stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第10节
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acquainted with on my hands！〃 I ejaculated； half involuntarily。 〃What in
the world should I do？〃
The old gentleman gave vent to a malevolent chuckle。 〃Upon my word；
sir；〃 said he； 〃I can only see one course open to you as a man of honour。
You must marry her yourself。〃
At this I fairly lost all patience； and gave the Graf my opinion of his
conduct in terms the plainness of which left nothing to be desired。 I
included him； his son； and the entire German people in one sweeping
anathema。 No Englishman； I said； would have been capable of either
insulting an innocent lady； or of so basely leaving in the lurch one whose
only fault had been a too great readiness to sacrifice his own convenience
to the interests of others。 My indignation lent me a flow of words such as I
should never have been able to command in calmer moments； and I dare
say I should have continued in the same strain for an indefinite time； had I
not been summarily cut short by the entrance of a third person。
There was no occasion for this last intruder to announce himself； in a
voice of thunder； as the Marchese Marinelli。 I had at once recognised the
original of the signorina's photograph； and I perceived that I was now in
about as uncomfortable a position as my bitterest enemy could have
desired for me。 The German old gentleman had been very angry at the
outset； but his wrath； as compared with that of the Italian； was as a breeze
to a hurricane。 The marchese was literally quivering from head to foot
with concentrated fury。 His face was deadly white； his strongly marked
features twitched convulsively； his eyes blazed like those of a wild animal。
Having stated his identity in the manner already referred to； he made two
strides toward the table by which I was seated； and stood glaring at me as
though he would have sprung at my throat。 I thought it might avert
consequences which we should both afterward deplore if I were to place
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the table between us； and I did so without loss of time。 From the other side
of that barrier I adjured my visitor to keep cool； pledging him my word； in
the same breath； that there was no harm done as yet。
〃No harm！〃 he repeated； in a strident shout that echoed through the
bare room。 〃Dog！ Villain！ You ensnare my daughter's affectionsyou
entice her away from her father's houseyou cover my family with eternal
disgraceand then you dare to tell me there is no harm done！ Wait a little；
and you shall see that there will be harm enough for you。 Marry her you
must； since you have ruined her； but you shall die for it the next day！ It is
II； Ludovico Marinelliwho swear it！〃
I am aware that I do but scant justice to the marchese's inimitable style。
The above sentences must be imagined as hurled forth in a series of yells；
with a pant between each of them。 As a melodramatic actor this terrific
Marinelli would； I am sure； have risen to the first rank in his profession。
〃Signore；〃 I said； 〃you are under a misapprehension。 I have ensnared
nobody's affections； and I am entirely guiltless of all the crimes which you
are pleased to attribute to me。〃
〃What？ Are you not； then； the hound who bears the vile and
dishonoured name of Von Rosenau？〃
〃I am not。 I bear the less distinguished； but； I hope； equally respectable
patronymic of Jenkinson。〃
But my modest disclaimer passed unheeded； for now another
combatant had thrown himself into the fray。
〃Vile and dishonoured name！ No one shall permit himself such
language in my presence。 I am Lieutenant…General Graf von Rosenau； sir；
and you shall answer to me for your words。〃
The Herr Graf's knowledge of Italian was somewhat limited； but； such
as it was； it had enabled him to catch the sense of the stigma cast upon his
family； and now he was upon his feet； red and gobbling； like a turkey…cock；
and prepared to do battle with a hundred irate Venetians if need were。
The marchese stared at him in blank amazement。 〃/You！/〃 he
ejaculated〃you Von Rosenau！ It is incrediblepreposterous。 Why； you
are old enough to be her grandfather。〃
〃Not old enough to be in my dotage；as I should be if I permitted my
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son to marry a beggarly Italian；nor too old to punish impertinence as it
deserves；〃 retorted the Graf。
〃Your son？ You are the father then？ It is all the same to me。 I will fight
you both。 But the marriage shall take place first。〃
〃It shall not。〃
〃It shall。〃
〃Insolent slave of an Italian； I will make you eat your words！〃
〃Triple brute of a German； I spit upon you！〃
〃Silence； sir！〃
〃Silence yourself！〃 During this animated dialogue I sat apart； softly
rubbing my hands。 What a happy dispensation it would be； I could not
help thinking； if these two old madmen were to exterminate each other；
like the Kilkenny cats！ Anyhow； their attention was effectually diverted
from my humble person； and that was something to be thankful for。
Never before had I been privileged to listen to so rich a vocabulary of
vituperation。 Each disputant had expressed himself； after the first few
words； in his own language； and between them they were now making
hubbub enough to bring the old house down about their ears。 Up came the
padrona to see the fun； up came her fat husband； in his shirt… sleeves and
slippers； and her long…legged sons； and her tousle…headed daughters； and
the maid…servant； and the cook； and the ostlerthe whole establishment； in
fact； collected at the open folding…doors； and watched with delight the
progress of this battle of words。 Last of all； a poor little trembling figure；
with pale face and eyes big with fright； crept in； and stood； hand on heart；
a little in advance of the group。 I slipped to her side； and offered her a
chair； but she neither answered me nor noticed my presence。 She was
staring at her father as a bird stares at a snake； and seemed unable to
realise anything except the terrible fact that he had followed and found
her。
Presently the old man wheeled round； and became aware of his
daughter。
〃Unhappy girl！〃 he exclaimed； 〃what is this that you have done？〃
I greatly fear that the marchese's paternal corrections must have
sometimes taken a more practical shape than mere verbal upbraidings； for
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poor Bianca shrank back； throwing up one arm； as if to shield her face；
and； with a wild cry of 〃Alberto！ come to me！〃 fell into the arms of that
tardy lover； who at that appropriate moment had made his appearance；
unobserved； upon the scene。
The polyglot disturbance that ensued baffles all description。 Indeed； I
should be puzzled to say exactly what took place； or after how many
commands； defiances； threats； protestations； insults； and explanations； a
semblance of peace was finally restored。 I only know that； at the
expiration of a certain time； three of us were sitting by the open window；
in a softened and subdued frame of mind； considerately turning our backs
upon the other two； who were bidding each other farewell at the farther
end of the room。
It was the faithless Johann； as I gathered； who was responsible for this
catastrophe。 His heart； it appeared； had failed him when he had discovered
that nothing less than a bona…fide marriage was to be the outcome of the
meetings he had shown so much skill in contriving； and； full of penitence
and alarm； he had written to his old master； divulging the whole project。 It
so happened that a recent storm in the mountains had interrupted
telegraphic communication； for the time； between Austria and Venice； and
the only course that had seemed open to Herr von Rosenau was to start
post…haste for the latter place； where； inde
