stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第9节
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we had to perform the remainder of the long； hot； dusty journey at a foot's
pace。 I have forgotten how we made the time pass。 I think we slept a good
deal。 I know we were both very tired and a trifle cross when in the evening
we reached Longarone； a small； poverty…stricken village； on the verge of
that dolomite region which； in these latter days； has become so frequented
by summer tourists。
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Tourists usually leave in their wake some of the advantages as well as
the drawbacks of civilisation； and probably there is now a respectable
hotel at Longarone。 I suppose； therefore； that I may say； without risk of
laying myself open to an action for slander； that a more filthy den than the
/osteria/ before which my charge and I alighted no imagination； however
disordered； could conceive。 It was a vast； dismal building； which had
doubtless been the palace of some rich citizen of the republic in days of
yore； but which had now fallen into dishonoured old age。 Its windows and
outside shutters were tightly closed； and had been so； apparently； from
time immemorial； a vile smell of rancid oil and garlic pervaded it in every
part； the cornices of its huge； bare rooms were festooned with blackened
cobwebs； and the dust and dirt of ages had been suffered to accumulate
upon the stone floors of its corridors。 The signorina tucked up her
petticoats as she picked her way along the passages to her bedroom； while
I remained behind to order dinner of the sulky； black…browed padrona to
whom I had already had to explain that my companion and I were not man
and wife； and who； I fear； had consequently conceived no very high
opinion of us。 Happily the priest had already been warned by telegram that
his service would not be required until the morrow； so I was spared the
nuisance of an interview with him。
After a time we sat down to our tete…a…tete dinner。 Such a dinner！ Even
after a lapse of all these years I am unable to think of it without a shudder。
Half famished though we were； we could not do much more than look at
the greater part of the dishes which were set before us； and the climax was
reached when we were served with an astonishing compote； made up； so
far as I was able to judge； of equal proportions of preserved plums and
mustard； to which vinegar and sugar had been superadded。 Both the
signorina and I partook of this horrible mixture； for it really looked as if it
might be rather nice； and when； after the first mouthful； each of us looked
up； and saw the other's face of agony and alarm； we burst into a
simultaneous peal of laughter。 Up to that moment we had been very
solemn and depressed； but the laugh did us good； and sent us to bed in
somewhat better spirits； and the malignant compote at least did us the
service of effectually banishing our appetite。
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I forbear to enlarge upon the horrors of the night。 Mosquitos； and other
insects； which； for some reason or other； we English seldom mention； save
under a modest pseudonym； worked their wicked will upon me till
daybreak set me free； and I presume that the fair Bianca was no better off；
for when the breakfast hour arrived I received a message from her to the
effect that she was unable to leave her room。
I was sitting over my dreary little repast； wondering how I should get
through the day； and speculating upon the possibility of my release before
nightfall； and I had just concluded that I must make up my mind to face
another night with the mosquitos and their hardy allies； when； to my great
joy； a slatternly serving…maid came lolloping into the room； and
announced that a gentleman styling himself 〃/il Conte di Rosenau/〃 had
arrived and demanded to see me instantly。 Here was a piece of unlooked…
for good fortune！ I jumped up； and flew to the door to receive my friend；
whose footsteps I already heard on the threshold。
〃My dear； good soul！〃 I cried； 〃this is too delightful！ How did you
manage〃
The remainder of my sentence died away upon my lips； for； alas！ it
was not the missing Alberto whom I had nearly embraced； but a stout； red…
faced； white…moustached gentleman； who was in a violent passion； judging
by the terrific salute of Teutonic expletives with which he greeted my
advance。 Then he； too； desisted as suddenly as I had done； and we both fell
back a few paces； and stared at each other blankly。 The new…comer was the
first to recover himself。
〃This is some accursed mistake；〃 said he； in German。
〃Evidently；〃 said I。
〃But they told me that you and an Italian young lady were the only
strangers in the house。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 I said； 〃I can't help it if we are。 The house is not of a kind
likely to attract strangers； and I assure you that； if I could consult my own
wishes； the number of guests would soon be reduced by one。〃
He appeared to be a very choleric old person。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃you seem
disposed to carry things off with a high hand； but I suspect that you know
more than you choose to reveal。 Be so good as to tell me the name of the
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lady who is staying here。〃
〃I think you are forgetting yourself；〃 I answered with dignity。 〃I must
decline to gratify your curiosity。〃
He stuck his arms akimbo； and planted himself directly in front of me；
frowning ominously。 〃Let us waste no more words；〃 he said。 〃If I have
made a mistake； I shall be ready to offer you a full apology。 If not But
that is nothing to the purpose。 I am Lieutenant…General Graf von Rosenau；
at your service； and I have reason to believe that my son； Graf Albrecht
von Rosenau； a lieutenant in his Imperial and Royal Majesty's 99th Croat
Regiment； has made a runaway match with a certain Signorina Bianca
Marinelli of Venice。 Are you prepared to give me your word of honour as
a gentleman and an Englishman that you are not privy to this affair？〃
At these terrible words I felt my blood run cold。 I may have lost my
presence of mind； but I don't know how I could have got out of the
dilemma even if I had preserved it。
〃Your son has not yet arrived；〃 I stammered。
He pounced upon me like a cat upon a mouse； and gripped both my
arms above the elbow。 〃Is he married？〃 he hissed； with his red nose a
couple of inches from mine。
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃he is not。 Perhaps I had better say at once that if
you use personal violence I shall defend myself； in spite of your age。〃
Upon this he was kind enough to relax his hold。
〃And pray； sir；〃 he resumed； in a somewhat more temperate tone； after
a short period of reflection； 〃what have you to do with all this？〃
〃I am not bound to answer your questions； Herr Graf；〃 I replied； 〃but；
as things have turned out； I have no special objection to doing so。 Out of
pure good…nature to your son； who was detained by duty in Venice at the
last moment； I consented to bring the Signorina Marinelli here yesterday；
and to await his arrival； which I am now expecting。〃
〃So you ran away with the girl； instead of Albrecht； did you？ Ho； ho；
ho！〃
I had seldom heard a more grating or disagreeable laugh。
〃I did nothing of the sort；〃 I answered； tartly。 〃I simply undertook to
see her safely through the first stage of her journey。〃
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〃And you will have the pleasure of seeing her back； I imagine； for as
for my rascal of a boy； I mean to take him off home with me as soon as he
arrives； and I can assure you that I have no intention of providing myself
with a daughter…in…law in the course of the day。〃
I began to feel not a little alarmed。 〃You cannot have the brutality to
leave me here with a young woman whom I am scarcely so much as
acquainted with on my hands！〃 I ejaculated； half involuntarily。 〃What in
the world should I do？〃
The old gentleman gave vent to a malevolent
