To avoid the dampening effect of an early departure the three men rode
out quietly from the courtyard at the rear of the house, leaving the
merrymakers to their fun.
"So, this is our last ride together," Norvin said, as they left the
valley and began the long ascent of the mountain that lay between them
and Martinello.
"Yes. Henceforth we spare our horses. You see tomorrow we will take the
morning train. Half of San Sebastiano will accompany us, too, and
everybody will be dressed in his finest. Ricardo here, for instance,
will wear his new brown suit--a glorious affair. Eh, Ricardo?"
"It would be as well to refrain from speaking," said the overseer,
gruffly. "The road is dark. Who knows what may be waiting?"
"Nonsense! Be not always a bear. We are three armed men. I fancy
Narcone, nay, even our dreadful Cardi himself, would scarcely dare
molest us."
Ferara merely grunted and continued to hold his place abreast of his
employer. Norvin observed that he carried his rifle across his
saddle-bow, and involuntarily shifted the strap of his own weapon so
that it might be ready in case of an emergency. He had rebelled,
somewhat, at carrying a firearm, but Martel, after making a clean
breast of his troubles that first morning, had insisted, and the
American had yielded even though he felt ridiculous.
The sky was moonless to-night but crowded with stars which gave light
enough so that the riders were able to follow the road without
difficulty, although the shadows on either side were dense. The air was
sweet, and so still that the sounds of revelry from Terranova were
plainly audible. Strains of music floated up the hillside, the shouts
of the master of ceremonies came distinctly as he issued his commands
for a country dance. The many lights within the grounds shone cloudily
among the tree-tops far below, like the effulgence from some well-lit
city hidden behind a hill, now disappearing for a time, now shining out
again as the road pursued its meanderings. The hurried footfalls of the
horses thudded steadily in the soft dust; the saddles creaked with that
music which lulls a horseman like a song.
"Youth! Youth! What a glorious thing it is!" exclaimed Martel after a
fruitless attempt to hold his tongue. "Ricardo would have us go
prowling like robbers when our hearts are singing loud enough for all
the mountainside to hear. There is no evil in the world to-night, for
the world is in love; to-morrow it bursts into happiness! And I am king
over it all!"
"I shall be glad to be rid of you, just the same," grumbled the old man.
"Ricardo alone has fears, but he was never young. Think you that the
gods would permit my wedding-day to be marred? Bah! One can see evil
before it comes; it casts a shadow; it has a chilling breath which any
one with sensibilities can feel. As for me, I see the future as clearly
as if it were spread out before me in the sunshine, and there is no
misfortune in it anywhere. I cannot conceive of misfortune, with all
this gladness and expectancy inside me."
"They have begun the fireworks," said Blake. "It's too bad you couldn't
stay to see them, Martel." He turned in his saddle, and the others
reined in as a rocket soared into the night sky and burst with a shower
of sparks. Others followed and a detonation sounded faintly.
"Poor people!" said the Count, gently. "I can hear them crying, 'Oh!'
'Ah!' 'Beautiful!' 'It is an angel from heaven!'"
"On the contrary, I'll warrant they're exclaiming, 'It is that angel
from San Sebastiano.' You have given them a great night."
The Count laughed. "Yes. They will have much to talk and dream about.
Their lives are very barren, you know, and I hope the Countess and I
will be able to make them brighter as the years go by. Oh, I have
plans, caro mio, so many plans I scarcely know where to begin or how to
talk about them. I could never be an artist, no matter how furiously I
painted, no matter how many beautiful women I drew; but I can paint
smiles upon the faces of those sad women down yonder. I can bring
happiness into their lives. And that will be a picture to look back
upon, eh? Don't you think so? When they learn to know me, when they
learn to love and trust me, there will be brighter days at Terranova
and at San Sebastiano."
"They love you now, I am sure."
"I am too much a stranger yet. I have neglected my duties, but--well,
in my travels I have learned some things that will be of benefit to us
all. I see so much to do. It is delightful to be young and full of
hopes, and to have the means of realizing them. Above all, it is
delicious to know that there is one who will share those ambitions and
efforts with you. I see Ricardo is disgusted with me, but he is a
pessimist. He does not believe in charity and love."
"What foolish talk!" protested the old man with heat. "Do I not love my
girl Lucrezia? Do I not love you, the Countess, and--and--perhaps a few
others?"