"Dearest Albano: My affairs and my health are at length in such order,
that I can conveniently carry out my plan, which I have proposed, in
conjunction with the Princess, of making a short artistical tour to
Rome this very autumn, to which I invite thee, and will come myself to
take thee in October. The rest of the travelling party will not
displease thee, as it consists entirely of clever connoisseurs, Herr
von Bouverot, Mr. Counseller of Arts Fraischdörfer, Mr. Librarian
Schoppe (if he will). Unfortunately Herr von Augusti must stay behind
as Lector. Thy teacher in Rome (Dian) is expecting thee with much
eagerness. They have written to me that thou art particularly partial
to the new court-dame of the good Princess, Madlle. von Fr., whom I
recollect as a very capital draughtsman. It will interest thee,
therefore, to know, that the Princess takes her, too, with her,
especially since, as I hear, a journey for health is as needful to her
as to me. In spring, which, besides, is not the pleasantest season of
the year in Italy, thou wilt return to Germany to thy studies. One
thing more, in confidence, my best one! They have unreservedly
communicated to my ward, the Countess of Romeiro, thy ghost-visions in
Pestitz. Now, as she is to spend the autumn and winter during my
absence with her friend, the Princess Julienne, and besides will arrive
earlier than I, let it not strike thee as strange that she shuns thy
acquaintance, because her female and personal pride has been mortified
by the juggling use of her name, and feels itself challenged to a
direct refutation of the juggler. In fact, if the game has really
a serious object, one could not well choose worse means to effect
it.--Thou wilt do what honor bids, and, although she is my ward, not
insist upon seeking her company. All this between ourselves. Adio!
"G. v. C."
These prospects,--the elevating one of being so long with his father;
the healing one of wading out from this deep ashes into a freer,
lighter land; the flattering one that the sick, tormented heart in the
mountain-castle might perhaps, in citron and laurel groves, find, yes,
and haply give back, too, joy and health again,--these prospects
were, what the joys of human beings are, very pleasant walks in a
prison-yard.
On this happy walk he was soon disturbed by the image of the coming
Linda, not, however, on his own account, but on that of his poor sister
and his friend. How malignantly must this strange _ignis fatuus_,
thought he, dance into the nightly conflict of all these clashing
relations! Roquairol seemed, besides, to leave the too intensely loving
Rabette alone with her solitary wishes. She sent him weekly, under
cover to Albano,--once it was the reverse,--her epistolary sighs and
tears, all which he coldly pocketed, without speaking of them or of the
forlorn one.
Albano, weighing in silence Liana and Rabette, compassionated, himself,
the unequal lot of his over-hasty friend, over whose sun-steeds only an
Amazon and Titaness, but not a good country-girl, could fling the
bridle, and whose Psyche's-chariot and thunder-car seemed to him too
good for a mere connubial post-chaise or child's carriage. What a
strangling struggle of all feelings will there be, thought he, when he,
kneeling at the nuptial altar with Rabette, accidentally looks up, and
discovers among the spectators the never-to-be-forgotten lofty bride of
his whole youth, and must stammer out the renouncing "Yes!"
He was therefore in doubt whether he might venture to disclose to him
the contents of the letter, but not long indeed. "Shall I," said he,
"dissemble and juggle before a friend? May I dare to presuppose him
weak, and shun the acceleration of connections, which, after all, must
come with her?"
So soon as Charles came to him, he spoke to him first of the intended
journey, and even added the request for his company, moved by the
thought of the first parting with his youthful friend. The Captain,
whose heart always needed the sounding-board of fancy for musical
utterance, was not able, on the spot, to have or to picture any
considerable emotions about the farewell. Then Albano, who could not
get it over his lips, gave him the whole letter.
During the reading, Roquairol's whole face became hateful, even in his
friend's eye. He darted then such a flaming look of indignation at
Albano, that the latter involuntarily and unconsciously returned it.
"O, verily, I understand it all," said Charles; "so was the thing to be
solved. Only wait till to-morrow!" All muscles in him were alive, all
features distorted, everything in commotion, just as, in a violent
tempest, little cloudlets whirl around each other. Albano would fain
question and detain him. "To-morrow, to-morrow!" he cried, and went off
like a storm.