Florence, Lungo l'Arno.
My dear Tom,--It is nigh a month since I wrote to you last, and if I
didn't "steal a few hours from the night, my dear," it might be longer
still. The address will tell you where we are,--I wish anybody or
anything else would tell you how or why we came here! I intended to have
gone back from Genoa, nor do I yet understand what prevented me doing
so. My poor head--none of the clearest in what may be called my lucid
intervals--is but a very indifferent thinking machine when harassed,
worried, and tormented as I have been latterly. You have heard how
James's Countess, the Cardinal's niece and the betrothed of a Neapolitan
Prince, turned out to be a circus woman, one of those bits of tawdry
gold fringe and pink silk pantaloons that dance on a chalked saddle to a
one-shilling multitude! By good fortune she had two husbands living, or
she might have married the boy. As it was, he has gone into all manner
of debt on her account; and if it was not that I can defy ruin in any
shape,--for certain excellent reasons you may guess at,--this last
exploit of his would go nigh to our utter destruction.
We hurried away out of Genoa in shame, and came on here by slow stages.
The womenkind plucked up wonderfully on the way, and I believe of the
whole party your humble servant alone carried abasement with him inside
the gates of Florence.
My sense of sorrow and shame probably somehow blunted my faculties and
dulled my reasoning powers, for I would seem to have concurred in a vast
number of plans and arrangements that now, when I have come to myself,
strike me with intense astonishment. For instance, we have taken a suite
of rooms on the Arno, hired a cook, a carriage, and a courier; we are, I
hear, also in negotiation for a box at the "Pergola," and I am credibly
informed that I am myself looking out for saddle-horses for the girls,
and a "stout-made, square-jointed cob of lively action," to carry
myself.
It may be all true--I have no doubt it is more philosophical, as the
cant phrase is--to believe Kenny Dodd to be mistaken rather than suppose
his whole family deranged, so that if I hear to-morrow or next day
that I 'm about to take lessons in singing, or to hire a studio as a
sculptor, I 'm fully determined to accept the tidings with a graceful
submission. There is only one thing, Tom Purcell, that passes my belief,
and that is, that there ever lived as besotted an old fool as your
friend Kenny D., a man so thoroughly alive to everything that displeased
him, and yet so prone to endure it; so actively bent on going a road the
very opposite to the one he wanted to travel; and that entered heart and
soul into the spirit of ruining himself, as if it was the very best fun
imaginable.
That you can attempt to follow me through the vagaries of this strange
frame of mind is more than I expect, neither do I pretend to explain
it to you. There it is, however,--make what you can of it, just as you
would with a handful of copper money abroad, where there was no clew to
the value of a single coin in the mass, but wherewith you are assured
you have received your change.
With a fine lodging, smart liveries, a very good cook, and a
well-supplied table, I thought it possible that though ruin would follow
in about three months, yet in the interval I might probably enjoy a
little ease and contentment. At all events, like the Indian, who,
when he saw that he must inevitably go over the Falls, put his paddles
quietly aside, and resolved to give himself no unnecessary trouble, I
also determined I 'd leave the boat alone, and never "fash myself for
the future." Wise as this policy may seem, it has not saved me. Mrs. D.
is a regular storm-bird! Wherever she goes she carries her own hurricane
with her! and I verily believe she could get up a tornado under the
equator.
In a little pious paroxysm that seized her in the mountains, she, at the
instigation of a stupid old lord there, must needs write a tract
about certain miracles that were or were not--for I 'll not answer for
either--performed by a saint that for many years back nobody had paid
any attention to. This precious volume cost _her_ three weeks' loss of
rest, and _me_ about thirty pounds sterling. It was, however, a pious
work, and even as a kind of _visa_ on her passport to heaven, I
suppose it would be called cheap. I assure you, Tom, I spent the cash
grudgingly; that I did pay it at all I thought was about as good "a
miracle" as any in the book.
Armed with this tract, she tramped through the Lucchese mountains,
leaving copies everywhere, and thrusting her volume into the hands of
all who would have it. I 'm no great admirer of this practice in any
sect. The world has too many indiscreet people to make this kind of
procedure an over-safe one; besides, I 'm not quite certain that even a
faulty religion is not preferable to having none at all, and it happens
not unfrequently that the convert stops half-way on his road, and leaves
one faith without ever reaching the other. I 'll not discuss this matter
further; I have trouble enough on my hands without it.
These little tracts of Mrs. D.'s attracted the attention of the
authorities. It was quite enough that they had been given away gratis,
and by an Englishwoman, to stamp them as attempts to proselytize, and,
although they could n't explain how, yet they readily adopted the idea
that the whole was written in a figurative style purposely to cover
its real object, and so they set lawyers and judges to work, and what
between oaths of peasants and affirmations of prefects, they soon made
a very pretty case, and yesterday morning, just as we had finished
breakfast, a sergeant of the gendarmerie entered the room, and with a
military salute asked which was la Signora Dodd? The answer being
given, he proceeded to read aloud a paper, that he held in his hand,
the contents of which Cary translated for me in a whisper. They were, in
fact, a judge's warrant to commit Mrs. D. to prison under no less than
nine different sections of a new law on the subject of religion. In vain
we assured him that we were all good Catholics, kept every ordinance of
the Church, and hated a heretic. He politely bowed to our explanation,
but said that with this part of the matter he had nothing to do; that
doubtless we should be able to establish our innocence before the
tribunal; meanwhile Mrs. D. must go to prison.
I 'm ashamed at all the warmth of indignation we displayed, seeing that
this poor fellow was simply discharging his duty,--and that no pleasant
one,--but somehow it is so natural to take one's anger out on the
nearest official, that we certainly didn't spare him. Tiverton
threatened him with the House of Commons; James menaced him with the
"Times;" Mary Anne protested that the British fleet would anchor off
Leghorn within forty hours; and I hinted that Mazzini should have the
earliest information of this new stroke of tyranny. He bore all like--a
gendarme! stroked his moustaches, clinked his sword on the ground, put
his cocked-hat a little more squarely on his head, and stood at
ease. Mrs. D.--there s no guessing how a woman will behave in any
exigency--did n't go off, as I thought and expected she would, in strong
hysterics; she did n't even show fight; she came out in what, I am free
to own, was for her a perfectly new part, and played martyr; ay, Tom,
she threw up her eyes, clasped her hands upon her bosom, and said, "Lead
me away to the stake--burn me--torture me--cut me in four quarters--tear
my flesh off with hot pincers." She suggested a great variety of these
practices, and with a volubility that showed me she had studied the
subject. Meanwhile the sergeant grew impatient, declared the "seance"
was over, and ordered her at once to enter the carriage that stood
awaiting her at the door, and which was to convey her to the prison. I
need n't dwell on a very painful scene; the end of it was that she was
taken away, and though we all followed in another carriage, we were only
admitted to a few moments of leave-taking with her, when the massive
gates were closed, and she was a captive!
[Illustration: 248]
Tiverton told me I must at once go to our Legation and represent the
case. "Be stout about it," said he; "say she must be liberated in half
an hour. Make the Minister understand you are somebody, and won't stand
any humbug. I 'd go," he added, "but I can't do anything against the
present Government." A knowing wink accompanied this speech, and though
I didn't see the force of the remark, I winked too, and said nothing.
"What language does he speak?" said I, at last.
"Our Minister? English, of course!"
"In that case I 'm off at once;" and away I drove to the Legation. The
Minister was engaged. Called again,--he was out. Called later,--he was
in conference with the Foreign Secretary. Later still,--he was dressing
for dinner. Tipped his valet a Nap. and sent in my card, with a pressing
entreaty to be admitted. Message brought back, quite impossible,--must
call in the morning. Another Nap. to the flunkey, and asked his advice.
"His Excellency receives this evening,--come as one of the guests."
I did n't half like this counsel, Tom; it was rather an obtrusive line
of policy, but what was to be done? I thought for a few minutes, and,
seeing no chance of anything better, resolved to adopt it. At ten
o'clock, then, behold me ascending a splendidly illuminated staircase,
with marble statues on either side, half hid amidst all manner of rare
and beautiful plants. Crowds of splendidly dressed people are wending
their way upward with myself--doubtless with lighter hearts--which was
not a difficult matter. At the top, I find myself in a dense crowd,
all a blaze of diamonds and decorations, gorgeous uniforms and jewelled
dresses of the most costly magnificence.
I assure you I was perfectly lost in wonderment and admiration. The
glare of wax-lights, the splendor of the apartments themselves, and the
air of grandeur on every side actually dazzled and astounded me. At each
instant I heard the title of Duke and Prince given to some one or other.
"Your Highness is looking better;" "I trust your Grace will dance;" "Is
the Princess here?" "Pray present me to the Duchess." Egad, Tom, I felt
I was really in the very centre of that charmed circle of which one
hears so much and yet sees so little.
I need n't say that I knew nobody, and I own to you it was a great
relief to me that nobody knew _me_. Where should I find the Minister in
all this chaos of splendor, and if I did succeed, how obtain the means
of addressing him? These were very puzzling questions to be solved, and
by a brain turning with excitement, and half wild between astonishment
and apprehension. On I went, through room after room,--there seemed no
end to this gorgeous display. Here they were crushed together, so that
stars, crosses, epaulettes, diamond coronets, and jewelled arms seemed
all one dense mass; here they were broken into card-parties; here they
were at billiards; here dancing; and here all were gathered around a
splendid buffet, where the pop, pop of champagne corks explained the
lively sallies of the talkers. I was not sorry to find something like
refreshment; indeed, I thought my courage stood in need of a glass of
wine, and so I set myself vigorously to pierce the firm and compact
crowd in front of me. My resolve had scarcely been taken, when I felt a
gentle but close pressure within my arm, and on looking down, saw three
fingers of a white-gloved hand on my wrist.
I started back; and even before I could turn my head, Tom, I heard a
gentle voice murmur in my ear, "Dear creature,--how delighted to see
you!--when did you arrive?" and my eyes fell upon Mrs. Gore Hampton!
There she was, in all the splendor of full dress, which, I am bound to
say, in the present instance meant as small an amount of raiment as
any one could well venture out in. That I never saw her look half so
beautiful is quite true. Her combs of brilliants set off her glossy
hair, and added new brilliancy to her eyes, while her beauteous neck and
shoulders actually shone in the brightness of its tints. I bethought me
of the "Spluegen," Tom, and the cold insolence of her disdain. I tried
to summon up indignation to reproach her, but she anticipated me, by
saying, with a bewitching smile, "Adolphus isn't here now, Doddy!"
Few as the words were, Tom, they revealed a whole history,--they were
apology for the past, and assurance for the present. "Still," said I,
"you might have--" "What a silly thing it is!" said she, putting her fan
on my lips; "and it wants to quarrel with me the very moment of meeting;
but it must n't and it sha'n't. Get me some supper, Doddy,--an oyster
patty, if there be one,--if not, an ortolan truffe."
This at least was a good sensible speech, and so I wedged firmly into
the mass, and, by dint of very considerable pressure, at length landed
my fair friend at the buffet. It was, I must say, worth all the labor.
There was everything you can think of, from sturgeon to Maraschino
jelly, and wines of every land of Europe. It was a good opportunity
to taste some rare vintages, and so I made a little excursion through
Marcobrunner to Johannisberg, and thence on to Steinberger. Leaving the
Rhine land, I coquetted awhile with Burgundy, especially Chambertin,
back again, however, to Champagne, for the sake of its icy coldness, to
wind up with some wonderful Schumlawer,--a Hungariau tap,--that actually
made me wish I had been born a hussar.
It is no use trying to explain to _you_ the tangled maze of my poor
bewitched faculties. _You_, whose experiences in such trials have not
gone beyond a struggle for a ham sandwich, or a chicken bone for some
asthmatic old lady in black satin,--_you_ can neither comprehend my
situation nor compassion ate my difficulties. How shall I convey to
your uninformed imagination the bewitching effects of wine, beauty,
heat, light, music, soft words, soft glances, blue eyes, and snowy
shoulders? I may give you all the details, but you 'll never be able
to blend them into that magic mass that melts the heart, and makes such
fools of the Kenny Dodds of this world. There is such a thing, believe
me, as "an atmosphere of enchantment." There are elements which compose
a magical air around you, perfumed with odors, and still more entrancing
by flatteries. The appeal is now to your senses, now to your heart, your
affections, your intellect, your sympathies; your very self-love is even
addressed, and you are more than man, at least more than an Irishman, if
you resist.
Egad, Tom, she is a splendid woman! and has that air of gentleness
and command about her that somehow subdues you at once. Her little
cajoleries--those small nothings of voice and look and touch--are such
subtle tempters for one admired even to homage itself.
"You must be my escort, Doddy," said she, drawing on her glove, after
fascinating me by the sight of that dimpled hand, and those rose-tipped
fingers so full of their own memories for me. "You shall give me your
arm, and I'll tell you who every one is." And away we sailed out of the
supper-room into the crowded _salons_.
Our progress was slow, for the crush was tremendous; but, as we went,
her recognitions were frequent. Still, I could not but remark, not with
women. All, or nearly all, her acquaintances were of, I was going to
say the harder, but upon my life I believe the real epithet would be the
softer sex. They saluted her with an easy, almost too easy, familiarity.
Some only smiled; and one, a scoundrel,--I shall know him again,
however,--threw up his eyes with a particular glance towards me, as
plainly as possible implying, "Oh, another victim, eh?" As for the
ladies, some stared full at her, and then turned abruptly away; some
passed without looking; one or two made her low and formal courtesies;
and a few put up their glasses to scan her lace flounce or her lappets,
as if _they_ were really the great objects to be admired. At last we
came to a knot of men talking in a circle round a very pretty woman,
whose jet-black eyes and ringlets, with a high color, gave her a most
brilliant appearance. The moment she saw Mrs. G. H. she sprang from her
seat to embrace her. They spoke in French, and so rapidly that I could
catch nothing of what passed; but the dark eyes were suddenly darted
towards me with a piercing glance that made me half ashamed.
[Illustration: 252]
"Let us take possession of that sofa," said Mrs. Gore, moving towards
one. "And now, Doddy, I want to present you to my dearest friend on
earth, my own darling Georgina."
Then they both kissed, and I muttered some stupid nonsense of my own.
"This, Georgy,--this is that dear creature of whom you have heard me
speak so often; this is that generous, noble-hearted soul whose devotion
is written upon my heart; and this," said she, turning to the other
side, "this is my more than sister,--my adored Georgina!"
I took my place between them on the sofa, and was formally presented to
whom?--guess you? No less a person than Lady George Tiverton! Ay, Tom,
the fascinating creature with the dark orbs was another injured woman!
I was not to be treated like a common acquaintance, it seemed, for
"Georgy" began a recital of her husband's cruelties to me. Of all the
wretches I ever heard or read he went far beyond them. There was not
an indignity, not an outrage, he had not passed on her. He studied
cruelties to inflict upon her. She had been starved, beaten, bruised,
and, I believe, chained to a log.
She drew down her dress to show me some mark of cruelty on her shoulder;
and though I saw nothing to shock me, I took her word for the injury.
In fact, Tom, I was lost in wonderment how one that had gone through
so much not only retained the loveliness of her looks, but all the
fascinations of her beauty, unimpaired by any traits of suffering.
What a terrible story it was, to be sure! Now he had sold her diamonds
to a Jew; now he had disposed of her beautiful dark hair to a wig-maker.
In his reckless extravagance her very teeth were not safe in her head;
but more dreadful than all were the temptations he had exposed her
to,--sweet, young, artless, and lovely as she was! All the handsome
fellows about town,--all that was gay, dashing, and attractive,--the
young Peerage and the Blues,--all at her feet; but her saintlike purity
triumphed; and it was really quite charming to hear how these two pretty
women congratulated each other on all the perils they had passed
through unharmed, and the dangers through which virtue had borne
them triumphant. There I sat, Tom, almost enveloped in gauze and
Valenciennes,--for their wide flounces encompassed me, their beauteous
faces at either side, their soft breath fanning me,--listening to
tales of man's infamy that made my blood boil. To the excitement of
the champagne had succeeded the delirious intoxication compounded of
passionate indignation and glowing admiration; and at any minute I felt
ready to throw myself at the heads of the husbands or the feet of their
wives!
Vast crowds moved by us as we sat there, and I could perceive that
we were by no means unnoticed by the company. At last I perceived an
elderly lady, leaning on a young man's arm, whom I thought I recognized;
but she quickly averted her head and said something to her companion.
He turned and bowed coldly to me; and I perceived it was Morris,--or
Penrhyn, I suppose he calls himself now; and, indeed, his new dignity
would seem to have completely overcome him. Mrs. G. H. asked his name;
and when I told it, said she would permit me to present him to her,--a
liberty I had no intention to profit by.
The company was now thinning fast; and so, giving an arm to each of my
fair friends, we descended to the cloak-ing-room. "Call our carriage,
Doddy,--the Villino Amaldini! for Georgy and I go together," said Mrs.
G. I saw them to the door, helped them in, kissed their hands, promised
to call on them early on the morrow,--"Villa Amaldini,--Via
Amaldini,"--got the name by heart; another squeeze of the two fair
hands, and away they rolled, and I turned homeward in a frame of mind of
which I have not courage to attempt the description.
When I arrived at our lodgings, it was nigh three o'clock; Mary Anne and
Cary were both sitting up waiting for me. The police had made a descent
on the house in my absence, and carried away three hundred and seventy
copies of the blessed little tract, all our house bills, some of your
letters, and the girls' Italian exercises; a very formidable array
of correspondence, to which some equations in algebra, by James,
contributed the air of a cipher.
"Well, papa, what tidings?" cried both the girls, as I entered the
room. "When is she to be liberated? What says the Minister?--is he
outrageous?--was he civil?--did he show much energy?"
"Wait a bit, my dears," said I, "and let me collect myself. After all I
have gone through, my head is none of the clearest."
This was quite true, Tom, as you may readily believe. They both waited,
accordingly, with a most exemplary patience; and there we sat in
silence, confronting each other; and I own to you honestly, a criminal
in a dock never had a worse conscience than myself at that moment.
"Girls," said I, at last, "if I am to have brains to carry me through
this difficult negotiation, it will only be by giving me the most
perfect peace and tranquillity. No questioning--no interrogation--no
annoyance of any kind--you understand me--this," said I, touching my
forehead,--"this must be undisturbed." They both looked at each other
without speaking, and I went on; but what I said, and how I said it,
I have no means of knowing: I dashed intrepidly into the wide sea of
European politics, mixing up Mrs. D. with Mazzini, making out something
like a very strong case against her. From that I turned to Turkey
and the Danubian Provinces, and brought in Omer Pasha and the Earl of
Guzeberry; plainly showing that their mother was a wronged and injured
woman, and that Sir Somebody Dundas might be expected any moment at the
mouth of the Arno, to exact redress for her wrongs. "And now," said I,
winding up, "you know as much of the matter as I do, my dears; you view
things from the same level as myself; and so, off to bed, and we 'll
resume the consideration of the subject in the morning." I did n't wait
for more, but took my candle and departed.
"Poor papa!" said Mary Anne, as I closed the door; "he talks quite
wildly. This sad affair has completely affected his mind."
"He certainly _does_ talk most incoherently," said Cary; "I hope we
shall find him better in the morning." Ah! Tom, I passed a wretched
night of self-accusation and sorrow. There was nothing Mrs. D. herself
could have said to me that I did n't say. I called myself a variety
of the hardest names, and inveighed stoutly against my depravity and
treachery. The consequence was that I couldn't sleep a wink, and rose
early, to try and shake off my feverish state by a walk.
I sallied out into the streets, and half unconsciously took the way to
the prison. It was one of those old feudal fortresses--half jail, half
palace--that the Medici were so fond of,--grim-looking, narrow-windowed,
high-battlemented buildings, that stand amidst modern edifices as a
mailed knight might stand in a group of our every-day dandies. I looked
up at its dark and sullen front with a heavy and self-reproaching heart.
"Your wife is there, Kenny Dodd," said I, "a prisoner!--treated like
a malefactor and a felon!--carried away by force, without trial or
investigation, and already sentenced--for a prisoner is under sentence
when even passingly deprived of liberty--and there you stand, powerless
and inactive! For this you quitted a land where there is at least a law,
and the appeal to it open to every one! For this you have left a
country where personal liberty can be assailed neither by tyranny nor
corruption! For this you have come hundreds of miles away from home, to
subject yourself and those belonging to you to the miserable despotism
of petty tyrants and the persecution of bigots! Why don't they print
it in large letters in every passport what one has to expect in these
journeyings? What nonsense it is to say that Kenny Dodd is to travel at
his pleasure, and that the authorities themselves are neither to give
nor 'permettre qu'il lui soit donne empechement quelconque, mais au
contraire toute aide et assistance!' Why not be frank, and say, 'Kenny
Dodd comes abroad at his own proper risk and peril, to be cheated in
Belgium, bamboozled in Holland, and blackguarded on the Rhine; with
full liberty to be robbed in Spain, imprisoned in Italy, and knouted
in Russia'? With a few such facts as these before you, you would think
twice on the Tower Stairs, and perhaps deliberate a little at Dover.
It's no use making a row because foreigners do not adopt our notions.
They have no Habeas Corpus, just as they have no London Stout,--maybe
for the same reason, too,--it would n't suit the climate. But what
brings us amongst them! There's the question. Why do we come so far away
from home to eat food that disagrees with us, and live under laws we cry
out against? Is it consistent with common-sense to run amuck through the
statutes of foreign nations just out of wilfulness? I wish my wife was
out of that den, and I wish we were all back in Dodsborough." And with
that wise reflection, uttered in all the fulness of my heart, I turned
slowly away and reached the Arno. A gentleman raised his hat politely to
me as I passed. I turned hastily, and saw it was Morris. His salute was
a cold one, and showed no inclination for nearer acquaintance; but I was
too much humiliated in my own esteem to feel pride, so I followed and
overtook him. His reception of me was so chilling, Tom, that even before
I spoke I regretted the step I had adopted. I rallied, however, and
after reminding him how on a former occasion I had been benefited by his
able intervention in my behalf, briefly told him of Mrs. D.'s arrest,
and the great embarrassment I felt as to the course to be taken.
He thawed in a moment. All his distance was at once abandoned, and,
kindly offering me his arm, begged me to relate what had occurred.
He listened calmly, patiently,--I might almost say, coldly. He never
dropped a sentence,--not a syllable like sympathy or condolence. He
had n't as much as a word of honest indignation against the outrageous
behavior of the authorities. In fact, Tom, he took the whole thing just
as much as a matter of course as if there was nothing remarkable nor
strange in imprisoning an Englishwoman, and the mother of a family. He
made a few pencil notes in his pocket-book as to dates and such-like,
and then, looking at his watch, said,--
"We'll go and breakfast with Dunthorpe. You know him intimately, don't
you?"