stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bag。〃
Not a bit of it！ The signorina refused to stir。
〃What is it？ Where is Alberto？ What has happened？〃 she cried。 〃You
have told me nothing。〃
〃Well； then； I will explain；〃 I answered； impatiently。 And I explained
accordingly。
But； dear me； what a fuss she did make over it all！ One would have
supposed； to hear her； that I had planned this unfortunate complication for
my own pleasure； and that I ought to have been playing the part of a
suppliant instead of that of a sorely tried benefactor。 First she was so kind
as to set me down as an imposter； and was only convinced of my honesty
when I showed her a letter in the beloved Alberto's handwriting。 Then she
26
… Page 27…
STORIES
declared that she could not possibly go off with a total stranger。 Then she
discovered that； upon further consideration； she could not abandon poor
dear papa in his old age。 And so forth； and so forth； with a running
accompaniment of tears and sobs。 Of course she consented at last to enter
the boat； but I was so exasperated by her silly behaviour that I would not
speak to her； and had really scarcely noticed whether she was pretty or
plain till we were more than half…way to Mestre。 But when we had hoisted
our sail； and were running before a fine； fresh breeze toward the land； and
our four men had shipped their oars and were chattering and laughing
under their breath in the bows； and the first perils of our enterprise seemed
to have been safely surmounted； my equanimity began to return to me； and
I stole a glance at the partner of my flight； who had lifted her veil； and
showed a pretty； round； childish face； with a clear； brown complexion； and
a pair of the most splendid dark eyes it has ever been my good fortune to
behold。 There were no tears in them now； but a certain half…frightened；
half…mischievous light instead； as if she rather enjoyed the adventure； in
spite of its inauspicious opening。 A very little encouragement induced her
to enter into conversation； and ere long she was prattling away as
unrestrainedly as if we had been friends all our lives。 She asked me a great
many questions。 What was I doing in Venice？ Had I known Alberto long？
Was I very fond of him？ Did I think that the old Count von Rosenau would
be very angry when he heard of his son's marriage？ I answered her as best
I could； feeling very sorry for the poor little soul； who evidently did not in
the least realise the serious nature of the step which she was about to take；
and she grew more and more communicative。 In the course of a quarter of
an hour I had been put in possession of all the chief incidents of her
uneventful life。
I had heard how she had lost her mother when she was still an infant；
how she had been educated partly by two maiden aunts； partly in a
convent at Verona； how she had latterly led a life of almost complete
seclusion in the old Venetian palace； how she had first met Alberto； and
how； after many doubts and misgivings； she had finally been prevailed
upon to sacrifice all for his sake； and to leave her father； who；stern；
severe； and suspicious； though he had always been generous to her；had
27
… Page 28…
STORIES
tried to give her such small pleasures as his means and habits would
permit。 She had a likeness of him with her； she said；perhaps I might like
to see it。 She dived into her travelling… bag as she spoke； and produced
from thence a full…length photograph of a tall； well…built gentleman of
sixty or thereabouts； whose gray hair； black moustache； and intent；
frowning gaze made up an ensemble more striking than attractive。
〃Is he not handsomepoor papa？〃 she asked。
I said the marchese was certainly a very fine…looking man； and
inwardly thanked my stars that he was safely at Padua； for looking at the
breadth of his chest； the length of his arm； and the somewhat forbidding
cast of his features； I could not help perceiving that 〃poor papa〃 was
precisely one of those persons with whom a prudent man prefers to keep
friends than to quarrel。
And so； by the time that we reached Mestre； we had become quite
friendly and intimate； and had half forgotten； I think； the absurd relation in
which we stood toward each other。 We had rather an awkward moment
when we left the boat and entered our travelling…carriage； for I need
scarcely say that both the boatmen and the grinning vetturino took me for
the bridegroom whose place I temporarily occupied； and they were
pleased to be facetious in a manner which was very embarrassing to me；
but which I could not very well check。 Moreover； I felt compelled so far to
sustain my assumed character as to be specially generous in the manner of
a /buona mano/ to those four jolly watermen； and for the first few miles of
our drive I could not help remembering this circumstance with some regret；
and wondering whether it would occur to Von Rosenau to reimburse me。
Probably our coachman thought that； having a runaway couple to drive；
he ought to make some pretence； at least； of fearing pursuit； for he set off
at such a furious pace that our four half…starved horses were soon beat； and
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。
28
… Page 29…
STORIES
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。
29
… Page 30…
STORIES
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。 T
