stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第16节
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looked brave。
〃Because of Jack！〃 she said。
〃Ah！〃
〃Nothing is settled；〃 added the young girl； 〃but it is no use pretending
not to know。〃
〃It is no use；〃 he repeated； very sadly。
And then for a little while they listened to the bird。
〃Mees Goneril；〃 said the signorino at last； 〃do you know why I
brought you out here？〃
〃Not at all；〃 she answered。
It was a minute before he spoke again。
〃I am going to Rome to…morrow；〃 he said； 〃and I wanted to bid you
good…bye。 You will sing to me to…night； as it will be the last time？〃
〃Oh； I hope not the last time！〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said； a little testily； 〃unlessand I pray it may not be so…
…unless you ever need the help of an old friend。〃
〃Dear Signor Graziano！〃
〃And now you will sing me my 'Nobil Amore'？〃
〃I will do anything you like。〃
The signorino sighed and looked at her for a minute。 Then he led her
into the little parlour； where Madame Petrucci was singing shrilly in the
twilight。
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STORIES
THE BRIGAND'S BRIDE
BY LAURENCE OLIPHANT
The Italian peninsula during the years 1859； 1860； and 1861 offered a
particularly tempting field for adventure to ardent spirits in search of
excitement； and； attracted partly by my sympathy with the popular
movement； and partly by that simple desire； which gives so much zest to
the life of youth； of risking it on all possible occasions； I had taken an
active part； chiefly as an officious spectator； in all the principal events of
those stirring years。 It was in the spring of 1862 that I found matters
beginning to settle down to a degree that threatened monotony； and with
the termination of the winter gaieties at Naples and the close of the San
Carlo； I seriously bethought me of accepting the offer of a naval friend
who was about to engage in blockade…running； and offered to land me in
the Confederate States； when a recrudescence of activity on the part of the
brigand bands in Calabria induced me to turn my attention in that direction。
The first question I had to consider was； whether I should enjoy myself
most by joining the brigands； or the troops which were engaged in
suppressing them。 As the former aspired to a political character； and called
themselves patriotic bands fighting for their church； their country； and
their king；the refugee monarch of Naples；one could espouse their cause
without exactly laying one's self open to the charge of being a bandit； but
it was notorious in point of fact that the bands cared for neither the pope
nor the exiled king nor their annexed country； but committed the most
abominable atrocities in the names of all the three； for the simple purpose
of filling their pockets。 I foresaw not only extreme difficulty in being
accepted as a member of the fraternity； more especially as I had hitherto
been identified with the Garibaldians； but also the probability of finding
myself compromised by acts from which my conscience would revolt； and
for which my life would in all likelihood pay the forfeit。 On the other hand；
I could think of no friend among the officers of the bersaglieri and cavalry
regiments then engaged in brigand…hunting in the Capitanata and
Basilicata to whom I could apply for an invitation to join them。
Under these circumstances I determined to trust to the chapter of
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STORIES
accidents； and； armed with a knapsack； a sketch…book； and an air…gun； took
my seat one morning in the Foggia diligence； with the vague idea of
getting as near the scene of operations as possible； and seeing what would
turn up。 The air…gun was not so much a weapon of offence or defence as a
means of introduction to the inhabitants。 It had the innocent appearance of
rather a thick walking…cane； with a little brass trigger projecting； and in the
afternoon I would join the group sitting in front of the chemist's； which；
for some reason or other； is generally a sort of open…air club in a small
Neapolitan town； or stroll into the single modest cafe of which it might
possibly boast； and toy abstractedly with the trigger。 This； together with
my personal appearance；for do what I would I could never make myself
look like a Neapolitan；would be certain to attract attention； and some one
bolder than the rest would make himself the spokesman； and politely ask
me whether the cane in my hand was an umbrella or a fishing…rod； on
which I would amiably reply that it was a gun； and that I should have
much pleasure in exhibiting my skill and the method of its operation to the
assembled company。 Then the whole party would follow me to an open
space； and I would call for a pack of cards； and possiblyfor I was a good
shot in those dayspink the ace of hearts at fifteen paces。 At any rate； my
performances usually called forth plaudits； and this involved a further
interchange of compliments and explanations； and the production of my
sketch…book； which soon procured me the acquaintance of some ladies；
and an invitation as an English artist to the house of some respectable
citizen。
So it happened that； getting out of the diligence before it reached
Foggia； I struck south； and wandered for some days from one little town to
another； being always hospitably entertained； whether there happened to
be an /albergo/ or not； at private houses； seeing in this way more of the
manners and customs of the inhabitants than would have been otherwise
possible； gaining much information as to the haunts of the brigands； the
whereabouts of the troops； and hearing much local gossip generally。 The
ignorance of the most respectable classes at this period was astounding； it
has doubtless all changed since。 I have been at a town of two thousand
inhabitants； not one of whom took in a newspaper； the whole population；
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STORIES
therefore； was in as profound ignorance of what was transpiring in the rest
of the world as if they had been in Novaia Zemlia。 I have stayed with a
mayor who did not know that England was an island； I have been the guest
of a citizen who had never heard of Scotland； and to whom； therefore； my
nationality was an enigma； but I never met any oneI mean of this same
classwho had not heard of Palmerston。 He was a mysterious personage；
execrated by the 〃blacks〃 and adored by the 〃reds。〃 And I shone with a
reflected lustre as the citizen of a country of which he was the Prime
Minister。 As a consequence； we had political discussions； which were
protracted far into the night； for the principal meal of the twenty…four
hours was a 10…o'clock…P。M。 supper； at which； after the inevitable
macaroni； were many unwholesome dishes； such as salads made of thistles；
cows' udders； and other delicacies； which deprived one of all desire for
sleep。 Notwithstanding which； we rose early； my hostess and the ladies of
the establishment appearing in the early part of the day in the most
extreme deshabille。 Indeed； on one occasion when I was first introduced
into the family of a respectable citizen and shown into my bedroom； I
mistook one of the two females who were making the bed for the servant；
and was surprised to see her hand a little douceur I gave her as an earnest
of attention on her part to the other； with a smile。 She soon afterward went
to bed： we all did； from 11 A。M。 till about 3 P。M。； at which hour I was
horrified to meet her arrayed in silks and satins； and to find that she was
the wife of my host。 She kindly took me a drive with her in a carriage and
pair； and with a coachman in livery。
It was by this simple means； and by thus imposing myself upon the
hospitality of these unsophisticated people； that I worked my way； by slow
degrees； chiefly
