"I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to
add, that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few
families who possess such large estates. My father was a man who had no
pleasure in the pursuits of most young men of his age; he was of a
weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood. When
his studies were completed he retired to his country-seat, belonging to
our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting
himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
"As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he
should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very
extended existence. Had he consulted his own inclinations he would have
declined, but he felt that it was his duty to comply with their wishes;
but he did not trouble himself with the choice, leaving it wholly to
them. They selected a young lady of high family, and certainly of most
exquisite beauty. I only wish I could say more in her favour, for she
was my mother; but it is impossible to narrate the history without
exposing her conduct. The marriage took place, and my father, having
woke up as it were at the celebration, again returned to his closet, to
occupy himself with abstruse studies; the results of which have been
published, and have fully established his reputation as a man of
superior talent and deep research. But, however much the public may
appreciate the works of a man of genius, whether they be written to
instruct or to amuse, certain it is that a literary man requires, in his
wife, either a mind congenial to his own, or that pride in her husband's
talents which induces her to sacrifice much of her own domestic
enjoyment to the satisfaction of having his name extolled abroad. I
mention this point as some extenuation of my mother's conduct. She was
neglected most certainly, but not neglected for frivolous amusements, or
because another form had more captivated his fancy; but, in his desire
to instruct others, and I may add, his ambition for renown, he applied
himself to his literary pursuits, became abstracted, answered without
hearing, and left his wife to amuse herself in any way she might please.
A literary husband is, without exception, although always at home, the
least domestic husband in the world, and must try the best of tempers,
not by unkindness, for my father was kind and indulgent to excess, but
by that state of perfect abstraction and indifference which he showed to
everything except the favourite pursuit which absorbed him. My mother
had but to speak, and every wish was granted--a refusal was unknown.
You may say, what could she want more; I reply, that anything to a woman
is preferable to indifference. The immediate consent to every wish took
away, in her opinion, all merit in the grant; the value of everything is
only relative, and in proportion to the difficulty of obtaining it. The
immediate assent to every opinion was tantamount to insult; it implied
that he did not choose to argue with her.
"It is true that women like to have their own way; but they like, at the
same time, to have difficulties to surmount and to conquer; otherwise,
half the gratification is lost. Although tempests are to be deplored,
still a certain degree of oscillation and motion are requisite to keep
fresh and clear the lake of matrimony, the waters of which otherwise
soon stagnate and become foul, and without some contrary currents of
opinion between a married couple such a stagnation must take place.
"A woman permitted always and invariably to have her own way without
control, is much in the same situation as the child who insists upon a
whole instead of half a holiday, and before the evening closes is tired
of himself and everything about him. In short, a little contradiction,
like salt at dinner, seasons and appetises the repast; but too much,
like the condiment in question, spoils the whole, and it becomes
unpalatable in proportion to its excess.
"My mother was a vain woman in every sense of the word--vain of her
birth and of her beauty, and accustomed to receive that homage to which
she considered herself entitled. She had been spoiled in her infancy,
and as she grew up had learned nothing, because she was permitted to do
as she pleased; she was therefore frivolous, and could not appreciate
what she could not comprehend. There never was a more ill-assorted
union."
"I have always thought that such must be the case," replied Gascoigne,
"in Catholic countries, where a young person is taken out of a convent
and mated according to what her family or her wealth may consider as the
most eligible connection."
"On that subject there are many opinions, my friend," replied Don
Rebiera. "It is true, that when a marriage of convenience is arranged
by the parents, the dispositions of the parties are made a secondary
point; but then, again, it must be remembered, that when a choice is
left to the parties themselves, it is at an age at which there is little
worldly consideration: and, led away, in the first place, by their
passions, they form connections with those inferior in their station,
which are attended with eventual unhappiness; or, in the other, allowing
that they do choose in their own rank of life, they make quite as bad or
often a worse choice than if their partners were selected for them."
"I cannot understand that," replied Gascoigne.
"The reason is, because there are no means, or if means, no wish, to
study each other's disposition. A young man is attracted by person, and
he admires; the young woman is flattered by the admiration, and is
agreeable; if she has any faults she is not likely to display them--not
concealing them from hypocrisy, but because they are not called out.
The young man falls in love, so does the young woman; and when once in
love, they can no longer see faults; they marry, imagining that they
have found perfection. In the blindness of love, each raises the other
to a standard of perfection which human nature can never attain, and
each becomes equally annoyed on finding, by degrees, that they were in
error. The reaction takes place, and they then underrate, as much as
before they had overrated, each other. Now, if two young people marry
without this violence of passion, they do not expect to find each other
perfect, and perhaps have a better chance of happiness."
"I don't agree with you," thought Gascoigne; "but as you appear to be as
fond of argument as my friend Jack, I shall make no reply, lest there he
no end to the story."
Don Rebiera proceeded.
"My mother, finding that my father preferred his closet and his books to
gaiety and dissipation, soon left him to himself, and amused herself
after her own fashion, but not until I was born, which was ten months
after their marriage. My father was confiding, and, pleased that my
mother should be amused, he indulged her in everything. Time flew on,
and I had arrived at my fifteenth year, and came home from my studies,
it being intended that I should enter the army, which you are aware is
generally the only profession embraced in this country by the heirs of
noble families. Of course, I knew little of what had passed at home,
but still I had occasionally heard my mother spoken lightly of, when I
was not supposed to be present, and I always heard my father's name
mentioned with compassion, as if an ill-used man, but I knew nothing
more: still this was quite sufficient for a young man, whose blood
boiled at the idea of anything like a stigma being cast upon his family.
I arrived at my father's--I found him at his books; I paid my respects
to my mother--I found her with her confessor. I disliked the man at
first sight; he was handsome, certainly: his forehead was high and
white, his eyes large and fiery, and his figure commanding; but there
was a dangerous, proud look about him which disgusted me--nothing like
humility or devotion. I might have admired him as an officer commanding
a regiment of cavalry, but as a churchman he appeared to be most
misplaced. She named me with kindness, but he appeared to treat me with
disdain; he spoke authoritatively to my mother, who appeared to yield
implicitly, and I discovered that he was lord of the whole household.
My mother, too, it was said, had given up gaieties and become devout. I
soon perceived more than a common intelligence between them, and before
I had been two months at home I had certain proofs of my father's
dishonour; and what was still more unfortunate for me, they were aware
that such was the case. My first impulse was to acquaint my father;
but, on consideration, I thought it better to say nothing, provided I
could persuade my mother to dismiss Father Ignatio. I took an
opportunity when she was alone to express my indignation at her conduct,
and to demand his immediate dismissal, as a condition of my not
divulging her crime. She appeared frightened, and gave her consent; but
I soon found that her confessor had more power with her than I had, and
he remained. I now resolved to acquaint my father, and I roused him
from his studies that he might listen to his shame. I imagined that he
would have acted calmly and discreetly; but, on the contrary, his
violence was without bounds, and I had the greatest difficulty from
preventing his rushing with his sword to sacrifice them both. At last
he contented himself by turning Father Ignatio out of the house in the
most ignominious manner, and desiring my mother to prepare for seclusion
in a convent for the remainder of her days. But he fell their victim;
three days afterwards, as my mother was, by his directions, about to be
removed, he was seized with convulsions and died. I need hardly say,
that he was carried off by poison; this, however, could not be
established till long afterwards. Before he died he seemed to be almost
supernaturally prepared for an event which never came into my thoughts.
He sent for another confessor, who drew up his confession in writing at
his own request, and afterwards inserted it in his will. My mother
remained in the house, and Father Ignatio had the insolence to return.
I ordered him away, and he resisted. He was turned out by the servants.
I had an interview with my mother, who defied me, and told me that I
should soon have a brother to share in the succession. I felt that, if
so, it would be the illegitimate progeny of her adultery, and told her
my opinion. She expressed her rage in the bitterest curses, and I left
her. Shortly afterwards she quitted the house and retired to another of
our country-seats, where she lived with Father Ignatio as before. About
four months afterwards, formal notice was sent to me of the birth of a
brother; but as, when my father's will was opened, he there had inserted
his confession, or the substance of it, in which he stated, that aware
of my mother's guilt, and supposing that consequences might ensue, he
solemnly declared before God that he had for years lived apart, I cared
little for this communication. I contented myself with replying that as
the child belonged to the church, it had better be dedicated to its
service.
"I had, however, soon reason to acknowledge the vengeance of my mother
and her paramour. One night I was attacked by bravos; and had I not
fortunately received assistance, I should have forfeited my life; as it
was, I received a severe wound.
"Against attempts of that kind I took every precaution in future, but
still every attempt was made to ruin my character, as well as to take my
life. A young sister disappeared from a convent in my neighbourhood,
and on the ground near the window from which she descended, was found a
hat, recognised to be mine. I was proceeded against, and
notwithstanding the strongest interest, it was with difficulty that the
affair was arranged, although I had incontestably proved an _alibi_.
"A young man of rank was found murdered, with a stiletto, known to be
mine, buried in his bosom, and it was with difficulty that I could
establish my innocence.
"Part of a banditti had been seized, and on being asked the name of
their chief, when they received absolution, they confessed that I was
the chief of the band.
"Everything that could be attempted was put into practice; and if I did
not lose my life, at all events I was avoided by almost everybody as a
dangerous and doubtful character.
"At last a nobleman of rank, the father of Don Scipio, whom you
disarmed, was assassinated; the bravos were taken, and they acknowledged
that I was the person who hired them. I defended myself, but the king
imposed upon me a heavy fine and banishment. I had just received the
order, and was crying out against the injustice, and lamenting my hard
fate, as I sat down to dinner. Latterly, aware of what my enemies would
attempt, I had been accustomed to live much alone. My faithful valet
Pedro was my only attendant. I was eating my dinner with little
appetite, and had asked for some wine. Pedro went to the beaufet behind
him, to give me what I required. Accidentally I lifted up my head, and
there being a large pier-glass opposite to me, I saw the figure of my
valet, and that he was pouring a powder in the flagon of wine which he
was about to present to me. I recollected the hat being found at the
nunnery, and also the stiletto in the body of the young man.
"Like lightning it occurred to me that I had been fostering the viper
who had assisted to destroy me. He brought me the flagon. I rose,
locked the door, and drawing my sword, I addressed him:--
"`Villain; I know thee; down on your knees, for your life is forfeited.'
"He turned pale, trembled, and sank upon his knees.
"`Now, then,' continued I, `you have but one chance--either drink off
this flagon of wine, or I pass my sword through your body.' He
hesitated, and I put the point to his breast--even pierced the flesh a
quarter of an inch.
"`Drink,' cried I--`is it so very unjust an order to tell you to drink
old wine? Drink,' continued I, `or my sword does its duty.'
"He drank, and would then have quitted the room. `No, no,' said I, `you
remain herd, and the wine must have its effect. If I have wronged you I
will make amends to you--but I am suspicious.'
"In about a quarter of an hour, during which time I paced up and down
the room, with my sword drawn, my servant fell down, and cried in mercy
to let him have a priest. I sent for my own confessor, and he then
acknowledged that he was an agent of my mother and Father Ignatio, and
had been the means of making it appear that I was the committer of all
the crimes and murders which had been perpetrated by them, with a view
to my destruction. A strong emetic having been administered to him, he
partially revived, and was taken to Palermo, where he gave his evidence
before he expired.
"When this was made known, the king revoked his sentence, apologised to
me, and I found that once more I was visited and courted by everybody.
My mother was ordered to be shut up in a convent, where she died, I
trust, in grace, and Father Ignatio fled to Italy, and I have been
informed is since dead.
"Having thus rid myself of my principal enemies, I considered myself
safe. I married the lady whom you have just seen, and before my eldest
son was born, Don Silvio, for such was the name given to my asserted
legitimate brother, came of age, and demanded his succession. Had he
asked me for a proper support, as my uterine brother, I should not have
refused; but that the son of Friar Ignatio, who had so often attempted
my life, should, in case of my decease, succeed to the title and
estates, was not to be borne. A lawsuit was immediately commenced,
which lasted four or five years, during which Don Silvio married, and
had a son, that young man whom you heard me address by the same name;
but after much litigation, it was decided that my father's confessor and
will had proved his illegitimacy, and the suit was in my favour. From
that time to this there has been a constant enmity. Don Silvio refused
all my offers of assistance, and followed me with a pertinacity which
often endangered my life. At last he fell by the hands of his own
agents, who mistook him for me. Don Silvio died without leaving any
provision for his family; his widow I pensioned, and his son I have had
carefully brought up, and have indeed treated most liberally, but he
appears to have imbibed the spirit of his father, and no kindness has
been able to imbue him with gratitude.
"He had lately been placed by me in the army, where he found out my two
sons, and quarrelled with them both upon slight pretence; but, in both
instances, he was wounded and carried off the field.
"My two sons have been staying with me these last two months, and did
not leave till yesterday. This morning Don Silvio, accompanied by Don
Scipio, came to the house, and after accusing me of being the murderer
of both their parents, drew their rapiers to assassinate me. My wife
and child, hearing the noise, came down to my assistance--you know the
rest."