About two weeks had elapsed since the Papal soldiers first quartered
themselves in the village of Val di Orno.
The sun had sunk quietly down into the blue bosom of the Tyrrhenian Sea,
and the villagers were most of them indoors. They were not desirous to
encounter their military guests upon the streets by night, lest in the
darkness the latter should mistake them for the enemy, and make free
with any little pocket cash they might have, acquired during the
tradings of the day.
The captain of the protecting force was at the time seated in the best
sitting-room of the _sindico's_ house, making himself as agreeable as he
could to the _sindico's_ daughter--the father himself being present.
The conversation, that had been carried on upon various themes, at
length reverted to the brigands--as may be supposed, a stock topic in
the village of Val di Orno. On this occasion it was special, relating
to the captive _Inglese_; of whom, as a matter of course, Captain Count
Guardiola had heard--having been officially furnished with the
particulars of the affair on his first arrival in the town.
"_Povero_!" half soliloquised Lucetta; "I wonder what has happened to
him. Do you think, papa, they have set him free?"
"I fear not, _figlia mia_. They will only do so when the _riscatta_
reaches them."
"Ah, me! How much do you think they will require?"
"You speak, signorina," interposed the Captain Count, "as if you had a
mind to send the ransom yourself."
"Willingly--if I were able. That would I."
"You seem greatly interested in the _Inglese_. _Uno povero pittore_!"
The last words were uttered in a tone of sneering contempt.
"_Uno povero pittore_!" repeated the girl, her eyes kindling with
indignation. "Know, Signor Count Guardiola, that my brother is _uno
povero pittore_; and proud of it too, as so am I, his sister."
"A thousand pardons, signorina; I did not know that your brother was an
artist. I only meant that this poor devil of an _Inglese_ after all may
be no artist, but a spy of that monster Mazzini! The thing isn't at all
improbable. Our last news tell us, that the arch-impostor has arrived
in Genoa, whither he has come almost direct from England. This fellow
may be one of his pilot fish, sent in advance to spy out the land.
Perhaps he's been rather fortunate in having fallen into the hands of
the brigands. Should he come into my clutches, and I find any trace of
the spy about him, I won't wait for any _riscatta_ before consigning his
neck to a halter."
The indignation which was rising still higher in the breast of Lucetta
Torreani, became more perceptible in the pallor of her cheeks and the
quick flashing of her eyes. She was hindered from declaring it in
speech. Before she could reply, a voice was heard outside the door,
accompanied by a knock, as of some one seeking admission. This was
granted; less by the host of the house than his military guest, who had
by this this grown to regard himself as its master.
The door was opened, and a sergeant stepped into the room, saluting as
he did so. He was the orderly of the troop.
"What is it?" inquired the officer.
"A prisoner," replied the man, making a second obeisance.
"One of the bandits?"
"No, signor captain; on the contrary, a man who pretends to have been
their prisoner, and who says he has just escaped from them."
"What sort of man?"
"A young fellow in the dress of a _citiadino--un Inglese_, I take him to
be; though he speaks our tongue as well as myself."
The _sindico_ rose from his chair. Lucetta had already started from
hers, with a joyous exclamation, at the word _Inglese_. The escaped
captive could be no other than he of whom they had been lately speaking,
and of whom also she had been long thinking.
"Signor Torreani," said the captain, turning towards his host with an
air which showed that he too was gratified by the announcement, "I do
not wish to disturb you in the performance of my duty. I shall go
down-stairs to examine this prisoner my men have taken."
"It is not necessary," said the _sindico_; "you are welcome to bring him
up here."
"Oh, do!" added Lucetta. "Let him come in here. If you wish, I shall
retire."
"Certainly not, signorina; that is, if you are not afraid to look upon
one who has been a prisoner among banditti. If I mistake not, this is
the _povero pittore_ in whom you have expressed yourself so much
interested. Shall I order him to be brought in here?"
It was evident that Guardiola wished it; so did Lucetta, from a
different motive. The former intended to display his power in the
presence of a prisoner, degraded by double captivity; the latter was
inspired with an instinct for the stranger's protection, and a secret
partiality which she herself scarce understood.
It ended by the sergeant conducting his prisoner into the room, who
proved to be Henry Harding.
The young Englishman seemed little surprised at the company to which he
was introduced. But having just escaped from the keeping of brigands,
he could ill comprehend why he should again be taken prisoner. That it
was so, he had already been made aware by some rough treatment received
at the hands of his new captors, who gave no heed either to his story or
protestations.
He saw that he was now in the presence of their commander. No doubt the
interview would end in his being released.
At a glance he had recognised the other occupants of the apartment. The
_sindico_ he had seen when passing through as the captive of the
brigands. He well remembered him; but still better his daughter.
And she remembered the captive. His bare head, for he was hatless, the
brown locks tossed over his temples, the tattered surtout and trousers,
his small feet almost shoeless--all this _delabrement_ of dress and
person did not conceal from the eyes of Lucetta Torreani the handsome
face and manly form she had once before looked upon, and with an
interest that had made a lasting impression upon her memory. Even in
his rags he looked noble as ever. The very scantiness of his garments
displayed the fine symmetry of his figure; while his face, flushed with
defiant indignation, gave him the look of a young lion chafing at the
toils once more cast around him. He was not tied, but he was not at
liberty.
At the same time he might have had reason to suppose himself in the
presence of friends. He knew that the gentleman in civilian costume was
the father of his friend Luigi; that the young lady was Luigi's sister--
that "little Lucetta," of the increase in whose stature the letter had
conjecturally spoken. And truly was she well grown, stately,
statuesque--a fully-developed woman.
Of course neither father nor daughter could know him. They had but seen
him as a stranger--a captive to banditti.
In presence of such company it was not the time to declare himself;
though in a glance exchanged with Lucetta as he entered the room, he
felt gratified to think that the sympathy once silently shown for him
had not passed away.