beautiful actress is a creature privileged by nature and exalted by the
prestige of art; exposed to the eyes of men in all the splendor of her
beauty, her talent and her renown, is it not natural that she should
arouse admiration and kindle desire? Why, then, should you actors, who
triumph over the great majority of us before the great nobles do; you,
who marry us when we are inclined to settle down, and who assert your
rights over us when we have passionate hearts; you, who allow others to
play the rôle of magnificent lovers and who are always the preferred
lovers, or at all events the friends of our hearts--why should you turn
your thoughts toward these patrician women who smile at you with their
lips only, and applaud you with the tips of their fingers? Ah! Lelio,
Lelio! I am afraid that in this instance your good sense has gone astray
in some idiotic adventure. If I were in your place, rather than be
flattered by the ogling of some middle-aged marchioness, I would turn my
attention to some pretty chorus-girl, La Torquata, or La Gargani. Yes!
yes!" she cried, becoming more earnest as she saw me smiling; "such
girls as those are apparently more forward, but I maintain that they are
in reality less corrupt than your salon Cidalisas. You would not be
obliged to play a long sentimental comedy with them, or engage in a
wretched contest of bright sayings. But that's just like you men! The
crest on a carriage, the livery of a footman, those are enough to
embellish in your eyes the first titled harridan who bestows a
patronizing glance on you."
"My dear friend," I replied, "all that you say is most sensible; but
your argument is weak in that it is not based upon a single fact. For my
honor's sake, you might, I think, have assumed that old age and ugliness
are not indispensable qualities in any patrician who falls in love with
me. There have been some who were young and lovely who have had eyes in
their heads, and since you compel me to say absurd things in absurd
language, in order to close your mouth, let me tell you that the object
of my _flame_ is fifteen years old, and that she is as beautiful as the
goddess _Cypris_ whose exploits you learn by heart in _bouts-rimés_."
"Lelio!" cried Checchina, laughing heartily, "you are the most
insufferable coxcomb that I ever met."
"If I am a coxcomb, fair princess," I cried, "you are somewhat to blame
for it, so people say."
"Very well," said she, "if you are telling the truth, if your mistress,
by reason of her beauty, deserves the follies you are about to commit
for her, beware of one thing, and that is that you do not find yourself
in the depths of despair within a week."
"What in the deuce is the matter to-day, Signora Checchina, that you say
such disagreeable things to me?"
"Let us not joke any more," she said, putting her hand on mine with a
friendly gesture. "I know you better than you know yourself. You are
seriously in love, and you are going to suffer--"
"Nonsense, nonsense! in your old age, Checca, you can retire to
Malamocco and tell fortunes for the boatmen on the lagoons; meanwhile,
my fair sorceress, allow me to go to meet my fortune without cowardly
presentiments."
"No! no! I will not be quiet until I have drawn your horoscope. If it
were a question of a woman who is suited to you, I should not think of
vexing you; but a woman of noble birth, a society woman, a marchioness
or a woman of the middle class, I don't care which it may be--I hate
them all! When I see that idiot Nasi throw me aside for a creature who
doesn't come up to my knees, I will stake my head, why, I say to myself
that all men are vain and foolish. And so I predict that you will not be
loved, because a society woman cannot love an actor; and if by any
chance you are loved, you will be all the more miserable; for you will
be humiliated."
"Humiliated! What do you mean by that, Checchina?"
"By what do you recognize love, Lelio? by the pleasure you give or the
pleasure you receive?"
"By both, of course! What are you driving at?"
"Is it not the same with devotion as with pleasure? Must it not be
mutual?"
"To be sure; what then?"
"How much devotion do you expect to find in your mistress? a few nights
of pleasure? You seem at a loss to reply."
"I am, in truth; I told you that she is fifteen years old, and I am an
honorable man."
"Do you hope to marry her?"
"I, marry a rich girl of a noble family? God forbid! In heaven's name,
do you think that I am consumed with matrimoniomania, as you are?"
"Why, I suppose that you desire to marry her; do you think that she will
consent? are you sure of it?"
"But I will tell you that I wouldn't marry anyone, on any
consideration."
"If that is because your suit would be ill received, your rôle is a
very pitiful one, my dear Lelio!"
"_Corpo di Bacco_! you bore me, Checchina!"
"That is my purpose, dear friend of my heart. Now, then, you do not
think of marrying, because that would be impertinent presumption on your
part, and you are a man of spirit. You do not think of seduction,
because that would be a crime, and you are a man of heart. Tell me, is
your romance likely to be very amusing?"
"Why, you dense, matter-of-fact creature, you know nothing whatever
about sentiment. If I choose to indulge in a pastoral idyll, who will
prevent me?"
"That is very pretty in music; in love it must be decidedly dull."
"But it is neither criminal nor humiliating."
"Then why are you so excited? Why are you so sad, Lelio?"
"You are dreaming, Checchina; I am as placid and light-hearted as usual.
Let us have no more of these empty words; I do not ask you to be silent
about the little I have told you, for I have confidence in you. To
reassure you concerning my frame of mind, let me tell you this one
thing: I am more proud of my profession of actor than ever nobleman was
of his marquisate. Nobody on earth has the power to make me blush.
Whatever you may say, I shall never be conceited enough to aspire to
extraordinary devotion, and if a spark of love warms my heart at this
moment, the modest joy of inspiring a little love is sufficient for me.
I do not deny the numerous superiorities of actresses over society
women. There is more beauty, grace, wit and fire in the wings than
elsewhere, I know. There is no more modesty, unselfishness, chastity and
loyalty among great ladies than elsewhere; that, too, I know. But youth
and beauty are idols which make us bend the knee everywhere; and as for
the prejudices of rank, it is a good deal for a woman brought up under
tyrannical laws to bestow in secret one poor glance, one poor
heart-throb upon a man whom her prejudices forbid her to look upon as a
being of her own species. That poor glance, that poor palpitation, would
be a mere trifle to the unbounded desire born of a great passion; but as
I have told you, cousin, I have not got to that point."
"But how do you know that you won't come to it?"
"When I do, it will be time enough to preach to me."
"It will be too late; you will suffer!"
"Ah! Cassandra, I prithee let me love on!"
At seven o'clock the next morning I was wandering slowly about in the
shadow of the pillars of Santa Maria. That assignation was the very
greatest piece of imprudence that my young signora could commit, for my
face was as well known to most of the people of Florence as the ground
under their horses' feet. So I took the most minute precautions,
entering the city by the uncertain light of dawn, keeping out of sight
in the chapels, with my face buried in my cloak, gliding along
noiselessly, taking care not to disturb by the slightest sound the
faithful at prayer, among whom I tried to discover the lady of my
thoughts. I did not wait long; pretty Lila appeared from behind a
pillar, and indicated by her glance an empty confessional, whose
mysterious recess would hold two people. In the girl's quick and
intelligent glance there was a touch of sadness which went to my heart.
I knelt in the confessional, a few moments later, a dark shadow glided
in and knelt beside me. Lila bent over a chair, between us and the
congregation, who, luckily, were engrossed at that moment by the
beginning of the mass, and falling noiselessly on their knees to the
tones of the bell of the _introit_.
The signora was enveloped in a long black veil, and she held it over her
face with her hands for a few seconds. She did not speak to me, but bent
her lovely head as if she had come to the church to pray; but, despite
all her efforts to appear calm, I saw that her breast was heaving, and
that, in the midst of her audacity, she was terror-stricken. I dared not
encourage her with loving words, for I knew how quick she was at
sarcastic repartee, and I could not be sure what tone she would take
with me under those delicate circumstances. I realized simply this, that
the more she exposed herself with me, the more respectful and submissive
my attitude must be. With such a nature as hers, presumption would have
been speedily repelled by scorn. At last I understood that I must break
the silence, and I thanked her awkwardly enough for the favor of that
meeting. My timidity seemed to restore her courage. She softly raised a
corner of her veil, rested her arm with less constraint on the rail of
the confessional, and said to me in a half-mocking, half-melting tone:
"For what do you thank me, please?"
"For relying upon my obedience, signora," I replied; "for not doubting
the eagerness with which I would come to receive your orders."
"I understand then," she retorted--and her tone was altogether
jocular--"that your presence here is an act of pure obedience?"
"I should not dare to take the liberty to have any thoughts concerning
the present situation, except that I am your slave, and that, having a
sovereign command to lay upon me, you bade me come and kneel here."
"You are a man of the most perfect breeding," she replied, slowly
unfolding her fan in front of her face, and pulling up her black mitt
over her beautifully moulded arm with as much ease of manner as if she
were speaking to her cousin.
She continued in that strain, and in a very few moments I was bewildered
and almost saddened by her strange and captious chatter.
"What is the use," I said to myself, "of so much audacity for so little
love? An assignation in a church, in plain sight of a whole
congregation, the danger of being discovered, cursed and disowned by her
whole family and her whole caste--all for the sake of exchanging jokes
with me, as she might with a friend of her own sex in her box at the
theatre! Does she delight in adventures from pure love of danger? If she
takes such risks without loving me, what will she do for the man she
does love? And then, how do I know how many times and for whom she has
already exposed herself in the same way? If she has never done it, it is
only because she has never had the opportunity. She is so young! But
what an endless series of gallant adventures the perilous future has in
store for her, and how many men will abuse their opportunities, and how
many stains will mar this lovely flower, so intensely eager to bloom in
the wind of passion!"
She noticed my preoccupation, and said to me, in a sharp tone:
"You look as if you were bored?"
I was about to reply when a slight sound made us both turn our heads
involuntarily. The wooden shutter which covers the grated window through
which the priest receives confessions opened behind us, and a yellow,
wrinkled face, with a stern and penetrating glance, appeared in the
opening like a bad dream. I hastily turned away before that unwelcome
intruder had time to examine my features. But I dared not go away, for
fear of attracting the attention of those roundabout. Thereupon I heard
these words addressed to my confederate:
"Signora, the person beside you did not come to the Lord's house to
listen to the sacred service. I have seen by his entire attitude and by
the distraction it has caused you, that the church is being profaned by
an illicit conversation. Order this person to retire or I shall be
compelled to inform the signora, your aunt, with how little fervor you
listen to the blessed mass, and how willingly you open your ears to the
empty words of young men who steal to a place by your side."
The shutter was instantly closed, and we remained for some seconds
absolutely motionless, afraid of betraying ourselves by the slightest
movement. Then Lila came nearer to us and whispered to her mistress:
"For heaven's sake, let us go, signora! Abbé Cignola, who has been
prowling about the church for a quarter of an hour, just went into the
confessional and came out again almost immediately, after looking at you
through the window, I have no doubt. I am terribly afraid that he
recognized you or heard what you said."
"I should think so, for he spoke to me," replied the signora, whose
black eyebrows had contracted during the abbé's harangue, with an
expression of bravado. "But it matters little to me."
"I must go, signora," I said, rising; "by remaining another moment, I
shall consummate your ruin. Since you know where I live, you will let me
know your wishes----"
"Stay," she said, detaining me by force. "If you go away, I lose my only
means of exculpating myself. Don't be afraid, Lila. Don't say a word, I
forbid you. Give me your arm, cousin," she added, raising her voice
slightly, "and let us go."
"Can you think of such a thing, signora? All Florence knows me. You will
never be able to pass me off as your cousin."
"But all Florence doesn't know me," she replied, putting her arm through
mine and forcing me to walk with her. "Besides, I am _hermetically_
veiled, and you have only to pull your hat over your eyes. Come! pretend
you have a toothache! Put your handkerchief to your face. Quick! here
are some people who know me and are looking at me. Be more
self-possessed and quicken your pace."
Talking thus, and walking rapidly, she reached the church door, leaning
on my arm. I was about to take leave of her and lose myself in the crowd
that was coming out with us, for the mass was at an end, when Abbé
Cignola appeared once more, standing on the porch and pretending to talk
with one of the sacristans. His sidelong glance followed us closely.
"Isn't that so, Hector?" said the signora, as we passed him, putting her
head between the abbé's face and mine. Lila was trembling in every
limb; so was the signora, but her alarm redoubled her courage. A
carriage with the crest and livery of the Grimanis drove up with a great
clatter, and the multitude, who always gaze greedily at any display of
magnificence, crowded under the wheels and the horses' feet. Moreover,
the Grimani equipage always attracted a particularly large crowd of
beggars; for the pious aunt was accustomed to dispense alms lavishly as
she drove along. A tall footman at the carriage door was obliged to push
them back in order to open it; and I walked on, still escorting the
signora, still followed by Abbé Cignola's inquisitorial glance.
"Get in with me," said the signora, in a tone that admitted of no
denial, and with a vigorous pressure of my arm, as she placed her foot
on the step. I hesitated; it seemed to me that this last audacious
stroke would inevitably be her ruin.
"Get in, I say," she repeated in a sort of passion; and as soon as I was
seated by her side she herself raised the window, barely giving Lila
time to take her seat opposite us, and the servant to close the door. In
an instant we were driving at full speed through the streets of
Florence.
"Don't be afraid, my dear Lila," said the signora, putting her arm
around her foster sister's neck, and kissing her affectionately on the
cheek; "everything will come out all right. Abbé Cignola has never seen
my cousin, and it is impossible that he should have seen Signor Lelio
distinctly enough ever to discover the fraud."
"Oh! signora, Abbé Cignola is the kind of man one can't deceive."
"Bah! what do I care for your Abbé Cignola? I tell you that I make my
aunt believe whatever I choose."
"And Signor Hector will say that he didn't go to mass with you," I
observed.
"Oh! as for that, I promise you that he will say whatever I want him to;
if necessary I will convince him that he actually was at mass while he
fancied that he was hunting."
"But the servants, signora? The footman looked at Signor Lelio with a
strange expression, then suddenly started back, as if he had recognized
the piano-tuner."
"Very good! you must tell him that I met _that man_ in the church and
bade him good-morning; that he told me that he had an errand to do in
our neighborhood, and that, as I am very obliging, I offered to save him
the trouble of going there on foot. We will set him down in front of the
first country house we come to. And you can say in addition that I am
very heedless, that my aunt has very good reason to scold me, but that I
am an excellent young person, although a little wild, and that it
grieves you to see me so constantly reprimanded. As they are all fond of
me, and as I will give each one of them a little present, they will say
nothing at all. Enough of this! can't either of you think of something
else to say to me than lamentations over a thing that is done? Signor
Lelio, how do you like this gloomy city of Florence? Don't you think
that all these black old palaces, iron-bound to the very eaves, look
exactly like prisons?"
I tried to carry on the conversation in an unconcerned tone; but I was
very far from satisfied. I felt no inclination for adventures in which
all the risk was taken by the woman, and all the wrong was on my side.
It seemed to me that she treated me very inconsiderately in exposing
herself thus for my sake to perils and disasters which she would not
permit me to meet or avert.
I was so distressed that I remained silent in spite of myself. The
signora, having attempted in vain to maintain the conversation, also
held her peace. Lila's face continued to wear a terrified expression. We
had left the city. Twice I observed that we had reached what seemed a
favorable place to stop the carriage and set me down; twice the signora
refused in an imperious tone, saying that we were too near the city and
that there was still danger of meeting some acquaintance.
For a quarter of an hour we had not spoken a word, and the situation was
becoming intensely disagreeable. I was displeased with the signora,
because she had involved me, without my consent, in an adventure in
which I could no longer proceed at my own pleasure. I was even more
displeased with myself for allowing myself to be led into a series of
childish exploits of which all the shame must fall upon me; for, even in
the eyes of the least scrupulous of men, to seduce or compromise a girl
of fifteen must always be considered an evil and cowardly performance.
I was on the point of ordering the coachman to stop myself, when, on
turning toward my travelling companions, I saw that the signora was
weeping silently. I uttered an exclamation of surprise, and, moved by an
irresistible impulse, I took her hand; but she abruptly withdrew it, and
throwing her arms about Lila's neck, who was weeping also, hid her face
on her faithful soubrette's bosom and sobbed as if her heart would
break.
"In heaven's name, why do you weep in such heartrending fashion, my dear
signora?" I cried, almost falling at her feet. "If you do not wish to
send me away in utter despair, tell me if this unlucky adventure is the
cause of your tears, and if I can help to turn aside the consequences
which you dread."
She raised her head from Lila's shoulder, and replied, glancing at me
with something like indignation:
"You must think me a great coward!"
"I think nothing except what you tell me," I said. "But you turn away
from me, and you weep; how can I tell what is taking place in your mind?
Ah! if I have offended or displeased you, if I am the involuntary cause
of your unhappiness, how can I ever forgive myself?"
"So you think that I am afraid, do you?" she rejoined, in a tone at once
tender and bitter. "You see me weeping, and you say: 'She is like a
little girl who is afraid of being scolded!'"
She wept more bitterly than ever, concealing her face in her
handkerchief. I strove to comfort her, I implored her to answer me, to
look at me, to explain herself; and, in that moment of confusion and
emotion, my feeling toward her was so paternal and friendly that chance
brought to my lips, amid the sweet names by which I called her, the name
of a child who had once been dear to me. That name I had been accustomed
for many years to apply, unconsciously as it were, to all the lovely
children whom I chanced to caress. "My dear signora," I said, "dear
Alezia----" I paused, afraid that I might have offended her by giving
her accidentally a name that was not her own. But she did not seem
offended; she looked at me with some surprise and allowed me to take her
hand, which I covered with kisses.
Meanwhile the carriage was rolling on like the wind, and before I had
had time to obtain the explanation which I sought so eagerly, Lila
informed us that the Grimani villa was in sight and that we absolutely
must part.
"What!" I cried; "am I to leave you thus? for how long a time must I eat
my heart out in this horrible uncertainty?"
"Come to the park to-night," she said; "the wall is not very high. I
will be in the narrow path that runs by the wall, near a statue which
you will easily find by turning to your right from the gate. At one
o'clock!"
Again I kissed the signora's hands.
"Oh! signora! signora!" exclaimed Lila, in a mild, sad tone of reproach.
"Do not thwart me, Lila," said the signora, vehemently; "you know what I
told you this morning."
Lila seemed utterly dismayed.
"What did the signora say?" I asked her.
"She wanted to kill herself," sobbed Lila.
"Kill yourself, signora!" I cried. "You who are so lovely, so
light-hearted, so happy, so dearly loved!"
"So dearly loved, Lelio!" she replied, in a despairing tone. "By whom am
I loved, pray? only by my poor mother and by this dear Lila."
"And by the poor artist who dares not tell you so," I added, "but who
would give his life to make you love yours."
"You lie!" she exclaimed passionately; "you do not love me!"
I seized her arm in a convulsive grasp and gazed at her in stupefaction.
At that moment the carriage suddenly stopped. Lila had pulled the cord.
I jumped out, and tried, as I saluted my travelling companions, to
resume the humble demeanor of the piano-tuner. But the red eyes of the
two young women did not escape the footman's penetrating glance. He
examined me with the greatest attention, and, when the carriage drove
on, he turned several times to look after me. I had a vague idea that
his features were familiar to me; but I had not dared to look him in the
eye, and it did not occur to me to try to recall where I had seen that
coarse, pale, heavily bearded face.
"Lelio! Lelio!" said Checchina, when we were at supper, "you are in high
spirits to-day. Look out that you do not weep to-morrow, my boy."
At midnight, I had scaled the park wall; but I had taken only a step or
two on the path when a hand grasped my cloak. To guard against accident,
I had provided myself with what, in my village, we call a "night-knife,"
and I was about to produce it when I recognized the fair Lila.
"Just a word, Signor Lelio, in great haste," she said in a low voice;
"do not say that you are married."
"What do you mean by that, my dear child? I am not."
"It doesn't concern me," rejoined Lila; "but I beg you not to mention
that lady who lives with you."
"You are on my side then, my dear Lila?"
"Oh! no, signor, certainly not! I do all that I can to prevent the
signora from doing all these imprudent things. But she won't listen to
me, and if I should tell her of the circumstance that might and should
part her from you forever,--I don't know what would happen!"
"What do you mean? Explain yourself."