stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第21节
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be； do not kill women； though your traducers say you do； do not give them
cause to speak truth。 I will be responsible for this woman's safety。 Here； to
make it sure you had better strap us together。〃 I piqued myself exceedingly
on this happy inspiration； whereby I secured an arm…in…arm walk； of a
peculiar kind； it is true； with Valeria； and indeed my readiness to sacrifice
myself seemed rather to astonish the soldier； who hesitated。 However； his
comrade； whose horse had been shot in the ditch； now came up； and
seconded my proposal as I offered him a mount on mine。
〃How on earth am I to let you escape； dear Valeria？〃 I whispered；
giving her a sort of affectionate nudge； the position of our arms prevented
my squeezing hers as I could have wished； and the two troopers kept
behind us； watching us； I thought； suspiciously。
〃It is quite impossible nowdon't attempt it；〃 she answered； 〃perhaps
there may be an opportunity later。〃
〃Was that Croppo who got away？〃 I asked。
〃Yes。 He could not get his cowardly men to stand on that hill。〃
〃What a bother those men are behind； dearest！ Let me pretend to
scratch my nose with this hand that is tied to yours； which I can thus bring
to my lips。〃
I accomplished this manoeuvre rather neatly； but parties now came
straggling in from other directions； and I was obliged to give up
whispering and become circumspect。 They all seemed rather astonished at
our group； and the captain laughed heartily as he rode up and called out；
〃Who have you got tied to you there； /caro mio/？〃
〃Croppo's wife。 I had her tied to me for fear she should escape； besides；
she is not bad…looking。〃
〃What a prize！〃 he exclaimed。 〃We have made a tolerable haul this
time twenty prisoners in all； among them the priest of the band。 Our
colonel has just arrived； so I am in luck； he will be delighted。 See the
prisoners are being brought up to him now； but you had better remount
and present yours in a less singular fashion。〃
When we reached the colonel we found him examining the priest。 His
breviary contained various interesting notes written on some of the fly…
leaves。
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For instance：
〃Administered extreme unction to A； shot by Croppo's order； my
share ten scudi。
〃Ditto； ditto； to R； hung by Croppo's order； my share two scudi。
〃Ditto； ditto； to S； roasted by Croppo's order to make him name an
agent to bring his ransom； overdone by mistake； and died； so got nothing。
〃Ditto； ditto； to P； executed by the knife by Croppo's order for
disobedience。
〃M and F and D； three new members； joined to…day；
confessed them； and received the usual fees。〃
He was a dark； beetle…browed…looking ruffian； this holy man； and the
colonel； when he had finished examining his book of prayer and crime；
tossed it to me； saying； 〃There！ that will show your friends in England the
kind of politicians we make war against。 Ha！ what have we here？ This is
more serious。〃 And he unfolded a piece of paper which had been
concealed in the breast of the priest。 〃This contains a little valuable
information；〃 he added； with a grim smile。 〃Nobody like priests and
women for carrying about political secrets； so you may have made a
valuable capture；〃 and he turned to where I stood with Valeria； 〃let her be
carefully searched。〃
Now the colonel was a very pompous man； and the document he had
just discovered on the priest added to his sense of self…importance。 When；
therefore； a large； carefully folded paper was produced from the
neighbourhood of Valeria's lovely bosom his eyes sparkled with
admiration。 〃Ho； ho！〃 he exclaimed； as he clutched it eagerly； 〃the plot is
thickening！〃 And he spread out triumphantly； before he had himself seen
what it was； the exquisitely drawn portrait of a donkey。 There was a
suppressed titter； which exploded into a shout when the bystanders looked
into the colonel's indignant face。 I only was affected differently as my gaze
fell upon this touching evidence of dear Valeria's love for me； and I
glanced at her tenderly。 〃This has a deeper significance than you think
for；〃 said the colonel； looking round angrily。 〃Croppo's wife does not
carefully secrete a drawing like that on her person for nothing。 See； it is
done by no common artist。 It means something； and must be preserved。〃
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〃It may have a biblical reference to the state of Italy。 You remember
Issachar was likened to an ass between two burdens。 In that case it
probably emanated from Rome；〃 I remarked； but nobody seemed to see
the point of the allusion； and the observation fell flat。 That night I dined
with the colonel； and after dinner I persuaded him to let me visit Valeria in
prison； as I wished to take the portrait of the wife of the celebrated brigand
chief。 I thanked my stars that my friend who had seen her when we met in
the glen was away on duty with his detachment and could not testify to our
former acquaintance。
My meeting with Valeria on this occasion was too touching and full of
tender passages to be of any general interest。 Valeria told me that she was
still a bride； that she had only been married a few months； and that she had
been compelled to become Croppo's wife against her choice； as the
brigand's will was too powerful to be resisted； but that； though he was
jealous and attached to her； he was stern and cruel； and； so far from
winning her love since her marriage； he had rather estranged it by his fits
of passion and ferocity。 As may be imagined； the portrait； which was really
very successful； took some time in execution； the more especially as we
had to discuss the possibilities of Valeria's escape。
〃We are going to be transferred to…morrow to the prison at Foggia；〃
she said。 〃If while we were passing through the market…place a disturbance
of some sort could be created； as it is market…day and all the country
people know me and are my friends； a rescue might be attempted。 I know
how to arrange for that； only they must see some chance of success。〃
A bright thought suddenly struck me； it was suggested by a trick I had
played shortly after my arrival in Italy。
〃You know I am something of a magician； Valeria； you have had proof
of that。 If I create a disturbance by magic to…morrow when you are passing
through the market…place； you won't stay to wonder what is the cause of
the confusion； but instantly take advantage of it to escape。〃
〃Trust me for that； /caro mio/。〃
〃And if you escape when shall we meet again？〃
〃I am known too well now to risk another meeting。 I shall be in hiding
with Croppo； where it will be impossible for you to find me； nor while he
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lives could I ever dare to think of leaving him； but I shall never forget
you；〃and she pressed my hands to her lips；〃though I shall no longer
have the picture of the donkey to remember you by。〃
〃See； here's my photograph； that will be better；〃 said I； feeling a little
annoyedfoolishly； I admit。 Then we strained each other to our respective
hearts and parted。 Now it so happened that my room in the /lacanda/ in
which I was lodging overlooked the market…place。 Here at ten o'clock in
the morning I posted myself； for that was the hour； as I had been careful to
ascertain； when the prisoners were to start for Foggia。 I opened the
window about three inches and fixed it there； I took out my gun； put eight
balls in it； and looked down upon the square。 It was crowded with
