massimilla doni-第3章

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out　light　from　every　window；　and　rang　with　music　carried　far　away　over
the　Adriatic　tide；　when　hundreds　of　gondolas　might　be　seen　tied　up　to
its　mooring…posts；　while　graceful　masked　figures　and　the　magnates　of
the　Republic　crowded　up　the　steps　kissed　by　the　waters；　when　its　halls
and　gallery　were　full　of　a　throng　of　intriguers　or　their　dupes；　when
the　great　banqueting…hall；　filled　with　merry　feasters；　and　the　upper
balconies　furnished　with　musicians；　seemed　to　harbor　all　Venice　coming
and　going　on　the　great　staircase　that　rang　with　laughter。

The　chisels　of　the　greatest　artists　of　many　centuries　had　sculptured
the　bronze　brackets　supporting　long…necked　or　pot…bellied　Chinese
vases；　and　the　candelabra　for　a　thousand　tapers。　Every　country　had
furnished　some　contribution　to　the　splendor　that　decked　the　walls　and
ceilings。　But　now　the　panels　were　stripped　of　the　handsome　hangings；
the　melancholy　ceilings　were　speechless　and　sad。　No　Turkey　carpets；　no
lustres　bright　with　flowers；　no　statues；　no　pictures；　no　more　joy；　no
moneythe　great　means　to　enjoyment！　Venice；　the　London　of　the　Middle
Ages；　was　falling　stone　by　stone；　man　by　man。　The　ominous　green　weed
which　the　sea　washes　and　kisses　at　the　foot　of　every　palace；　was　in
the　Prince's　eyes；　a　black　fringe　hung　by　nature　as　an　omen　of　death。

And　finally；　a　great　English　poet　had　rushed　down　on　Venice　like　a
raven　on　a　corpse；　to　croak　out　in　lyric　poetrythe　first　and　last
utterance　of　social　manthe　burden　of　a　/de　profundis/。　English
poetry！　Flung　in　the　face　of　the　city　that　had　given　birth　to　Italian
poetry！　Poor　Venice！

Conceive；　then；　of　the　young　man's　amazement　when　roused　from　such
meditations　by　Carmagnola's　cry：

〃Serenissimo；　the　palazzo　is　on　fire；　or　the　old　Doges　have　risen　from
their　tombs！　There　are　lights　in　the　windows　of　the　upper　floor！〃

Prince　Emilio　fancied　that　his　dream　was　realized　by　the　touch　of　a
magic　wand。　It　was　dusk；　and　the　old　gondolier　could　by　tying　up　his
gondola　to　the　top　step；　help　his　young　master　to　land　without　being
seen　by　the　bustling　servants　in　the　palazzo；　some　of　whom　were
buzzing　about　the　landing…place　like　bees　at　the　door　of　a　hive。
Emilio　stole　into　the　great　hall；　whence　rose　the　finest　flight　of
stairs　in　all　Venice；　up　which　he　lightly　ran　to　investigate　the　cause
of　this　strange　bustle。

A　whole　tribe　of　workmen　were　hurriedly　completing　the　furnishing　and
redecoration　of　the　palace。　The　first　floor；　worthy　of　the　antique
glories　of　Venice；　displayed　to　Emilio's　waking　eyes　the　magnificence
of　which　he　had　just　been　dreaming；　and　the　fairy　had　exercised
admirable　taste。　Splendor　worthy　of　a　parvenu　sovereign　was　to　be　seen
even　in　the　smallest　details。　Emilio　wandered　about　without　remark
from　anybody；　and　surprise　followed　on　surprise。

Curious；　then；　to　know　what　was　going　forward　on　the　second　floor；　he
went　up；　and　found　everything　finished。　The　unknown　laborers；
commissioned　by　a　wizard　to　revive　the　marvels　of　the　Arabian　nights
in　behalf　of　an　impoverished　Italian　prince；　were　exchanging　some
inferior　articles　of　furniture　brought　in　for　the　nonce。　Prince　Emilio
made　his　way　into　the　bedroom；　which　smiled　on　him　like　a　shell　just
deserted　by　Venus。　The　room　was　so　charmingly　pretty；　so　daintily
smart；　so　full　of　elegant　contrivance；　that　he　straightway　seated
himself　in　an　armchair　of　gilt　wood；　in　front　of　which　a　most
appetizing　cold　supper　stood　ready；　and；　without　more　ado；　proceeded
to　eat。

〃In　all　the　world　there　is　no　one　but　Massimilla　who　would　have
thought　of　this　surprise；〃　thought　he。　〃She　heard　that　I　was　now　a
prince；　Duke　Cataneo　is　perhaps　dead；　and　has　left　her　his　fortune；
she　is　twice　as　rich　as　she　was；　she　will　marry　me〃

And　he　ate　in　a　way　that　would　have　roused　the　envy　of　an　invalid
Croesus；　if　he　could　have　seen　him；　and　he　drank　floods　of　capital
port　wine。

〃Now　I　understand　the　knowing　little　air　she　put　on　as　she　said；　'Till
this　evening！'　Perhaps　she　means　to　come　and　break　the　spell。　What　a
fine　bed！　and　in　the　bed…place　such　a　pretty　lamp！　Quite　a　Florentine
idea！〃

There　are　some　strongly　blended　natures　on　which　extremes　of　joy　or　of
grief　have　a　soporific　effect。　Now　on　a　youth　so　compounded　that　he
could　idealize　his　mistress　to　the　point　of　ceasing　to　think　of　her　as
a　woman；　this　sudden　incursion　of　wealth　had　the　effect　of　a　dose　of
opium。　When　the　Prince　had　drunk　the　whole　of　the　bottle　of　port；
eaten　half　a　fish　and　some　portion　of　a　French　pate；　he　felt　an
irresistible　longing　for　bed。　Perhaps　he　was　suffering　from　a　double
intoxication。　So　he　pulled　off　the　counterpane；　opened　the　bed；
undressed　in　a　pretty　dressing…room；　and　lay　down　to　meditate　on
destiny。

〃I　forgot　poor　Carmagnola；〃　said　he；　〃but　my　cook　and　butler　will　have
provided　for　him。〃

At　this　juncture；　a　waiting…woman　came　in；　lightly　humming　an　air　from
the　/Barbiere/。　She　tossed　a　woman's　dress　on　a　chair；　a　whole　outfit
for　the　night；　and　said　as　she　did　so：

〃Here　they　come！〃

And　in　fact　a　few　minutes　later　a　young　lady　came　in；　dressed　in　the
latest　French　style；　who　might　have　sat　for　some　English　fancy
portrait　engraved　for　a　/Forget…me…not/；　a　/Belle　Assemblee/；　or　a
/Book　of　Beauty/。

The　Prince　shivered　with　delight　and　with　fear；　for；　as　you　know；　he
was　in　love　with　Massimilla。　But；　in　spite　of　this　faith　in　love　which
fired　his　blood；　and　which　of　old　inspired　the　painters　of　Spain；
which　gave　Italy　her　Madonnas；　created　Michael　Angelo's　statues　and
Ghilberti's　doors　of　the　Baptistery；desire　had　him　in　its　toils；　and
agitated　him　without　infusing　into　his　heart　that　warm；　ethereal　glow
which　he　felt　at　a　look　or　a　word　from　the　Duchess。　His　soul；　his
heart；　his　reason；　every　impulse　of　his　will；　revolted　at　the　thought
of　an　infidelity；　and　yet　that　brutal；　unreasoning　infidelity
domineered　over　his　spirit。　But　the　woman　was　not　alone。

The　Prince　saw　one　of　those　figures　in　which　nobody　believes　when　they
are　transferred　from　real　life；　where　we　wonder　at　them；　to　the
imaginary　existence　of　a　more　or　less　literary　description。　The　dress
of　this　stranger；　like　that　of　all　Neapolitans；　displayed　five　colors；
if　the　black　of　his　hat　may　count　for　a　color；　his　trousers　were
olive…brown；　his　red　waistcoat　shone　with　gilt　buttons；　his　coat　was
greenish；　and　his　linen　was　more　yellow　than　white。　This　personage
seemed　to　have　made　it　his　business　to　verify　the　Neapolitan　as
represented　by　Gerolamo　on　the　stage　of　his　puppet　show。　His　eyes
looked　like　glass　beads。　His　nose；　like　the　ace　of　clubs；　was　horribly
long　and　bulbous；　in　fact；　it　did　its　best　to　conceal　an　opening　which
it　would　be　an　insult　to　the　human　countenance　to　call　a　mouth；
within；　three　or　four　tusks　were　visible；　endowed；　as　it　seemed；　with
a　proper　motion　and　fitting　into　each　other。　His　fleshy　ears　drooped
by　their　own　weight；　giving　the　creature　a　whimsical　resemblance　to　a
dog。

His　complexion；　tainted；　no　doubt；　by　various　metallic　infusions　as
prescribed　by　some　Hippocrates；　verged　on　black。　A　pointed　skull；
scarcely　covered　by　a　few　straight　hairs　like　spun　glass；　crowned　this
forbidding　face　with　red　spots。　Finally；　though　the　man　was　very　thin
and　of　medium　height；　he　had　long　arms　and　broad　shoulders。

In　spite　of　these　hideous　details；　and　though　he　looked　fully　seventy；
he　did　not　lack　a　certain　cyclopean　dignity；　he　had　aristocratic
manners　and　the　confident　demeanor　of　a　rich　man。

Any　one　who　could　have　found　courage　enough　to　study　him；　would　have
seen　his　history　written　by　base　passions　on　this　noble　clay　degraded
to　mud。　Here　was　the　man　of　high　birth；　who；　rich　from　his　earliest
youth；　had　given　up　his　body　to　debauchery　for　the　sake　of　extravagant
enjoyment。　And　debauchery　had　destroyed　the　human　being　and　made
another　after　its　own　image。　Thousands　of　bottles　of　wine　had
disappeared　under　the　purple　archway　of　that　preposterous　nose；　and
left　their　dregs　on　his　lips。　Long　and　slow　digestion　had　destroyed
his　teeth。　His　eyes　had　grown　dim　under　the　lamps　of　the　gaming　table。
The　blood　tainted　with　impurities　had　vitiated　the　nervous　system。　The
expenditure　of　force　in　the　task　of　digestion　had　undermined　his
intellect。　Finally；　amours　had　thinned　his　hair。　Each　vice；　like　a
greedy　heir；　had　stamped　possession　on　some　part　of　the　living　body。

Those　who　watch　nature　detect　her　in　jests　of　the　shrewdest　irony。　For
instance；　she　places　toads　in　the　neighborhood　of　flowers；　as　she　had
placed　this　man　by　the　side　of　this　rose　of　love。

〃Will　you　play　the　violin　this　evening；　my　dear　Duke？〃　asked　the
woman；　as　she　unhooked　a　cord　to　let　a　handsome　curtain　fall　over　the
door。

〃Play　the　violin！〃　thought　Prince　Emilio。　〃What　can　have　happened　to
my　palazzo？　Am　I　awake？　Here　I　am；　in　that　woman's　bed；　and　she
certainly　thinks　herself　at　homeshe　has　taken　off　her　cloak！　Have　I；
like　Vendramin；　inhaled　opium；　and　am　I　in　the　midst　of　one　of　those
dreams　in　which　he　sees　Venice　as　it　was　three　centuries　ago？〃

The　unknown　fair　one；　seated　in　front　of　a　dressing…table　blazing　with
wax　lights；　was　unfastening　her　frippery　with　the　utmost　calmness。

〃Ring　for　Giulia；〃　said　she；　〃I　want　to　get　my　dress　off。〃

At　that　instant；　the　Duke　noticed　that　the　supper　had　been　disturbed；
he　looked　round　the　room；　and　discovered　the　Prince's　trousers　hanging
over　a　chair　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。

〃Clarina；　I　will　not　ring！〃　cried　the　Duke；　in　a　shrill　voice　of　fury。
〃I　will　not　play　the　violin　this　evening；　nor　tomorrow；　nor　ever
again〃

〃Ta；　ta；　ta；　ta！〃　sang　Clarina；　on　the　four　octaves　of　the　same　note；
leaping　from　one　to　the　next　with　the　ease　of　a　nightingale。

〃In　spite　of　that　voice；　which　would　make　your　patron　saint　Clara
envious；　you　are　really　too　impudent；　you　rascally　hussy！〃

〃You　have　not　brought　me　up　to　listen　to　such　abuse；〃　said　she；　with
some　pride。

〃Have　I　brought　you　up　to　hide　a　man　in　your　bed？　You　are　unworthy
alike　of　my　generosity　and　of　my　hatred〃

〃A　man　in　my　bed！〃　exclaimed　Clarina；　hastily　looking　round。

〃And　after　daring　to　eat　our　supper；　as　if　he　were　at　home；〃　added　the
Duke。

〃But　am　I　not　at　home？〃　cried　Emilio。　〃I　am　the　Prince　of　Varese；　this
palace　is　mine。〃

As　he　spoke；　Emilio　sat　up　in　bed；　his　handsome　and　noble　Venetian
head　framed　in　the　flowing　hangings。

At　first　Clarina　laughedone　of　those　irrepressible　fits　of　laughter
which　seize　a　girl　when　she　meets　with　an　adventure　comic　beyond　all
conception。　But　her　laughter　ceased　as　she　saw　the　young　man；　who；　as
has　been　said；　was　remarkably　handsome；　though　but　lightly　attired；
the　madness　that　possessed　Emilio　seized　her；　too；　and；　as　she　had　no
one　to　adore；　no　sense　of　reason　bridled　her　sudden　fancya　Sicilian
woman　in　love。

〃Although　this　is　the　palazzo　Memmi；　I　will　thank　your　Highness　to
quit；〃　said　the　Duke；　assuming　the　cold　irony　of　a　polished　gentleman。
〃I　am　at　home　here。〃

〃Let　me　tell　you；　Monsieur　le　Duc；　that　you　are　in　my　room；　not　in
your　own；〃　said　Clarina；　rousing　herself　from　her　amazement。　〃If　you
have　any　doubts　of　my　virtue；　at　any　rate　give　me　the　benefit　of　my
crime〃

〃Doubts！　Say　proof　positive；　my　lady！〃

〃I　swear　to