THE JEWELS.
The tribe of the Uzcoques, or Scochi, derived their name from _scoco_, a
refugee or fugitive, a word bearing reference to their origin. Towards the
commencement of the sixteenth century, a band of hardy and warlike men
abandoned the the provinces of Southern Hungary, Bulgaria, and Servia, and
took refuge in Dalmatia from the tyranny and ill usage of the Turks, who
had overrun the first-named provinces. Accompanied by their wives and
families, and recruiting their numbers as they went along, they at last
reached the fortress of Clissa, situated in the mountains, a few miles
from the old Roman town of Spalatro. There, with the permission of its
owner, Pietro Crosichio, they established themselves, forming one of the
outposts of Christendom, and thence carried on a war of extermination
against the Turks, to whom they did a degree of injury that would appear
quite incommensurate with the smallness of their numbers. The name of
Uzcoque soon became known throughout the Adriatic as the synonyme of a
gallant warrior, till at length the Turks, driven nearly frantic by the
exploits of this handful of brave men, fitted out a strong expedition and
laid siege to Clissa, with the double object of getting rid of a
troublesome foe, and of advancing another step into Christian Europe.
The different powers who had benefited greatly, although indirectly, by
the enterprising valour of the Uzcoques, neglected to give them the
smallest assistance in their hour of peril. After an heroic defence,
Clissa fell into the hands of the Turks, and a scanty and disheartened
remnant of its brave defenders fled northward to seek some new place of
refuge. This they found in the fortress of Segna, then belonging to a
Count Frangipani, who allowed them to occupy it; and, at the same time,
Ferdinand the First of Austria bethought himself, although somewhat
tardily, that the Uzcoques had deserved better at his hands, and at those
of other Christian princes, than to be left to their own resources when
assailed by the overwhelming power of the Porte. As a sort of atonement,
he took them formally into his pay, to assist him in his wars against the
infidel. But from this day forward the Uzcoques gradually declined in
valour and in moral worth. From a race of heroes they degenerated into a
horde of mercenary adventurers, and finally, of cruel and cowardly pirates.
Their primitive customs and simple virtues were exchanged for the vices of
refugees and criminals from Venice and other neighbouring states, who came
in crowds to fill up the frequent vacancies occurring in their ranks.
At length the military value of the Uzcoques being much impaired, and
their services also less required, Austria became irregular in her
payments, and at last entirely discontinued them. The barren mountains
round Segna produced nothing, and the unfortunate Uzcoques were in danger
of dying of hunger. This they felt by no means inclined to do, and erelong
complaints began to be made of piracies and depredations committed by the
Segnarese on the vessels and territory of Venice. For some time no
application on the subject was made to Austria, and when made it was found
to be of little avail.
At the period to which this narrative refers, Austria had already formed
those designs upon her southern neighbour, which in more modern times she
has carried out with complete success. The fertile plains of Northern
Italy, the convenient ports on the Adriatic, the rich commerce with the
Levant, were tempting baits to what was then the most ambitious power in
Europe; and with an undeviating steadiness did she follow up the policy
which promised to place such desirable acquisitions within her grasp.
Venice, whose power and importance were already on the decline, was the
state against which her most strenuous efforts were directed; and nothing
that could injure the trade, or lower the dignity and importance of the
republic, was omitted by the Austrian Machiavels of the day. Insignificant
as such a means of annoyance may appear, the band of Uzcoques was one of
the prime engines employed to undermine the bulwarks of Venetian
independence. Through her commerce had Venice achieved her greatness, and
through her commerce was she to be assailed and overthrown. Whilst the
Venetians, for the sake of their trade, had formed alliances with the
Turks, the Austrians, professing great religious zeal, and hatred of the
infidels, as well as a dread of further encroachments upon European
territory, did all in their power to ruin the traffic and break the
connexion between the republic and the Porte. The Uzcoques, who, although
asserting a sort of independence, still dwelt on Austrian territory, and
were reckoned as Austrian subjects, were secretly encouraged in the
piracies which they committed indiscriminately against Turkish and
Venetian vessels. These acts of piracy usually took place in the night,
and could rarely be brought home to their perpetrators, although there
could be no moral doubt as to the identity of the latter; but, even when
proved, it was found impossible to obtain any substantial redress. At the
time now referred to, the evil was at its height. Nominally peace both
with Venice and the Porte, Austria, nevertheless, stimulated the Uzcoques
to aggressions upon the subjects of both. The Archduke Ferdinand, a
well-intentioned and virtuous prince, but young and inexperienced, was
completely led and deceived by the wily and unprincipled politicians who
governed in his name. He was kept entirely in the dark as to the real
character of the Segnarese, and thus prevented from giving credence to the
frequent complaints made against them by neighbouring states. His corrupt
ministers, moreover, not content with making the pirates instrumental in
this tortuous policy, were not ashamed to squeeze from them a portion of
their illicit gains; and a lion's share of the spoil found its way into
the coffers of the archducal counsellors, who welcomed the golden Pactolus,
utterly regardless of the foul channel through which it flowed. The
Uzcoques, on their part, who were no longer the race of brave and hardy
soldiers they had been some half century before, clung to the protection
of Austria, conscious that, in their degenerate state, and with their
diminished numbers, they must soon fall a prey to their numerous foes,
should that protection be withdrawn. Thus, although inwardly chafing at
being compelled to disgorge a large part of the hard-won booty for which
they frequently periled their lives, they did not dare to withhold the
tribute, nor to omit the rich presents which they were in the habit of
making to certain influential persons about the archducal court. In return,
the ports of Austria on the Adriatic, were open to them to build and
repair vessels, or obtain supplies of provisions; every species of
indirect assistance was afforded them, and more than once, when some of
their number had fallen into the hands of the Venetians, their release, as
subjects of Austria, had been demanded and obtained by the authorities at
Gradiska. On the other hand, the claims of Venice for satisfaction, when
some of her richly laden merchant-ships had been captured or pillaged,
were slightly attended to, the applicants put off from day to day, and
from year to year, with promises and excuses, until the weak and cowardly
republic, seeing that no satisfaction was to be obtained by peaceable
means, and being in no state to declare war against her powerful neighbour,
usually ended the matter by ceasing to advance claims, the prosecution of
which only tended to her further humiliation.
It was Easter Sunday in the town of Gradiska. The strict religious
ceremonies with which the Passion week was commemorated at the court of
the youthful but pious Archduke Ferdinand were at an end; the black
hangings disappeared from the church walls, and the bells rang out a merry
peal in joyful commemoration of the Saviour's resurrection. The nobles and
ladies of the court, wearied with the vigils and fasting which the
religious zeal of the time rendered imperative, betook themselves with
lightened hearts to their apartments, the elder portion to repose, the
younger ones to prepare for the brilliant festival and ball which the
following day was to witness.
In a richly furnished apartment of the castle, the young and handsome wife
of one of the archducal counsellors was pacing up and down, her full and
voluptuous form reflected on every side by the tall Venetian mirrors that
covered the walls of the apartment. The lady was apparently in no gentle
mood; her step was hurried and impatient, her face flushed, her lips
peevishly compressed, and her irritation seemed to increase each time that
she passed before a table on which were displayed a number of jewel-boxes
and caskets, all open, and nearly all empty. Since the Easter festival of
the preceding year, the caprices and necessities of this spendthrift
beauty had abstracted one by one the rich kernels from these now worthless
husks, and the recollection of the follies, or worse, in which their value
had been squandered, now came to aggravate the vexation which the want of
the jewels occasioned her. So absorbed was she in the consideration of her
annoyances and perplexities, that for some time she took no notice of the
presence of a young and graceful female in plain attire, who stood
apparently in deep thought in the embrasure of one of the windows. The
maiden had her back turned to the room; but the admirable contours of her
fine figure, and the rich luxuriance of the jet-black locks that flowed
over her shoulders, gave promise of a perfection that was not belied, when,
on an exclamation of impatience from her mistress, she suddenly turned
round, and revealed the beauteous features of Dansowich's daughter. She it
was who formed the usual medium of communication between the pirates and
their archducal allies; and during her frequent sojourns at Gradiska, she
assumed the character of attendant on the counsellor's lady.
"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the court dame, stamping her foot violently on
the polished floor. "What can detain the knaves? Say, girl! where can they
be lingering?"
Strasolda made no reply to this impetuous enquiry. She was no longer the
excited and impetuous Uzcoque heroine, invoking the spirit of the storm
amidst the precipices and caverns of her native shores. A total change had
come over her. Her look was subdued, her cheek pale, her eyes red and
swollen with weeping. She cast an humble and sorrowful glance at the lady,
and a tear trembled on her long dark lashes.
"Why come they not?" repeated the angry dame in a voice half-choked with
passion. "By all the saints!" she continued, with a furious look at
Strasolda, "I believe thy father, Dansowich, to be the cause of this delay;
for well I know it is with small good-will he pays the tribute. But if the
thieving knaves thus play me false, if the Easter gift is wanting, and for
lack of jewels I am compelled to plead sickness, and pass to-morrow in my
apartment, instead of, as heretofore, eclipsing every rival by the
splendour of my jewels, rest assured, maiden, that thy robber friends
shall pay dearly for their neglect. A word from me, and thy father,
brethren, and kinsmen grace the gallows, and their foul eyrie is leveled
with dust."
Strasolda pressed her hands upon her heart, and burst into a flood of
tears. Then throwing herself at the lady's feet--
"That word you will never have the cruelty to utter," cried she. "Bethink
you, noble lady, of the perils to which they are exposed. The bravest
cannot command success, and you know not yet whether their last expedition
may not have been unprosperous."
"I!" replied her irritated mistress. "How should I be privy to their
proceedings? But _you_ ought to be able to give some tidings: Wherefore
did you not accompany your father this last voyage?"
"I told you, lady," answered Strasolda, "that I was busied with plans for
the deliverance of the Uzcoques now held captive in Venice. I have
brothers amongst those unfortunate prisoners, and it is the uncertainty of
their fate which thus afflicts me."
The maiden gazed tearfully and imploringly at the angry lady. It was not
without good reason that she concealed from her the fact of her father's
captivity. The stern and inflexible Dansowich had ever viewed with an eye
of disapproval the connexion between his people and the counsellors at
Gradiska; and the latter, aware of this, would not have been likely to
take much pains for the release of one who was unfavourable to their
interests. It was only, therefore, by representing the captive Uzcoques as
less nearly connected with her, that Strasolda could hope for aid to
rescue them from the hands of the Venetians.
"So much the more should you desire the arrival of the tribute!" exclaimed
the lady. "Did I not, at your request, make interest with our ambassador
at Venice, that he should insist upon the surrender of the Uzcoques as
Austrian subjects? Assuredly the feeble signoria will not venture to
refuse compliance. A casket of jewels is but a paltry guerdon for such
service, and yet even that is not forthcoming. But it is not too late to
alter what has been done. If I say the word, the prisoners linger in the
damp and fetid dungeons of the republic, until they welcome death as a
blessing."
"Alas, alas!" sobbed Strasolda; "have you the heart thus to add to my
sorrow? Is it not enough to know those I love in captivity, to behold my
people, once so noble and heroic, degraded to the very refuse of humanity
despised and detested of all men, having their dwelling on a barren rock,
and earning by crime and bloodshed a precarious existence and doubtful
freedom? Is it not enough"--
"Hush!" interrupted the lady in a quick sharp whisper, raising her finger,
and glancing towards the door of the apartment. There was a noise as of
stealthy footsteps in the corridor. Strasolda sprang from the kneeing
posture which she had maintained during her conversation with her mistress,
and resumed her station in the recess of a window, while the counsellor's
lady snatched up a rich shawl from a damask covered ottoman, and threw it
over the caskets spread out upon the table. Scarcely were these
arrangements completed, when the door was partially opened, and a wild
sunburnt and bearded countenance showed itself at the aperture.
"Heaven and the saints be praised!" exclaimed the lady. "They are come at
last. In with you, Jurissa Caiduch: there is no one but Strasolda here."
The person thus addressed, was a strongly built and active man, rather
under the middle size, muffled in a coarse brown cloak, which was drawn
over the lower part of his face, apparently with a view to concealment. A
broad-brimmed felt hat was slouched over his small black eyes, which
glittered through its shadow like those of a snake, never fixing
themselves on an object, but casting restless and suspicious glances, as
though apprehensive of danger or treachery. Gliding into the room, and
closing the door noiselessly behind him, he approached the table, and
placed upon it a tolerably large casket, which he produced from under his
cloak; then retreating a step or two, he removed his hat, and stood in an
attitude of silent respect, his eyes still gleaming, however, with their
habitual expression of mistrust and cunning.
Without uttering a word, the lady seized the casket, and impatiently
forced open its delicate silver lock. A cry of joyful surprise burst from
her lips on beholding the rich contents of the jewel-case. Diamond chains,
golden girdles and bracelets, combs and hair ornaments studded with orient
pearls, passed in rapid succession through the white and eager fingers of
the gratified dame, who seemed to lack words to express her pleasure and
astonishment at the sight of such costly gems. At last she turned to the
bearer.
"Of a truth, Jurissa" cried she, "you are unusually liberal this time, and
you must have great need of the good offices of myself and Father Cipriano,
to be willing to purchase our influence with the archduke at so high a
price."
"Our last expedition was a successful one, noble lady," replied the
Uzcoque. "The tender-hearted Strasolda," added he with a spiteful glance
at the maiden, who still kept her station by the window, "that guardian
angel, who so often steps between us and our prey, was absent, and we had
no need to stay our hands."
As he spoke, the door was again hastily opened as softly as before, but
somewhat wider, and the burly figure of a monk entered the room. This was
no other than the Father Cipriano Guido Lucchese, whom the lady had
alluded to, and who, by his pleadings at the papal court, in favour of the
Uzcoques, had earned himself the honourable cognomen of Ambassador de
Ladri, or the Thieves' Envoy. He had expiated his discreditable
intercession by a sojourn in the prisons of the Inquisition, which did not,
however, present his being in high favour with the Archduke Ferdinand, at
whose court he filled the triple office of theologian, confessor, and
privy counsellor.
The sleek and unctuous physiognomy of the monk wore an expression of
unusual care and anxiety. Without bestowing a salutation or a look upon
the lady whose apartment he thus unceremoniously entered, he addressed
himself at once to the Uzcoque Jurissa.
"Away with you!" cried he. "Out of the palace; and quietly, too, as your
own shadow. Thumbscrews are waiting for you if you linger."
Strasolda gazed in alarm at Father Cipriano. Jurissa thrust his right hand
under his cloak, and seemed to clutch some weapon. Even the counsellor's
dame for a moment turned her eyes from the jewels she was admiring to the
anxious countenance of the padre.
"Your last exploit will bring you into trouble," continued the latter to
Jurissa. "You have gone beyond all bounds; and a special ambassador has
arrived here from Venice."
"Well!" replied the Uzcoque surlily, "was not the sack of doubloons
sufficient fee to keep you at your post?"
"I have but just left it," answered the monk, "and you may thank me if the
storm is averted for the moment, although it must burst erelong. Before
the ambassador could obtain his audience, I hurried to the archduke, and
chanted the old ditty; told him you were the Maccabees of the century--the
bulwarks of Christendom: that without you the Turks would long since have
been in Gradiska--that the Venetians, through fear and lust of gain, were
hand and glove with the followers of Mahomet--and that it was their own
fault if you had to strike through them to get at the infidel: that they
cared little about religion, so long as the convenience of their traffic
was not interfered with--and that it would be a sin and a shame to deprive
himself of such valiant defenders for the sake of obliging the republic.
This, and much more, did I say to his highness, Signor Jurissa," concluded
the fat priest, wiping away the perspiration which his eagerness and
volubility had caused to start out on his brow; "and, in good truth, I
think your paltry bag of doubloons but poor reward for the pains I took,
and the zeal I have shown in your defence."
"And wherein consists the danger, then," interrupted Jurissa, "since your
eloquence has sped so well on our behalf?"
"You do not hear me out, my son," replied the priest. "The greybeards at
Venice have chosen an envoy who is right well informed of your small
numbers, bad equipment, and cowardice in broad daylight. Nay, man, never
grind your teeth. I do but repeat the ambassador's words; for I had
stationed myself in an adjoining room, and heard all that passed between
him and the archduke. He said, moreover, that, far from being of use as a
bulwark against Turkish encroachments, it was you who had afforded to the
infidels a pretext to wrest more than one rich province from Christian
potentates. All this seemed to make some impression upon the archduke, and
to plant suspicions in his mind which bode no good to you and your race.
For the present, the capture of those two Turks, one of whom is a person
of rank, is testimony in your favour with his highness, to whom the
crescent is an abomination. Could he follow his own inclinations, he would,
I fully believe, start a new crusade against the followers of Mahoun. But
come, Jurissa, this is no time for gossip. You must not be seen in
Gradiska. Away with you!"
"And the Venetian," cried Jurissa, "what is his name?"
"It is the Proveditore Marcello, who has lately returned from a long
absence in the East."
The Uzcoque started. The name seemed to have some potent and mysterious
effect upon him, and he stood for a few moments with his eyes fixed upon
the ground, apparently forgetful of the necessity for his immediate
departure. The priest took him by the arm, and drew him towards the door,
which he was about to open, when Jurissa shook off his grasp and hastily
approached the counsellor's wife, who had thrown herself into a large
gilded chair before one of the pier-glasses, and was busily engaged in
trying on the ornaments that had just been brought her.
"Have a care, noble lady!" cried the Uzcoque. "You will do well to let a
couple of weeks elapse before you appear in public with those pretty gauds.
At any rate, wear them not at to-morrow's ball, lest, perchance, they find
an owner. Beware, lady, of the Proveditore Marcello!"
With a look of peculiar meaning he left the room, accompanied by Father
Cipriano. But his warning fell faintly upon the lady's ear, who, though
she heard the words, was far too much engrossed in arranging and admiring
the costly gems so lately become her own, to give much heed to their
import. She remained before her mirror, loading her white neck and arms
with chains and jewels, and interweaving diamonds and pearls in her
tresses, regardless of the grief of Strasolda who sat in tears and sadness,
deploring her father's increasing peril, and the cloud that menaced the
future fortunes of her people.