I
The Funeral—Sea-baths—Rupture with my Brother—My Establishment
at Siena—Chiappini’s Letter—My Reflections—First Steps—Various
Pieces of Information—Verification of Handwriting—Visit of my
Elder Son—Stay in Rome—The Marchioness of B.—Departure of my
Children.
My brother appeared to be so much affected by his recent loss that, in
spite of the coolness existing between us for some time past, I kept him
to sleep at my country house.
All the evening he seemed to be sunk in deep thought and overwhelming
grief, which greatly surprised me in a young man who up to then had shown
so many signs of a want of filial affection. He left very early the next
morning without taking leave of me.
I at once sent him the sum necessary for having the funeral solemnized in
a fashion in accordance not with the lowly condition of the deceased, but
with all the dignity due to my own rank.
The marble beneath which lie his mortal remains bears witness to my
liberality, very unlike that of my sister, who, being present at her
mother’s death, allowed her body to be cast into the common pit, when a
dozen crowns would have procured her a more honoured grave.
My constantly recurring eruptions had induced my doctors to prescribe
sea-bathing; my father’s illness having deferred the carrying out of
their orders, I prepared to do so a fortnight after his death, which took
place towards the end of January 1821, and went to spend three weeks at
Leghorn, where I should have been horribly bored if it had not been for
the company of my Edward, who never left me.
On my return to Florence I found out the various tricks my brother had
played on me, first in concealing from me the real condition of my
father, who, I learnt, had recovered his power of speech before breathing
his last, and whose death had not taken place until thirty-six hours
after the time reported to me; secondly, in persuading me to pay the
purchase money of a fine house, supposed to be for me, but the deed of
purchase of which he had had made out in his own name, on the pretext
that a married woman could not do so validly.
Justly incensed at his conduct, I not only upbraided him bitterly, but
ignominiously cast him out and gave him up absolutely and finally.
Surrounded as I was by nothing but gloomy memories, in a place where
everything recalled troubles and misfortunes, I resolved to go to Siena,
and began at once to make my preparations.
There were several reasons that induced me to fix on that town, among
others its pure air and the famous School of Design which is its chief
ornament.
I was well acquainted with the head master of this school, and he had
kindly promised me to take the greatest pains with my young son, who
already showed decided taste and talent for this admirable art.
I had been living in this town about a week when I received by post the
letter I give here, with its translation.
_Miledi._
_Giunsi finalmente al termine di miei giorni senza vere svelato
ad alcuno un segreto che riguarda me e la vostra persona
direttamente._
_Il segreto è l’appresso:_
_Il giorno dell a vostra nascita da persona che non posso
nominare, e che già è passata all’ altra vita, a me pure nacque
un figlio maschio. Fui richesto à fare uno scambio, e mediante
l emie finanze, di quei tempi, accedi alle molteplici richieste
con vantaggio; ed allora fù che vi adottai per mia figlia, in
quella guisa che mio figlio fu adottato dall’ altra parte._
_Vedo che il cielo ha supplito alle mie mancanze, con porvi in
uno stato di miglior condizione del vostro padre, sebbene esso
pure fosse per rango quasi simile, ed è ció che mi fa chiudere
con qualche quiete il termine di mia vita._
_Serva a voi questa operazionne per non farmi colpevole,
totalmente; domandovi perdono di questa mia mancanza, vi prego,
se vi piace, di tenere in voi questa cosa, per non far parlare
il mondo di un affare che non vi ha più rimedio._
_Non vi sara consegnata questa mia che dopo la mia morte._
_Lorenzo Chiappini._