The new arrivals were received with surprise and pleasure by our forest
party. The signoras were all conversant with the history of Camilla's
misfortunes, and bestowed upon her gentle and considerate caresses.
Something solemn pervaded her whole appearance--a dreamy vestige of the
insanity under which she had so long labored. It was a miraculous
change which had come over her when she heard that pathetic prayer, and
perceived the sudden presence of her lover, and the unutterable feelings
of affection and penitence that stirred her soul when she found herself
restored to his embrace had transformed her into a new and happy being,
but left upon her this air of nameless pathos.
"I passed through Viterbo," said Silvio to Orazio, when their
salutations were ended, "and saw a great commotion there for which I am
scarcely able to account. The citizens were running about the streets,
endeavoring to get out of the way of the soldiers. The soldiers,
reinforced by strong detachments from Rome, are vowing to spear all
Italians on the face of the earth, and, by way of a step towards this
warlike project, have begun plundering the wineshops, where they lie for
the most part dead drunk. The Papal authorities, who wished to keep the
peace, were received by the rascals with the butt-ends of their muskets,
and driven to flight. They have gone off with their agents to Rome,
and are not likely to return for some time. The reinforcements were
exclaiming that 'their flag had been dishonored, and that the stain must
be washed out in blood. 'Flag dishonored!' that phrase calls to our
mind the villainy of a certain neighboring Government, which, after
infamously violating our territory, and taking, by a deceitful act,
possession of our principal sea-port, treacherously attacked our
capital, and upon receiving some severe blows, cried out, 'Treason!
treason! our flag is dishonored!'
"But," said Silvio, resuming his narrative, "this confusion gave me a
favorable opportunity of making observations, and coming on quietly to
you, though I might have been hindered by a curious occurrence which
happened. I was passing the 'Full Moon' hotel as a few officers, newly
arrived from Rome, alighted from a carriage. Owing to the universal
confusion, they could find no attendant to carry in their luggage, and
one of them came up to me, crying out, 'Here, you fellow!' and taking
me by the breast, attempted to drag me to the carriage. Fortunately I
had already signalled to Camilla to go on in advance of me. My first
impulse was to use my poniard, but restraining myself, I tore the man's
hand from my breast, and aiming a blow with my fist full at his face,
sent him flying against the wheels of the carriage without a single
word. As you may imagine, I did not remain to gather the laurels of
the victory, but turned on my heel, and walked with a quick step in the
direction of the wood, and soon overtook my companion."
The merriment of his auditors, and the shouts of "Bravo, Silvio!" here
interrupted the narrator for a moment.
"However," he observed, when the laughter ceased, "we can not remain
long here in security, for I have no doubt that to-morrow, at latest,
you will have the whole pack of foreigners on your track."
"Here in this forest," said Orazio, "we could make head against the
whole army of the Pope. Were it not that we are so very few in number,
and have these precious ladies to protect."
"Ehi! ladies to protect, indeed!" said Irene with some irony; "you have
soon forgotten, Signor Rodomonte, that these same 'ladies' protected you
to-day."
A burst of laughter broke from all; and the courageous chief of the
forest stooped and kissed the hand of his beloved wife with pretty
submission.
Meanwhile, the long dark shadows cast by the giants of the Ciminian
wood spreading out to the west, announced the setting of the sun, who,
wrapped in a glorious and variegated mantle of clouds, was about to hide
himself behind the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea. Clelia, perceiving this,
addressed Jack, who, fascinated by her beauty and amiability, was her
devoted slave, and to whom she had confided the important care of the
viands. "Well, my friend," she said in English, "all these true heroes
of romance, it appears, do not trouble themselves about supper; and if
you do not see to it, I fear we shall have to go to bed without food
to-night."
"Aye, aye, ma'am!" was Jack's reply; and, with the invariable hitch to
his waistband, he steered for the spot where the assistants had unloaded
two mules, which carried the chief's baggage as well as the provisions.
But, after such fighting and talk, they must feast at leisure in a fresh
chapter.