish (which his forgiving heart seemed fond of cherishing as a realised one), that the com- punction of the duchessa had actuated her to this deed of humanity. Ai>geHna, m thankfulness, received it as the inspiration of heaven itself, to some feeling- heart ^ 459 among the household; while Father Pa- trick, certain it was not a repast sent by a cruel Tolmezo to them, partook of it with augmented relish from that belief; and when the grateful prisoners were satisfied, the careful priest, with many ludicrous ex- pressions of forecast, collected the fragments, and put them neatly by, in a cabinet of the duca's; and after a shicere thanksgiving had been aspirated devoutly by all, and a parting benediction again pronounced by the reverend father, Rospo was summoned to attend his lord, and this small party of amity separated for the night. The distressing occurrences of that event- ful day proved a heavy addition to the al* ready-oppressive weight of Angehna's sor- rows ; and she entered her apartments with a mind so subdued by the afflictions which seemed to surround her,, that it appeared al- most a miracle of chance, lier attention being at all arrested by tlie appearance of a small ticket on her dressing-table, upon which was printed in black letters. Vase, No. 3.-, but scarcely bestowing a thought upon it, as a 440 useless memorandum she carelessly threw it from her to the ground 3 and after about an hour passed in many mournful and many pious reflections, she retired to bed. On the subsequent morning Angelina found the unfortunate Sigismund not more dejected than she had left him the pre- ceded night. Father Patrick, at his accus- tomed time, joined his companions in the indignity of undeserved imprisonment, and, as usual, they devoutly united; in their morning duties; when, shortly after a break- fast was served, with the same insolence of homely and comfortless arrangement, as the dinner had been on the foregoing day. - <' Agh! then, what do you charge a head, for this snare of temptation, to a deli- cate appetite, my faithful cup-bearer, to Belzeebub ?" exclaimed Father Patrick, to the menial, who appeared most prominent, ^n the alacrity of furnishing appropriately, this table of indignity, and what wages, has Satan's factotum, Signore V^asco, promised you, for insulting your lord, and master?'' ^* I am not paid by apy one for bring- 441 ing up this breakfast, I only do my duty, in obeying orders j** returned the fellow, sullenl}^ ** Why then, an airy death-bed, to you ! is it game your making of your betters ? you gibbet candidate ! — Och ! fire-brands, and faggots! — Doing your duty, to insult your master ! — Och ! bubbaboo ! if that be do* ing your duty, only just toaity — waity till I reward you, with the voluntary passtime, of the pleasures of penitential inflictions, the very first moment yourself, has thc/mo- dest assurance, to kneel before me, in my confessional. Master Hugo, the dutiful?'* *^ Oh ! holy father!" exclaimed Hugo, in alarm ; " do not punish me for what can be no sin. — You have always told me, 'to do as I would be done by j' and is not the meaning of that, also — * To do, as I am done by ?' " «' Surely, friend,** said the duca, mildly, " this is not exactly a case in point. — I ne- ver provided such food as this is, even for the meanest of my household.'* "No," returned Hugo, insolently; "not provide, you were too great for that j but U5 442 you ordered it for us. — That your other ta- bles might be more profusely supplied, you ordained ours to be thus served, and every comfort your noble brother allowed us,. taken from us. You cannot wonder then, that, when ordered to supply your table from ours, with alacrity we bring you spe- cimens of what you sentenced us to feed upon.*' *^ Oh, heaven!*' exclaimed the duca, in powerful agitation, *' how have my rutl]les« persecutors toiled,, to render me obnoxious to my people. This, this is too much ; their cruelty, in personal mfrliction, I couMibet- ter bear, than their traducing my humanity thus ; — treating thus, as the lowest outcasts of mendicant wanderers, those whom the hardships of toil in servitude w^as a sufficient for, without the barbarous privations of such detestable parsimony, practised for the purpose of more amply supplying their own rapacious prodigality, united with the malicious project of throwing the odium upon me, who knew not of the measure; for if I had, I would have strenuously op* posed it I not that my contravention might. 443 perhaps^ have availed; but my poor iir- treated people woaM then have known my kindest wishes for their comfort w^ere with- them ; but when bodily infirmity took from me the power of governing my own kousehokl, I fell, my poor fellow- sufferers, into cruel hands, and have become a slave, even more harshly treated than your- selves.'^ The attending domestic s^ now looked at each other with countenances of amazement, tmeasinesSy and something like contrite shame; when Father Patrick, hastily brush*- ing away a starting tear, vehemently ex- claimed.-^ — " Arrah what, now, can you be after saying for yourselves } ye rapscallion bearers, of revengeful specimens ! to be coming upy from your dens of malice, to insult a crea- ture, who never to his knowledge, harmed man, or mortal, in all his born days, bar- ring himself,- when bewitched by a^ Jezabel, he gave himself up to vultures, and all man'* ner ©f wild beasts,, to feed upon.'* ** I can say nothing, holy father,*' re- plied Hugo, bowing, in penetential humi- 444 lit J, " but that we are heartily sorry for having credited such evil of our lord, and for his suffering, like ourselves, from those who rule us with a rod of iron. It certain- ly, monsignore, is not in our power to sup- ply much better food than this, but I think we might improve it a little.'* *' Och ! then on my safe conscience, you might a great deal; and yet make no- thing good of it.** returned the zealous priest *^ but my gay lads, have yourselves no sucking chickens, nor whiter bread, than this is?** " No, they said ; there were no chickens that sucked in Italy^ and no better bread lyas allowed them.** ** Och ! black beans ! and chaff grind» ers ! what a burning shame, is that ? — Why then I'll tell you, what you will do, my gay starved lads. — Go every mother*s babe of you, to the purveyor; and tell him * That as no one is after obeying the duca now, not so much, as the wife, who swore at the altar, to do it, you are not the boys, that will be eating the miser's cheer, he ordered for you, any longer.* — So then, 1*11 be bail. .445 if. yoti are stout, and are sticking by one another, you will either get provisions, fit for Christians ; or if the worst comes to the worst, you'll only be discharged, from a bad service; and then my advice is to you, to take away, as hard as you can drive, to one Signore Brondelo, a mighty humane notary at Florence; and tell him, how it is your- selves have been used, worse than dogs, let alone Christians, as« well as the poor duca himself, and his beautiful honey-bird, of a niece, and his holy priest of a chaplain. Tell him every morsel, that has come to your knowledge ; and I'll engage, it*s he that will be lining your stomachs, with the very prime food of tlie most elegant mar- kets ; so now mind what myself says, and don't be staying, to be made fools of, any longer ; and to be starved too into the bar- gain ; as if ye were in training, to fill every empty gibbet, in Tuscany." The domestics listened with profound at- tention to Father Patrick, who was an uni- versal favorite with all the lower classes oi the household ; his advice seemed to make some impression on their minds, and Hugo^ 446 answering fot all, said — '* They would con- sult together upon what was most expedient to be done ; but as to murmurini^ to the purveyor, they never did any thing else, yet it obtained no redress^ but now, since they found their ill- treatment was not in- flicted by the duca, they would go see if they cottld succeed in procuring something of a better breakfast for his excellenza/' They now all departed, taking with thera the untempting vians; and, in about half an hour, they returned ;• but so changed by the ever- imp roving hand of neatness, that scarcely could they be recognised again j. and bearing with them a repast much amended, in the temptation of it's aspect, but yet of so homely a composition, that necessity alone could have influenced the duca and Angelina to partake of it ; and, when the domestics were again about to de- part, the distressed Sigismund, imbibing a little of Fatlier Patrick's harmless wiliness, presented each with a piece of gold, to re- ward themfor evincing so much kindness and compassion for the unfortunate. Why then^ may be, it's yourself, that « 447 understands the right path of bribery,'* said thesanguine priest, after the attendants had, respectfully retired. " Til engage now, some of that same gold, will be changing in the markets, for onr benefit." Father Patrick augured truly; for, when dinner was served that day, a sma^l white loaf, a ch cken, and a flask of tolerably good wine, were smuggled in, under the veil of a ckan cloth, covered over with what the cautious providers knew would be approved, in passing the review of the Tolmezo in* speetion. The grateful Sigismund, and the no-fess grateful Angelina, thanked their new-made friends in the most affecting manner for their ki newness ; and Father Patrick inquired, ** If they had fuliowed, any part of his ad- vice?" "Yes, hofy father," Hugo replied; *^we told the purveyor we would not feed like paupers .any longer; and that he must eitlier provide us with better food, or the castle with other menials ; when he flatly informed U5, *< That he would not improve 448 our provisions^ and that we might leave the castle — if we could ;" and that we soon found was impossible, since there are double sentinels planted at every pass, and no one permitted to depart, on any pretence what- ever, without a passport.'* Angelina and her uncle interchanged looks of foreboding dismay, and the zealous Patrick*s countenance lost at once it's ex- pression of animated exulting expecta- tion. *' But,'' said the good priest, after a pause of sad, and anxious thoughtfulness, *' is it, not allowed to go out, you are, when you contrived,, to get this chicken, and loaf, and wine, and elegant vegi tables for us ?'* ^* Surely, holy father," Hugo replied, *=* you are not now to learn, that the tables of the favorite domestics and confidants are so amply provided; they make a fine pei^ quisite of the overplus; and so we purchased these things from one of them, pretending that being Georgio's birth-day, we wanted to make a feast." The duca was infinitely shocked at hear- 449 ing of such unfair, partial, and unjustifiable proceedings; such prodigal indulgence to some, and even the least deserving ; such tyrannical cruelty and oppression toothers. *^ How do the soldiery, of the castle fare ?" asked Father Patrick. ^^ At our table, reverend father.'* " Alas ! my father*s estimated veterans, who fought by and bled with him!'* ex- claimed Angelina, melted almost to tears. " And who now, if they have luck,'* re- turned the eager Irlandesey intent upon his design, " will starve with your uncle, unless these fme fellows, are after putting a little morsel of their discontent, into the pouch boxes of the soldiers, and will be telling them, of that same rich, and humane old Signore Brondelo of Florence, and good luck to him; every day he sees the grass grow ! and if one of these sentinels, when at an out- post, was to march off, and tell that staunch friend to justice (for sorrow better to be found, dead or alive, than Sig- nore Brondelo) all about the ill usage he is meeting here, himself, and friends; and tho 450 ^uca, and all of us ; Til engage, old Bron- delo would be the making of him s and of every one of you, for that matter." Hugo said, ** he would immediately talk to the soldiers upon the subject ; and tell them too, how much their young lady, who was dear to them all, for her dear father's sake as well as her own, had been distressed at hearing of their ill-treatment." '* Be telling them, every word about it," replied Father Patrick, *' and about what a sweet, beautiful creature she is (for there is none, so sweet and beautiful, in the wide world, sorrow one) and tell them, what a i)urning sin, and shame it would be, for them, to be letting their brave lord's, darling child, starve in prison : when if Signore Brondelo, did but know that same, 'tis she would find a big friend in him, as well as the best of ye/' " One word from Lady Angelina herself, I am certain, would do more than we could with the soldiers," said Leclo, another of the attendants. *' If my lady would but go ou the ramparts, as she takes her walk of \0 1 a morning, I have no doubt but any one of them would endeavour to go to Signore Brondelo, if they thought it could be of use to our illustrissima sif^nora." Ancrelina ccraciouslv thanked Ledo for this most welcome intimation >. and, after Si2;ismund remunerated these meii for the purchases they had humane! j made for his benefit, and entreated a continuation of their assistance, they respectfully withdrew; when Angelina earnestly requested her un- cle to write a few lines, without delay, to his notary, w^hich she, early on the morrow, would attempt to prevail upon some one of the soldiers to take in charge for her. Sigismund instantly complied, and again accomplished the eifort of walking a short time about his chamber, supported by his lovely niece and Father Patrick j an ex- ercise he several times that day summoned lip sufficient energy to undertake, in the sanguine hope of it's leading to the comple- tion of Angelina's project ; and full now of the soothing pleasure of it's anticipated suc- cess, they all conversed together with some 452 degree of cheerfulness ; rearing many a structure of air-built fancy, until the ap- proaching hour of separation, when Father Patrick, recollecthig the fragments of their last night*s charitable present, was about to take them from the cabinet, when it darted into his mind, the probability of finding a repetition of such kindness in his room y when, going to seek for it, he soon returned with a tray, more substantially prepared than on the preceding evening; and hid under the provisions it contained, they soon discovered a few lines, evidently written in a disguised hand, importing, " that a sup- ply of that nature should await them in Fa- ther Patrick's chamber every evening ; and to request, in return, tiiat the tray and ap- pointments, when done with, should be carefully concealed in the nitch behind the statue of Hercules, in the adjoining corri- dor/' This grateful trio thankfully partook of this tempting repast: in their united ori- sons to heaven, a blessing for this secret be- nefactor was fervently invoked ; and, with A53 scrupulous care. Father Patrick obeyed the directions relative to the tray; first thriftily putting all that remained of their feast into the gabincliOf " Against a rainy day/* he said. END Of vol. I. C. Robinson, Printer, Rolls-Luildings, Fetter'L.aae, London. •<»■ v;.f' -4 ^kt X^ UNIVERSrTY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 084210001 fi-j^ "^ ^1 'if i^-'^^M 11. ifiL>'Bgi.^^H ^- -".- ;- Kt ■ i%'i fer ^■, m^m \^<:t. Wf'l m