After the affair at the Baths of Caracalla, the position of Attilio and
his companions became very much compromised. The traitor had, indeed,
paid for his infamy with his life; but | though the Government's
mercenaries had had the worst of it, the police were now on the alert,
and, if not quite certain, could make a shrewd guess as to who were the
leaders of the conspiracy.
If, however, the friends of liberty from outside had been as ready as
the Romans, the conspirators might yet have had it all their own way
on the 15th of February, or, indeed, at any other time. But the
"Moderates," always indissolubly bound to the chariots of selfishness,
would not hear the words "To arms!" They preferred waiting, at whatever
cost, until the manna of freedom fell from heaven into their mouths, or
the foreigner should come to their relief, and set their country free.
What cared they for national dignity, or the contemptuous smile of all
other European nations at the open buying and selling of provinces!
They were thinking first of gain and remunerative employment, and were
consequently deaf to all generous propositions likely to set in risk
their Eldorado of profits, though they would, if successful, procure
national unity and prosperity by energetic action.
This middle-class cowardice is the cause of Italy's degradation at the
present day, and were it not for that, the kissing of the slipper would
be an infamy of the past. It is the reason, too, why Italy's soil is
so often vainly wet with the blood of her nobler, braver sons; and why
those who escape the sword wander in forests to avoid the vengeance of
those robed hyenas; and why the poor remain in abject misery.
Such was the condition of Rome at the beginning of the year 1867. She
might have been happy, regenerated, and powerful, crowned with glorious
liberty and independence, had not the foreigner come to the aid of
the falsely-called "father of his people." Now she grovels in bondage,
loaded with French chains.
One evening, early in March, Attilio, Muzio, and Silvio met at Manlio's
house to discuss their future movements. They had remained in Rome in
the hope of achieving something, but the labyrinth was far too intricate
to allow our youthful and inexperienced heroes to extricate themselves,
and the Three Hundred to extricate themselves and their countrymen from
it.
"There is no use," spoke Attilio, bitterly, "in dedicating one's life to
the good of one's country in these days, when the 'Moderates,' check all
our efforts, and basely reconcile themselves with the enemies of Italy.
_Ohime!_ How can Romans ever do so! How can they ever live in harmony
with those who have sold them and theirs so many times! who have
precipitated us from the first rank among the nations to the lowest! who
have corrupted and polluted our city! who have tortured our fathers and
violated our virgins!"
In his wrath Attilio's voice had risen until he literally shouted.
Silvio, more composed, said, "Speak lower, brother, thou knowest how we
are pursued; perchance there may even now be some accursed spy near.
Be patient, and for the present let us leave Regola in charge of our
affairs, and quit the city. In the country we have true and courageous
friends. Let us leave Rome until she is tired of being the laughing
stock of these leeches, who live by imposture and tyranny. Let us go.
Our generous countrymen will call us brigands, adventurers, as they did
the Thousand during the glorious expedition of Marsala, which astonished
the world. What matters it to us? Now, as then, we will work and watch
for the liberty of this our unhappy country. When she is willing to
emancipate herself, we will fly to her rescue."