We must return to the sculptor's domicile, where two days had elapsed
after the arrest of Manlio, nor had Attilio who was gone in search of
him, as yet appeared, so that the family were reduced to the greatest
anxiety.
"What can they be doing with your good father?" repeated constantly the
weeping mother to her daughter. "He has never mixed with any one whose
principles would compromise him, although a Liberal. He hates the
priests, I know, and they deserve to be hated for their vices, but he
has never talked about it to any one but me."
Clelia shed no tears, but her grief at her father's detention was almost
deeper than that of her mother, and at last, saddened by these plaints,
she said, with energy, "Weep no more, mother, tears are of no avail; we
must act We must discover where my father is concealed, and, as Monna
Aurelia has advised, we must endeavor to procure his release. Besides,
Attilio is in search of him, and I know he will not desist until he has
helped him and us, if he have not already done so."
A knock interrupted Clelia's consolatory words. She ran to the door, and
opening it, admitted a neighbor, whose name has been mentioned, Monna
Aurelia, and old and tried friend.
"Good day," said she, as she entered the sitting-room with a cheerful
countenance.
"Good day," answered Silvia, with a faint smile, wiping her eyes.
"I bring you something, neighbor; our friend Cassio, whom I consulted
about your husband's affairs, has drawn up this petition on stamped
paper, supplicating the cardinal minister to set Manlio at liberty.
He says you must sign it, and had better present it in person to his
Eminence."
Silvia took the paper, and looked at it doubtfully. She felt a strong
aversion to this proposition. Could she throw herself at the feet of a
person whom she despised to implore his mercy? Yet perhaps her husband's
life was at stake; he might even now be suffering insults, privations,
even torture. This thought struck a chill to the heart of the wife, and,
rising, she said decidedly, "I will go with it."
Aurelia offered to accompany her, and in less than half an hour the
three women were on the road to the palace.
At nine o'clock that same morning, as it happened, the Cardinal
Procopio, Minister of State, had been informed by the questor of the
Quirinal of Manlio's escape.
Great was the fury of the prelate at the unwelcome news, and he
commanded the immediate arrest and confinement of the directors,
officers on guard, dragoons, and of all, in fact, who had been in charge
of the prison on the previous night.
Dispatching the questor with this order, he summoned Gianni to his
presence.
"Why, in the devil's name, was that accursed sculptor confined in
the Quirinal, instead of being sent to the Castle of St. Angelo?" he
inquired.
"Your Eminence," replied Gianni, conceitedly, "should have intrusted
such important affairs to me, and not to a set of idiots and rascals who
are open to corruption."
"Dost thou come here to annoy me by reflections, sirrah?" blustered the
priest. "Search in that turnip head of thine for means to bring the girl
to me, or the palace cellars shall hear thee squeak thy self-praise to
the tune of the cord or the pincers."
Gianni, knowing that these fearful threats were not vain ones, and
that, incredible as it may appear to outsiders, tortures too horrible
to describe daily take place in the Rome of the present day, meekly
submitted to the storm. With downcast head, the mutilated wretch--for he
was one of those maimed from their youth to sing falsettos in the choir
of St. Peter--pondered how to act.
"Lift up thine eyes, knave, if thou darest, and tell me whether or no,
after causing me to spend such pains and money in this attempt, thou
hast the hope to succeed?"
Tremblingly Gianni raised his eyes to his master's face as he
articulated with difficulty the words, "I hope to succeed."
But just as he spoke, to his considerable relief, a bell rang,
announcing the arrival of a visitor. 'A servant in the Cardinal's colors
entered, and inquired if his Eminence would be pleased to see three
women who wished to present a petition.
The Cardinal, waving his dismissal to the still agitated Gianni, gave
a nod of assent, and assumed an unctuous expression, as the three women
were ushered into his presence.