“Welcome to Villa Romani!”
The words fell strangely on my ears. Was I dreaming, or was I actually
standing on the smooth green lawn of my own garden, mechanically
saluting my own wife, who, smiling sweetly, uttered this cordial
greeting? For a moment or two my brain became confused; the familiar
veranda with its clustering roses and jasmine swayed unsteadily before
my eyes; the stately house, the home of my childhood, the scene of my
past happiness, rocked in the air as though it were about to fall. A
choking sensation affected my throat. Even the sternest men shed tears
sometimes. Such tears too! wrung like drops of blood from the heart.
And I—I could have wept thus. Oh, the dear old home! and how fair and
yet how sad it seemed to my anguished gaze! It should have been in
ruins surely—broken and cast down in the dust like its master’s peace
and honor. Its master, did I say? Who was its master? Involuntarily I
glanced at Ferrari, who stood beside me. Not he—not he; by Heaven he
should never be master! But where was _my_ authority? I came to the
place as a stranger and an alien. The starving beggar who knows not
where to lay his head has no emptier or more desolate heart than I had
as I looked wistfully on the home which was mine before I died! I
noticed some slight changes here and there; for instance, my deep
easy-chair that had always occupied one particular corner of the
veranda was gone; a little tame bird that I had loved, whose cage used
to hang up among the white roses on the wall, was also gone. My old
butler, the servant who admitted Ferrari and myself within the gates,
had an expression of weariness and injury on his aged features which he
had not worn in my time, and which I was sorry to see. And my dog, the
noble black Scotch colly, what had become of him, I wondered? He had
been presented to me by a young Highlander who had passed one winter
with me in Rome, and who, on returning to his native mountains, had
sent me the dog, a perfect specimen of its kind, as a souvenir of our
friendly intercourse. Poor Wyvis! I thought. Had they made away with
him? Formerly he had always been visible about the house or garden; his
favorite place was on the lowest veranda step, where he loved to bask
in the heat of the sun. And now he was nowhere visible. I was mutely
indignant at his disappearance, but I kept strict watch over my
feelings, and remembered in time the part I had to play.
“Welcome to Villa Romani!” so said my wife. Then, remarking my silence
as I looked about me, she added with a pretty coaxing air,
“I am afraid after all you are sorry you have come to see me!”
I smiled. It served my purpose now to be as gallant and agreeable as I
could; therefore I answered:
“Sorry, madame! If I were, then should I be the most ungrateful of all
men! Was Dante sorry, think you, when he was permitted to behold
Paradise?”
She blushed; her eyes drooped softly under their long curling lashes.
Ferrari frowned impatiently—but was silent. She led the way into the
house—into the lofty cool drawing-room, whose wide windows opened out
to the garden. Here all was the same as ever with the exception of one
thing—a marble bust of myself as a boy had been removed. The grand
piano was open, the mandoline lay on a side-table, looking as though it
had been recently used; there were fresh flowers and ferns in all the
tall Venetian glass vases. I seated myself and remarked on the beauty
of the house and its surroundings.
“I remember it very well,” I added, quietly.
“You remember it!” exclaimed Ferrari, quickly, as though surprised.
“Certainly. I omitted to tell you, my friend, that I used to visit this
spot often when a boy. The elder _Conte_ Romani and myself played about
these grounds together. The scene is quite familiar to me.”
Nina listened with an appearance of interest.
“Did you ever see my late husband?” she asked.
“Once,” I answered her, gravely. “He was a mere child at the time, and,
as far as I could discern, a very promising one. His father seemed
greatly attached to him. I knew his mother also.”
“Indeed,” she exclaimed, settling herself on a low ottoman and fixing
her eyes upon me; “what was she like?”
I paused a moment before replying. Could I speak of that unstained
sacred life of wifehood and motherhood to this polluted though lovely
creature?
“She was a beautiful woman unconscious of her beauty,” I answered at
last. “There, all is said. Her sole aim seemed to be to forget herself
in making others happy, and to surround her home with an atmosphere of
goodness and virtue. She died young.”
Ferrari glanced at me with an evil sneer in his eyes.
“That was fortunate,” he said. “She had no time to tire of her husband,
else—who knows?”
My blood rose rapidly to an astonishing heat, but I controlled myself.
“I do not understand you,” I said, with marked frigidity. “The lady I
speak of lived and died under the old regime of noblesse oblige. I am
not so well versed in modern social forms of morality as yourself.”
Nina hastily interposed. “Oh, my dear _conte_,” she said, laughingly,
“pay no attention to Signor Ferrari! He is rash sometimes, and says
very foolish things, but he really does not mean them. It is only his
way! My poor dear husband used to be quite vexed with him sometimes,
though he _was_ so fond of him. But, _conte_, as you know so much about
the family, I am sure you will like to see my little Stella. Shall I
send for her, or are you bored by children?”
“On the contrary, madame, I am fond of them,” I answered, with forced
composure, though my heart throbbed with mingled delight and agony at
the thought of seeing my little one again. “And the child of my old
friend’s son must needs have a double interest for me.”
My wife rang the bell, and gave orders to the maid who answered it to
send her little girl to her at once. Ferrari meanwhile engaged me in
conversation, and strove, I could see, by entire deference to my
opinions, to make up for any offense his previous remark might have
given. A few moments passed—and then the handle of the drawing-room
door was timidly turned by an evidently faltering and unpracticed hand.
Nina called out impatiently—“Come in, baby! Do not be afraid—come in!”
With that the door slowly opened and my little daughter entered. Though
I had been so short a time absent from her it was easy to see the child
had changed very much. Her face looked pinched and woe-begone, its
expression was one of fear and distrust. The laughter had faded out of
her young eyes, and was replaced by a serious look of pained
resignation that was pitiful to see in one of her tender years. Her
mouth drooped plaintively at the corners—her whole demeanor had an
appealing anxiety in it that spoke plainly to my soul and enlightened
me as to the way she had evidently been forgotten and neglected. She
approached us hesitatingly, but stopped half-way and looked doubtfully
at Ferrari. He met her alarmed gaze with a mocking smile.
“Come along, Stella!” he said. “You need not be frightened! I will not
scold you unless you are naughty. Silly child! you look as if I were
the giant in the fairy tale, going to eat you up for dinner. Come and
speak to this gentleman—he knew your papa.”
At this word her eyes brightened, her small steps grew more assured and
steady—she advanced and put her tiny hand in mine. The touch of the
soft, uncertain little fingers almost unmanned me. I drew her toward me
and lifted her on my knee. Under pretense of kissing her I hid my face
for a second or two in her clustering fair curls, while I forced back
the womanish tears that involuntarily filled my eyes. My poor little
darling! I wonder now how I maintained my set composure before the
innocent thoughtfulness of her gravely questioning gaze! I had fancied
she might possibly be scared by the black spectacles I wore—children
are frightened by such things sometimes—but she was not. No; she sat on
my knee with an air of perfect satisfaction, though she looked at me so
earnestly as almost to disturb my self-possession. Nina and Ferrari
watched her with some amusement, but she paid no heed to them—she
persisted in staring at me. Suddenly a slow sweet smile—the tranquil
smile of a contented baby, dawned all over her face; she extended her
little arms, and, of her own accord, put up her lips to kiss me! Half
startled at this manifestation of affection, I hurriedly caught her to
my heart and returned her caress, then I looked furtively at my wife
and Guido. Had they any suspicion? No! why should they have any? Had
not Ferrari himself seen me _buried_? Reassured by this thought I
addressed myself to Stella, making my voice as gratingly harsh as I
could, for I dreaded the child’s quick instinct.
“You are a very charming little lady!” I said, playfully. “And so your
name is Stella? That is because you are a little star, I suppose?”
She became meditative. “Papa said I was,” she answered, softly and
shyly.
“Papa spoiled you!” interposed Nina, pressing a filmy black-bordered
handkerchief to her eyes. “Poor papa! You were not so naughty to him as
you are to me.”
The child’s lip quivered, but she was silent.
“Oh, fy!” I murmured, half chidingly. “Are you ever naughty? Surely
not! All little stars are good—they never cry—they are always bright
and calm.”
Still she remained mute—a sigh, deep enough for an older sufferer,
heaved her tiny breast. She leaned her head against my arm and raised
her eyes appealingly.
“Have you seen my papa?” she asked, timidly. “Will he come back soon?”
For a moment I did not answer her. Ferrari took it upon himself to
reply roughly. “Don’t talk nonsense, baby! You know your papa has gone
away—you were too naughty for him, and he will never come back again.
He has gone to a place where there are no tiresome little girls to
tease him.”
Thoughtless and cruel words! I at once understood the secret grief that
weighed on the child’s mind. Whenever she was fretful or petulant, they
evidently impressed it upon her that her father had left her because of
her naughtiness. She had taken this deeply to heart; no doubt she had
brooded upon it in her own vague childish fashion, and had puzzled her
little brain as to what she could possibly have done to displease her
father so greatly that he had actually gone away never to return.
Whatever her thoughts were, she did not on this occasion give vent to
them by tears or words. She only turned her eyes on Ferrari with a look
of intense pride and scorn, strange to see in so little a creature—a
true Romani look, such as I had often noticed in my father’s eyes, and
such as I knew must be frequently visible in my own. Ferrari saw it,
and burst out laughing loudly.
“There!” he exclaimed. “Like that she exactly resembles her father! It
is positively ludicrous! Fabio, all over! She only wants one thing to
make the portrait perfect.” And approaching her, he snatched one of her
long curls and endeavored to twist it over her mouth in the form of a
mustache. The child struggled angrily, and hid her face against my
coat. The more she tried to defend herself the greater the malice with
which Ferrari tormented her. Her mother did not interfere—she only
laughed. I held the little thing closely sheltered in my embrace, and
steadying down the quiver of indignation in my voice, I said with quiet
firmness:
“Fair play, _signor_! Fair play! Strength becomes mere bullying when it
is employed against absolute weakness.”
Ferrari laughed again, but this time uneasily, and ceasing his
monkeyish pranks, walked to the window. Smoothing Stella’s tumbled
hair, I added with a sarcastic smile:
“This little _donzella_, will have her revenge when she grows up.
Recollecting how one man teased her in childhood, she, in return, will
consider herself justified in teasing all men. Do you not agree with
me, madame?” I said, turning to my wife, who gave me a sweetly
coquettish look as she answered:
“Well, really, _conte_, I do not know! For with the remembrance of one
man who teased her, must come also the thought of another who was kind
to her—yourself—she will find it difficult to decide the _juste
milieu_.”
A subtle compliment was meant to be conveyed in these words. I
acknowledged it by a silent gesture of admiration, which she quickly
understood and accepted. Was ever a man in the position of being
delicately flattered by his own wife before? I think not! Generally
married persons are like candid friends—fond of telling each other very
unpleasant truths, and altogether avoiding the least soupcon of
flattery. Though I was not so much flattered as amused—considering the
position of affairs. Just then a servant threw open the door and
announced dinner. I set my child very gently down from my knee and
whisperingly told her that I would come and see her soon again. She
smiled trustfully, and then in obedience to her mother’s imperative
gesture, slipped quietly out of the room. As soon as she had gone I
praised her beauty warmly, for she was really a lovely little thing—but
I could see my admiration of her was not very acceptable to either my
wife or her lover. We all went in to dinner—I, as guest, having the
privilege of escorting my fair and spotless spouse! On our reaching the
dining-room Nina said—
“You are such an old friend of the family, _conte_, that perhaps you
will not mind sitting at the head of the table?”
“_Tropp’ onore, signora_!” I answered, bowing gallantly, as I at once
resumed my rightful place at my own table, Ferrari placing himself on
my right hand, Nina on my left. The butler, my father’s servant and
mine, stood as of old behind my chair, and I noticed that each time he
supplied me with wine he eyed me with a certain timid curiosity—but I
knew I had a singular and conspicuous appearance, which easily
accounted for his inquisitiveness. Opposite to where I sat, hung my
father’s portrait—the character I personated permitted me to look at it
fixedly and give full vent to the deep sigh which in very earnest broke
from my heart. The eyes of the picture seemed to gaze into mine with a
sorrowful compassion—almost I fancied the firm-set lips trembled and
moved to echo my sigh.
“Is that a good likeness?” Ferrari asked, suddenly.
I started, and recollecting myself, answered: “Excellent! So true a
resemblance that it arouses a long train of memories in my
mind—memories both bitter and sweet. Ah! what a proud fellow he was!”
“Fabio was also very proud,” chimed in my wife’s sweet voice. “Very
cold and haughty.”
Little liar! How dared she utter this libel on my memory! Haughty, I
might have been to others, but never to her—and coldness was no part of
my nature. Would that it were! Would that I had been a pillar of ice,
incapable of thawing in the sunlight of her witching smile! Had she
forgotten what a slave I was to her? what a poor, adoring, passionate
fool I became under the influence of her hypocritical caresses! I
thought this to myself, but I answered aloud:
“Indeed! I am surprised to hear that. The Romani hauteur had ever to my
mind something genial and yielding about it—I know my friend was always
most gentle to his dependents.”
The butler here coughed apologetically behind his hand—an old trick of
his, and one which signified his intense desire to speak.
Ferrari laughed, as he held out his glass for more wine.
“Here is old Giacomo,” he said, nodding to him lightly. “He remembers
both the Romanis—ask him _his_ opinion of Fabio—he worshiped his
master.”
I turned to my servant, and with a benignant air addressed him:
“Your face is not familiar to me, my friend,” I said. “Perhaps you were
not here when I visited the elder Count Romani?”
“No, _eccellenza_,” replied Giacomo, rubbing his withered hands
nervously together, and speaking with a sort of suppressed eagerness,
“I came into my lord’s service only a year before the countess died—I
mean the mother of the young count.”
“Ah! then I missed making your acquaintance,” I said, kindly, pitying
the poor old fellow, as I noticed how his lips trembled, and how
altogether broken he looked. “You knew the last count from childhood,
then?”
“I did, _eccellenza_!” And his bleared eyes roved over me with a sort
of alarmed inquiry.
“You loved him well?” I said, composedly, observing him with
embarrassment.
“_Eccellenza_, I never wish to serve a better master. He was goodness
itself—a fine, handsome, generous lad—the saints have his soul in their
keeping! Though sometimes I cannot believe he is dead—my old heart
almost broke when I heard it. I have never been the same since—my lady
will tell you so—she is often displeased with me.”
And he looked wistfully at her; there was a note of pleading in his
hesitating accents. My wife’s delicate brows drew together in a frown,
a frown that I had once thought came from mere petulance, but which I
was now inclined to accept as a sign of temper. “Yes, indeed, Giacomo,”
she said, in hard tones, altogether unlike her usual musical voice.
“You are growing so forgetful that it is positively annoying. You know
I have often to tell you the same thing several times. One command
ought to be sufficient for you.”
Giacomo passed his hand over his forehead in a troubled way, sighed,
and was silent. Then, as if suddenly recollecting his duty, he refilled
my glass, and shrinking aside, resumed his former position behind my
chair.
The conversation now turned on desultory and indifferent matters. I
knew my wife was an excellent talker, but on that particular evening I
think she surpassed herself. She had resolved to fascinate me, _that_ I
saw at once, and she spared no pains to succeed in her ambition.
Graceful sallies, witty _bon-mots_ tipped with the pungent sparkle of
satire, gay stories well and briskly told, all came easily from her
lips, so that though I knew her so well, she almost surprised me by her
variety and fluency. Yet this gift of good conversation in a woman is
apt to mislead the judgment of those who listen, for it is seldom the
result of thought, and still more seldom is it a proof of intellectual
capacity. A woman talks as a brook babbles; pleasantly, but without
depth. Her information is generally of the most surface kind—she skims
the cream off each item of news, and serves it up to you in her own
fashion, caring little whether it be correct or the reverse. And the
more vivaciously she talks, the more likely she is to be dangerously
insincere and cold-hearted, for the very sharpness of her wit is apt to
spoil the more delicate perceptions of her nature. Show me a brilliant
woman noted for turning an epigram or pointing a satire, and I will
show you a creature whose life is a masquerade, full of vanity,
sensuality and pride. The man who marries such a one must be content to
take the second place in his household, and play the character of the
henpecked husband with what meekness he best may. Answer me, ye long
suffering spouses of “society women” how much would you give to win
back your freedom and self-respect? to be able to hold your head up
unabashed before your own servants? to feel that you can actually give
an order without its being instantly countermanded? Ah, my poor
friends! millions will not purchase you such joy; as long as your
fascinating fair ones are like Caesar’s wife, “above suspicion” (and
they are generally prudent managers), so long must you dance in their
chains like the good-natured clumsy bears that you are, only giving
vent to a growl now and then; a growl which at best only excites
ridicule. My wife was of the true world worldly; never had I seen her
real character so plainly as now, when she exerted herself to entertain
and charm me. I had thought her _spirituelle_, ethereal, angelic! never
was there less of an angel than she! While she talked, I was quick to
observe the changes on Ferrari’s countenance. He became more silent and
sullen as her brightness and cordiality increased. I would not appear
aware of the growing stiffness in his demeanor; I continued to draw him
into the conversation, forcing him to give opinions on various subjects
connected with the art of which he was professedly a follower. He was
very reluctant to speak at all; and when compelled to do so, his
remarks were curt and almost snappish, so much so that my wife made a
laughing comment on his behavior.
“You are positively ill-tempered, Guido!” she exclaimed, then
remembering she had addressed him by his Christian name, she turned to
me and added—“I always call him Guido, _en famille_; you know he is
just like a brother to me.”
He looked at her and his eyes flashed dangerously, but he was mute.
Nina was evidently pleased to see him in such a vexed mood; she
delighted to pique his pride, and as he steadily gazed at her in a sort
of reproachful wonder, she laughed joyously. Then rising from the
table, she made us a coquettish courtesy.
“I will leave you two gentlemen to finish your wine together,” she
said, “I know all men love to talk a little scandal, and they must be
alone to enjoy it. Afterward, will you join me in the veranda? You will
find coffee ready.”
I hastened to open the door for her as she passed out smiling; then,
returning to the table, I poured out more wine for myself and Ferrari,
who sat gloomily eying his own reflection in the broad polished rim of
a silver fruit-dish that stood near him. Giacomo, the butler, had long
ago left the room; we were entirely alone. I thought over my plans for
a moment or two; the game was as interesting as a problem in chess.
With the deliberation of a prudent player I made my next move.
“A lovely woman!” I murmured, meditatively, sipping my wine, “and
intelligent also. I admire your taste, _signor_!”
He started violently. “What—what do you mean?” he demanded, half
fiercely. I stroked my mustache and smiled at him benevolently.
“Ah, young blood! young blood!” I sighed, shaking my head, “it will
have its way! My good sir, why be ashamed of your feelings? I heartily
sympathize with you; if the lady does not appreciate the affection of
so ardent and gallant an admirer, then she is foolish indeed! It is not
every woman who has such a chance of happiness.”
“You think—you imagine that—that—I—”
“That you are in love with her?” I said, composedly. “_Ma—certamente_!
And why not? It is as it should be. Even the late _conte_ could wish no
fairer fate for his beautiful widow than that she should become the
wife of his chosen friend. Permit me to drink your health! Success to
your love!” And I drained my glass as I finished speaking. Unfortunate
fool! He was completely disarmed; his suspicions of me melted away like
mist before the morning light. His face cleared—he seized my hand and
pressed it warmly.
“Forgive me, _conte_,” he said, with remorseful fervor; “I fear I have
been rude and unsociable. Your kind words have put me right again. You
will think me a jealous madman, but I really fancied that you were
beginning to feel an attraction for her yourself, and actually—(pardon
me, I entreat of you!) actually I was making up my mind to—to kill
you!”
I laughed quietly. “_Veramente_! How very amiable of you! It was a good
intention, but you know what place is paved with similar designs?”
“Ah, _conte_, it is like your generosity to take my confession so
lightly; but I assure you, for the last hour I have been absolutely
wretched!”
“After the fashion of all lovers, I suppose,” I answered “torturing
yourself without necessity! Well, well, it is very amusing! My young
friend, when you come to my time of life, you will prefer the chink of
gold to the laughter and kisses of women. How often must I repeat to
you that I am a man absolutely indifferent to the tender passion?
Believe it or not, it is true.”
He drank off his wine at one gulp and spoke with some excitement.
“Then I will frankly confide in you. I _do_ love the _contessa_. Love!
it is too weak a word to describe what I feel. The touch of her hand
thrills me, her very voice seems to shake my soul, her eyes burn
through me! Ah! _You_ cannot know—_you_ could not understand the joy,
the pain—”
“Calm yourself,” I said, in a cold tone, watching my victim as his
pent-up emotion betrayed itself, “The great thing is to keep the head
cool when the blood burns. You think she loves you?”
“Think! _Gran Dio_! She has—” here he paused and his face flushed
deeply—“nay! I have no right to say anything on that score. I know she
never cared for her husband.”
“I know that too!” I answered, steadily. “The most casual observer
cannot fail to notice it.”
“Well, and no wonder!” he exclaimed, warmly. “He was such an
undemonstrative fool! What business had such a fellow as that to marry
so exquisite a creature!”
My heart leaped with a sudden impulse of fury, but I controlled my
voice and answered calmly:
“_Requiescat in pace_! He is dead—let him rest. Whatever his faults,
his wife of course was true to him while he lived; she considered him
worthy of fidelity—is it not so?”
He lowered his eyes as he replied in an indistinct tone:
“Oh, certainly!”
“And you—you were a most loyal and faithful friend to him, in spite of
the tempting bright eyes of his lady?”
Again he answered huskily, “Why, of course!” But the shapely hand that
rested on the table so near to mine trembled.
“Well, then,” I continued, quietly, “the love you bear now to his fair
widow is, I imagine, precisely what he would approve. Being, as you
say, perfectly pure and blameless, what can I wish otherwise than
this—may it meet with the reward it deserves!”
While I spoke he moved uneasily in his chair, and his eyes roved to my
father’s picture with restless annoyance. I suppose he saw in it the
likeness to his dead friend. After a moment or two of silence he turned
to me with a forced smile—
“And so you really entertain no admiration for the _contessa_?”
“Oh, pardon me, I _do_ entertain a very strong admiration for her, but
not of the kind you seem to suspect. If it will please you, I can
guarantee that I shall never make love to the lady unless—”
“Unless what?” he asked, eagerly.
“Unless she happens to make love to me. In which case it would be
ungallant not to reciprocate!”
And I laughed harshly. He stared at me in blank surprise. “_She_ make
love to _you_!” he exclaimed, “You jest. She would never do such a
thing.”
“Of course not!” I answered, rising and clapping him heavily on the
shoulder. “Women never court men, it is quite unheard of; a reverse of
the order of nature! You are perfectly safe, my friend; you will
certainly win the recompense you so richly merit. Come, let us go and
drink coffee with the fair one.”
And arm-in-arm we sauntered out to the veranda in the most friendly way
possible. Ferrari was completely restored to good humor, and Nina, I
thought, was rather relieved to see it. She was evidently afraid of
Ferrari—a good point for me to remember. She smiled a welcome to us as
we approached, and began to pour out the fragrant coffee. It was a
glorious evening; the moon was already high in the heavens, and the
nightingales’ voices echoed softly from the distant woods. As I seated
myself in a low chair that was placed invitingly near that of my
hostess, my ears were startled by a long melancholy howl, which changed
every now and then to an impatient whine.
“What is that?” I asked, though the question was needless, for I knew
the sound.
“Oh, it is that tiresome dog Wyvis,” answered Nina, in a vexed tone.
“He belonged to Fabio. He makes the evening quite miserable with his
moaning.”
“Where is he?”
“Well, after my husband’s death he became so troublesome, roaming all
over the house and wailing; and then he would insist on sleeping in
Stella’s room close to her bedside. He really worried me both day and
night, so I was compelled to chain him up.”
Poor Wyvis! He was sorely punished for his fidelity.
“I am very fond of dogs,” I said, slowly, “and they generally take to
me with extraordinary devotion. May I see this one of yours?”
“Oh, certainly! Guido, will you go and unfasten him?”
Guido did not move; he leaned easily back in his chair sipping his
coffee.
“Many thanks,” he answered, with a half laugh; “perhaps you forget that
last time I did so he nearly tore me to pieces. If you do not object, I
would rather Giacomo undertook the task.”
“After such an account of the animal’s conduct, perhaps the _conte_
will not care to see him. It is true enough,” turning to me as she
spoke, “Wyvis has taken a great dislike to _Signor_ Ferrari—and yet he
is a good-natured dog, and plays with my little girl all day if she
goes to him. Do you feel inclined to see him? Yes?” And, as I bowed in
the affirmative, she rang a little bell twice, and the butler appeared.
“Giacomo,” she continued, “unloose Wyvis and send him here.”
Giacomo gave me another of those timid questioning glances, and
departed to execute his order. In another five minutes, the howling had
suddenly ceased, a long, lithe, black, shadowy creature came leaping
wildly across the moonlighted lawn—Wyvis was racing at full speed. He
paid no heed to his mistress or Ferrari; he rushed straight to me with
a yelp of joy. His huge tail wagged incessantly, he panted thirstily
with excitement, he frisked round and round my chair, he abased himself
and kissed my feet and hands, he rubbed his stately head fondly against
my knee. His frantic demonstrations of delight were watched by my wife
and Ferrari with utter astonishment. I observed their surprise, and
said lightly:
“I told you how it would be! It is nothing remarkable, I assure you.
All dogs treat me in the same way.”
And I laid my hand on the animal’s neck with a commanding pressure; he
lay down at once, only now and then raising his large wistful brown
eyes to my face as though he wondered what had changed it so greatly.
But no disguise could deceive his intelligence—the faithful creature
knew his master. Meantime I thought Nina looked pale; certainly the
little jeweled white hand nearest to me shook slightly.
“Are you afraid of this noble animal, madame?” I asked, watching her
closely. She laughed, a little forcedly.
“Oh, no! But Wyvis is usually so shy with strangers, and I never saw
him greet any one so rapturously except my late husband. It is really
very odd!”
Ferrari, by his looks, agreed with her, and appeared to be uneasily
considering the circumstance.
“Strange to say,” he remarked, “Wyvis has for once forgotten me. He
never fails to give me a passing snarl.”
Hearing his voice, the dog did indeed commence growling discontentedly;
but a touch from me silenced him. The animal’s declared enmity toward
Ferrari surprised me—it was quite a new thing, as before my burial his
behavior to him had been perfectly friendly.
“I have had a great deal to do with dogs in my time,” I said, speaking
in a deliberately composed voice. “I have found their instinct
marvelous; they generally seem to recognize at once the persons who are
fond of their society. This Wyvis of yours, _contessa_, has no doubt
discovered that I have had many friends among his brethren, so that
there is nothing strange in his making so much of me.”
The air of studied indifference with which I spoke, and the fact of my
taking the exuberant delight of Wyvis as a matter of course, gradually
reassured the plainly disturbed feelings of my two betrayers, for after
a little pause the incident was passed over, and our conversation went
on with pleasant and satisfactory smoothness. Before my departure that
evening, however, I offered to chain up the dog—“as, if I do this,” I
added, “I guarantee he will not disturb your night’s rest by his
howling.”
This suggestion met with approval, and Ferrari walked with me to show
me where the kennel stood. I chained Wyvis, and stroked him tenderly;
he appeared to understand, and he accepted his fate with perfect
resignation, lying down upon his bed of straw without a sign of
opposition, save for one imploring look out of his intelligent eyes as
I turned away and left him.
On making my adieus to Nina, I firmly refused Ferrari’s offered
companionship in the walk back to my hotel.
“I am fond of a solitary moonlight stroll,” I said. “Permit me to have
my own way in the matter.”
After some friendly argument they yielded to my wishes. I bade them
both a civil “good-night,” bending low over my wife’s hand and kissing
it, coldly enough, God knows, and yet the action was sufficient to make
her flush and sparkle with pleasure. Then I left them, Ferrari himself
escorting me to the villa gates, and watching me pass out on the open
road. As long as he stood there, I walked with a slow and meditative
pace toward the city, but the instant I heard the gate clang heavily as
it closed, I hurried back with a cautious and noiseless step. Avoiding
the great entrance, I slipped round to the western side of the grounds,
where there was a close thicket of laurel that extended almost up to
the veranda I had just left. Entering this and bending the boughs
softly aside as I pushed my way through, I gradually reached a position
from whence I could see the veranda plainly, and also hear anything
that passed. Guido was sitting on the low chair I had just vacated,
leaning his head back against my wife’s breast; he had reached up one
arm so that it encircled her neck, and drew her head down toward his.
In this half embrace they rested absolutely silent for some moments.
Suddenly Ferrari spoke:
“You are very cruel, Nina! You actually made me think you admired that
rich old _conte_.”
She laughed. “So I do! He would be really handsome if he did not wear
those ugly spectacles. And his jewels are lovely. I wish he would give
me some more!”
“And supposing he were to do so, would you care for him, Nina?” he
demanded, jealously. “Surely not. Besides, you have no idea how
conceited he is. He says he will never make love to a woman unless she
first makes love to him; what do you think of that?”
She laughed again, more merrily than before.
“Think! Why, that he is very original—charmingly so! Are you coming in,
Guido?”
He rose, and standing erect, almost lifted her from her chair and
folded her in his arms.
“Yes, I _am_ coming in,” he answered; “and I will have a hundred kisses
for every look and smile you bestowed on the _conte_! You little
coquette! You would flirt with your grandfather!”
She rested against him with apparent tenderness, one hand playing with
the flower in his buttonhole, and then she said, with a slight accent
of fear in her voice—
“Tell me, Guido, do you not think he is a little like—like Fabio? Is
there not a something in his manner that seems familiar?”
“I confess I have fancied so once or twice,” he returned, musingly;
“there is rather a disagreeable resemblance. But what of that? many men
are almost counterparts of each other. But I tell you what I think. I
am almost positive he is some long-lost relation of the family—Fabio’s
uncle for all we know, who does not wish to declare his actual
relationship. He is a good old fellow enough, I believe, and is
certainly rich as Croesus; he will be a valuable friend to us both.
Come, _sposina mia_, it is time to go to rest.”
And they disappeared within the house, and shut the windows after them.
I immediately left my hiding-place, and resumed my way toward Naples. I
was satisfied they had no suspicion of the truth. After all, it was
absurd of me to fancy they might have, for people in general do not
imagine it possible for a buried man to come back to life again. The
game was in my own hands, and I now resolved to play it out with as
little delay as possible.