A grand ball was taking place at the Auberge de Provence, in the Strada
Reale, at Valetta. All the rank and fashion of the city were assembled.
They consisted of the naval, military, and civil officers of the crown
stationed there, their wives and daughters; a few English visitors
attracted to the island to recruit their health, or to indulge their
curiosity; and some foreigners, illustrious and otherwise, who had come
there chiefly on the latter account; though a small portion might have
been travelling diplomatists or scientific _savants_. Few ball-rooms
could display a larger number of glittering uniforms, both naval,
military, and consular; and there was a very fair proportion of beauty
among the younger ladies, and diamonds among the dowagers. The soldiers
certainly took the lead. They consider that possession is nine parts of
the law; and thus as they live in the island, while their naval brethren
are merely visitors, they could not help feeling their superiority.
Captains of line-of-battle ships and frigates are, of course, however,
held in high consideration by the fair sex; but midshipmen were sadly at
a discount; and even lieutenants, unless they happened to have handles
to their names, or uncles in the ministry, were very little thought of.
Such was the case at the time of which I write. I suspect very little
alteration has, since then, taken place.
So our two young friends, Jack Raby and Jemmy Duff, seemed to feel as
they sauntered into the ball-room, and cast their eyes round in a
somewhat unusually bashful manner, in search of any young lady who would
deign to bestow a bow on them, and accept them as partners. At last,
Jemmy Duff exchanged a nod and a smile with the little Maltese girl who
had before attracted him, and he was soon, according to his own fashion,
engaged in making desperate love to her, evidently as much to her
amusement as to his satisfaction. Poor Raby stood looking on, and could
scarcely help feeling jealous at his friend's good fortune; for not a
single lady did he know in the room, when a hand was placed on his
shoulder. He looked up, and a bright smile irradiated his countenance
as he saw who it was.
"What, Raby, don't you intend to show some of these fair ladies how well
the _Ione_ lads can kick their heels?"
The speaker was a young, intelligent-looking man, with a complexion
which would have been fair, had it not been sunburnt, with thick, light,
curling hair. He was strongly but gracefully made, of the ordinary
height, and would have been by every one considered good looking; his
forehead and mouth were decidedly handsome, the latter expressing great
firmness, at the same time a great amiability of disposition. His dress
was that of a commander in the navy.
"I can't get a partner, sir," answered the midshipman; "I don't know a
lady in the room."
"Oh! we will soon find you one. I must not have my boys thought to be
misanthropic."
"Captain Fleetwood," said a lady near, "can you introduce a partner to
my niece?"
"Oh, certainly," answered the officer, seizing Jack Raby by the arm,
"allow me to introduce Mr Raby, of her Majesty's brig _Ione_, who will
be happy to dance the next quadrille with you."
The young lady to whom he spoke, smiled, and said she should be very
happy; but the aunt made a wry face, and observed that she intended to
have asked him to introduce his friend, Major White of the --.
"I hope my young friend, Raby, will do as well. He is a nephew of Lord
--," observed Captain Fleetwood, in a slightly satirical tone. "I will
bring up White, in tow, to your ladyship, as soon as I can sight him."
Captain Fleetwood was always more thoroughly nautical in his mode of
expression at Malta than in any other place.
"Oh, certainly, I am most happy to know any of your officers, especially
a nephew of Lord --, whose brother is a great friend of my husband's
cousin."
Captain Fleetwood might have made a rejoinder; but at that moment his
eye glanced towards the door, at which was entering a stout, oldish
gentleman, in plain clothes, and hanging on his arm, a fair, young, and
very pretty and interesting girl. He instantly hurried forward, and
claimed her hand for the next dance, which, with one of the sweetest
possible smiles, she promised to give him, while the old gentleman,
though he nodded to him, evidently regarded him with far from amiable
feelings.
The young officer, however, who appeared accustomed to the old man's
surly looks, and indifferent to them, remained by her side, and engaged
her in an animated conversation. At last her companion lost all
patience, and tugging at her arm, he exclaimed--
"Come along, Ada, we must look for a seat somewhere till the dancing
begins, for I cannot undertake to stand on my legs all night. Captain
Fleetwood, you will find Miss Garden at the farther end of the room,
probably, when you wish to claim her hand for the next quadrille; but as
she is soon to commence a long sea voyage, I cannot allow her to fatigue
herself by dancing much this evening."
Colonel Gauntlett, for the speaker was the uncle of Ada Garden, said
this in a grave, cold tone, sufficient to freeze the heart of any
ordinary lover; and, pressing his niece's arm as if to prevent her from
escaping, he dragged her through the crowd towards a seat which he found
vacant.
"Ada," said the colonel, as he walked on, "I will not have you intimate
with any of those sea officers. I cannot bear them, from the highest to
the lowest. One of them had the impertinence to interfere between me
and a lady to whom I was paying my addresses. By Jove, miss, he carried
her off before my eyes. I have hated them ever since, with their
easy-going, devil-me-care ways."
"But surely, uncle, you would not make all suffer for the fault of one;
and I suppose your rival loved the lady," urged Ada.
"Love her, I suppose he did love her; but he had no business to do so, I
tell you. I already looked upon her as my wife!" exclaimed the colonel,
stamping down his stick vehemently on the floor, and speaking so loud
that several people must have heard him.
"But did the lady confess her affection for you, uncle?" asked his
niece.
"Confess her love!--why, ay, no--that is, I never asked her; or, rather,
she took it into her head to refuse me altogether."
Fleetwood was about to follow, but he suddenly stopped.
"It will only enrage the old man, and excite suspicions in his mind.
Perhaps he will insult me to get rid of me altogether,--I had better
not."
Ada found herself seated next to Lady Marmion, with whose niece Jack
Raby was dancing. Her attention was easily riveted by the praises which
her ladyship lavished on Captain Fleetwood, and the secret of her
affection, if secret it could be called, was easily penetrated by the
astute dame.
"Now, my dear, you know I like him, though I do not like the navy in
general. Their coats smell of tar and cockroaches, and their
conversation is all about their ships and their adventures at sea and on
shore; and then you know they are generally so poor, that it is
dangerous to let a girl talk to them. Captain Fleetwood is not very
rich, I believe; but then he has prospects, and they should be taken
into consideration."
"I really do not know," said Ada. "It never occurred to me to calculate
the fortunes of the gentlemen with whom I am acquainted."
"Oh, you will grow more prudent, my dear, some day," observed her
ladyship. "But who can that particularly handsome man be walking this
way, with Captain Dunnup? By the way, my dear, I should recommend you
to keep that Captain Dunnup at a distance. I gave Jane the same advice,
for you know he has entirely run through his property; and they say,
besides, that he is completely in the hands of the Jews. Dear me, here
he comes with the stranger."
As she spoke, two gentlemen were advancing towards the spot where she
and Ada Garden were sitting. The one she alluded to was a
dissipated-looking young man, though with a well-bred air, and rather
handsome. The other was decidedly so--indeed, he might well have been
considered the handsomest man in the room. There was a noble and
independent air, and a free-born grace about him--so all the ladies
declared--which would have made him anywhere distinguished. His
features were dark, and of the purest classical model; his eyes were
large and sparkling, and a long silky black moustache shaded his lip.
His costume was simple and correct, from his well-fitting black coat to
his trousers, which showed off the shape of his handsome leg, and his
silk stockings, and low, well-polished shoes. The most severe critic
could not have found the slightest fault with him, except perhaps that
his coat shone too much, as if it was just out of the tailor's hands.
"Permit me to introduce to your ladyship, my friend, Prince Argiri
Caramitzo," said Captain Dunnup, advancing and presenting the stranger,
who bowed gracefully.
"And may I, Miss Garden, be allowed to introduce him to you?" he
continued. "Although a Greek, he speaks Italian like a native, in which
language I know that you, also, are a proficient."
Both ladies bowed their heads, and signified their pleasure in knowing
the Prince Caramitzo. He, in his turn, in very pure Italian, expressed
his still greater gratification at the honour he enjoyed.
While he was speaking, Dunnup caught Colonel Gauntlett's eye fixed on
him, and it occurred to him that he should introduce his friend. He
accordingly took him up, and introduced him in form.
"The prince is going eastward, colonel, and as you will probably meet
again in the classic land of Greece, if you do not rather journey
together, I feel that you should become acquainted."
As Colonel Gauntlett rather liked the look of the stranger, he
condescended to be civil to him; but as he did not speak a word of
Romaic, and as his Italian was very indifferent, and his French worse,
Argiri Caramitzo could scarcely understand what he said. He, however,
made a polite speech full of complimentary phrases in return, and then,
bowing, went back to talk to the ladies.
The handsome stranger judged that he should more speedily gain all the
information he required from the niece, and might afterwards, through
her, if he found it requisite, persuade the colonel to do what he
desired. He found on his return that Miss Garden had been led out to
dance by Captain Fleetwood, so he sat himself down to play the agreeable
to Lady Marmion, and to glean from her much which he wished to know
about the politics of Valetta, and which she was too happy to impart.
We, however, must follow Captain Fleetwood and Miss Garden. There was
no doubt of their being lovers, by the confiding way in which she rested
on his arm, and glanced up into his face as he spoke; and the look of
proud happiness with which he regarded her, and seemed to defy the world
to venture on the experiment of tearing her from him. Everybody
observed it but Colonel Gauntlett, and he remained obstinately blind to
what had taken place.
"My beloved Ada, this is the last time that I may have an opportunity of
speaking to you," said Fleetwood, as, the dance being over, he led her
to an open balcony which looked out on the moonlit harbour. "You know
how ardently I love you, and that willingly would I sacrifice all the
prospect of your uncle's property, if he would give his consent to our
union; but I would not urge you to act in opposition to his wishes--yet
there is a time when obedience ceases to be a duty, and that time must
come when he obstinately refuses to give you to me."
"He will not, he cannot do so, when he knows how dearly, how deeply you
love me." She spoke according to the dictates of her own heart; nor was
she, however, wrong.
"Then this very night, or to-morrow morning, before you sail, I will ask
you from him, and as soon as I pay off the _Ione_, which I shall
probably do in the course of two months, I will come back and claim you.
Shall I do so, dearest?"
"Oh, yes! do, Charles. It is the only way, and, believe me, whatever is
the result, I will be faithful to you. While you claim me, I will never
marry another."
"I cannot ask more, and yet I could not demand less without
contemplating an event which would wring my heart with anguish,"
exclaimed Fleetwood, pressing her hand to his lips. "I think, however,
we may before that time again meet--I expect to be sent to Greece, and
shall contrive to visit Cephalonia."
For some time longer the lovers talked on without taking note of its
flight, when they were disagreeably interrupted by the voice of the
colonel inquiring for Ada.
"Come here, miss," he exclaimed. "Here has been Prince Caramitzo
waiting for the last quarter of an hour to lead you out to dance, and
you were nowhere to be found--I will not have it." And he looked a
black thundercloud at Fleetwood. "Come, _Signior Principe_, there is
your partner ready for you."
The prince, comprehending his meaning more by his action than his words,
stepped forward, and, with a profound bow, offered his arm, which Ada,
giving a glance of regret at Fleetwood, was obliged to accept. The
prince was not a man, it appeared, to allow a lady to feel annoyed in
his society. He first paid her a slight and delicate compliment on her
beauty, which he introduced in a description of his own countrywomen and
the Italians. He told her how much he admired all he had heard of
England, and seen of Malta; he drew out her opinion on several subjects,
and a little account of her life, and then excited her curiosity about
himself.
"But how is it that, being a Greek, you speak Italian so well?" she
asked.
This was just what he expected; he wished to tell her his history, but
could not volunteer to do so.
"Ah, signora, it is a long story, and would fatigue you; but thus much I
may tell you:--You know the misery, the abject slavery to which my
beautiful, my noble country was so long subjected beneath the iron
despotism of the infidel Turks. Our fathers contrived to live under it,
or the present race would not have been born to avenge them. We were
rapidly becoming extinct as a nation; our religion languished--our
education was totally neglected. My father, however, the late Prince of
Graditza, also Argiri Caramitzo, was a man superior to those around him,
and determining that I, his eldest son, should have the advantage of a
good education, he sent me to the famous university of Pisa, in Tuscany.
I there acquired the language of Italy in its purest form; but,
unhappily, I almost learned to forget my own country--I formed
friendships with those among whom I lived. I not only learned to talk,
but to think as an Italian, and I was even ignorant of the gallant
struggle which had commenced in Greece. This was owing to the affection
of my parents, who, knowing that my disposition would have prompted me
instantly to throw myself wherever danger was the greatest, did not
inform me of what was taking place, and when they suspected that I must
have heard something on the subject, assured me that my presence would
be useless, and urged me to remain where I was. Alas! I listened to
their well-meant deceit, till news was brought me that my noble father
had been slain in combat with the enemies of our country, and that my
mother had died of grief at his loss. Then, indeed, the truth was made
known to me, and, rousing myself for action, I hastened to fly to the
country, where I felt that the presence of even the meanest of her brave
sons was required. Alas! I found that the means of quitting Italy were
wanting--I was in debt, and no funds had been transmitted to me. I
contrived to exist; for my friends were kind, but innumerable delays
occurred before the money I sent for arrived, and I am only now on my
way to Greece--my native land, the mother of the arts and sciences, the
country of Socrates and Plato, of Alexander and Aristides, the
battle-fields of Thermopylae and Marathon. Ah, signora, Greece once
contained all that is noble and great, and brave--what she once was,
such she will be again--when we, her brave sons, have regenerated her,
when we have driven forth the accursed Turk, never more to set his foot
upon our sacred shore, except as a slave, and a bondman. Ah, this is
the patriot's wish--his dream by night, his hope by day. This is the
bond of union which now unites the hearts of our countrymen in one great
feeling--a deadly hatred of the Turk--time is coming, and will shortly
arrive when Greece, brightly and freshly burnished, will come forth a
model of a perfect republic to all the nations of the earth. You are
happy, signora, in going to the neighbourhood, that you may watch the
progress of the glorious work."
Ada listened, and her cheek glowed with animation, for she was an
enthusiast in the cause of the Greeks. She looked at the prince, and
thought him a noble patriot.
The Greek intended that she should do so. He was struck by her beauty,
and every instant he felt his admiration for her increasing.
A second time she accepted the prince's hand, in preference, however,
only to that of Captain Dunnup, and she became the envy of the room, for
numberless fair ladies were dying to dance with the handsome prince.
The Greek stranger was accompanied to the ball-room by a young man of
very striking appearance, though of a slighter figure, and not as tall
as himself. He spoke of him as his particular friend, the Count
Montifalcone, who was on his way with him to join those struggling for
Grecian independence. His manners were elegant: but he appeared to be
very bashful, or diffident; and, at all events, appeared very much
disinclined to enter into conversation. The Greek, however, introduced
his Italian friend to Miss Garden; and though, at first, he was very
much reserved, as he gazed at her animated and lovely countenance, he
appeared to gain courage, and warmly entered into conversation on the
beauty of his native Italy, and her superiority in works of arts over
all other countries. It seemed curious to her that although he was
going out to join the Greeks, he should show so little interest, as he
appeared to do, on the subject of Greece, her wrongs and prospects. He
danced, however, but once with Miss Garden nor did he, during the course
of the evening, attempt to gain an introduction to any one else; but
continued to watch her, at a distance, wherever she moved, and was
evidently much struck with her beauty.
Many remarked the grave and silent young Italian as he stood, with his
arms folded on his breast, endeavouring to conceal himself among the
crowd, or leaned, apparently lost in reflection, against the door-post
at the entrance to the room, in which she happened to be. His Greek
friend seemed so much engaged, that he scarcely noticed him, and though
Captain Dunnup exchanged a few words with him occasionally, he spoke to
no one else, nor did he seem anxious to do so.
With a glowing cheek and sparkling eye she listened as he advocated, in
ardent language, the cause of his native land, and her heart beat with
enthusiasm.
"Oh! if I were a man, nothing should prevent me from hurrying to join
the sacred ranks of your liberators!" she exclaimed.
"With such an advocate we must succeed," returned the Greek, bowing.
"Some of your noble countrymen, it is said, have already joined the
patriot force; and, lady, when in the thick of the combat, fighting for
Grecian liberty, I shall remember your words, and feel that your prayers
are aiding us."
Ada listened to the softly-flowing expressions of the voluble prince,
and believed him to be a perfect patriot. Had she known a little more
of the world, she might have thought otherwise, and yet, who can say,
that while the prince was speaking to her, he did not feel all he
expressed. New hopes, feelings, and aspirations rushed into his mind,
elevating and purifying it--a glorious future might yet be in store for
his country and himself--and while he remained by her side, the force of
those sensations continued. It was with unwillingness, and even pain,
that he was obliged to yield her up again to Captain Fleetwood, who was
naturally on the watch to monopolise her whenever he could. How the
prince hated the English Captain--for he soon saw that, though Miss
Garden listened to his own honeyed words with pleasure, her heart was in
the safe keeping of one whom he, all of a sudden, chose to consider as
his rival.
"No matter," he muttered. "I must teach her to forget him."
He sauntered about the room for a short time by himself, paying little
attention to the fair ladies who surrounded him, and it must be owned,
was sadly indifferent to the charms of most of them. He then sought
Colonel Gauntlett, whom he endeavoured to engage in conversation. It
was certainly of a peculiar nature, and the meaning was not always clear
to either party; but he gleaned much useful information, and suggested
many things to the colonel in return. Among other pieces of advice, he
recommended him to carry as much gold as he could with him, telling him
that he would find it more convenient than bills. He strongly advised
him also to keep it in his trunks, as they, in case of shipwreck, would
more probably be saved than other things. It is extraordinary how very
attentive and full of forethought he was.
The ball was at length over. Jack Raby and Jemmy Duff vowed that they
had never enjoyed themselves more in their lives, thanks to their
captain's management; and they had made an agreement to introduce one
another to each other's partners, and, at the same time, to puff off
each other's wealth and connections, which plan they found answer very
satisfactorily.
The Prince Caramitzo, as he threw a sea-cloak over his shoulder in front
of the hotel, took the arm of Captain Dunnup, and warmly pressed his
hand.
"I have much reason to thank you for your politeness, sir, and shall be
glad to welcome you to Greece."
The captain expressed his satisfaction at having been useful to him, and
signified the very great probability there was of his shortly having to
pay a visit to that country, at all events, of having to leave Malta.
They then parted with mutual expressions of esteem.
The Greek then took the arm of his Italian friend, and together they
sauntered down the street, every now and then stopping to ascertain
whether any person from the ball was watching where they went.
Captain Fleetwood walked to his lodgings in an unusually melancholy
humour. He had forebodings of disaster, which even his strong mind
could not at once overcome, though he knew they arose from being
fatigued and worried.
To-morrow he must take his farewell of his beloved Ada for an indefinite
period; for, though he intended to hurry back from England as soon as
possible, he knew that numberless events might occur to delay him. He
had also ventured to speak to Colonel Gauntlett, for the first time, of
his love for his niece; and the reception he had met with from the old
gentleman was, as might be expected, most unsatisfactory.
The colonel and Ada were driving home together: she had not spoken, for
she could not trust her voice.
"Niece," said the colonel, stamping with his stick at the bottom of the
carriage, as if to arouse her, "you were talking and dancing a great
deal too much with that young naval man--that Captain Fleetwood--and
after what I said to you at the commencement of the evening, I consider
such conduct highly reprehensible."
"I confess I spoke to him a great deal this evening," answered the poor
girl, in a tremulous voice. "I hoped that you would not blame me, as he
said that he would speak to you and explain everything."
"Well, young lady, he did speak to me, and a damned impertinent thing he
said, too. He had the folly--the outrageous, unconscionable folly--to
ask me to allow you to marry him!" exclaimed the colonel in a husky
voice, again almost driving his stick through the bottom of the
carriage. "He had the folly; but I was not fool enough to accede to
it--I refused him, young woman. And now, never let me hear his name
mentioned again."
With a sad heart Ada placed her head on her pillow, and, with a sadder
still, she rose on the following morning to prepare for her voyage.