Part 14 (2/2)
”Indeed!” said Manfred, ”has it gone so far! oh! this cursed Friar!-but I must not lose time-go, Bianca, attend Isabella; but I charge thee, not a word of what has pa.s.sed. Find out how she is affected towards Theodore; bring me good news, and that ring has a companion. Wait at the foot of the winding staircase: I am going to visit the Marquis, and will talk further with thee at my return.”
Manfred, after some general conversation, desired Frederic to dismiss the two Knights, his companions, having to talk with him on urgent affairs.
As soon as they were alone, he began in artful guise to sound the Marquis on the subject of Matilda; and finding him disposed to his wish, he let drop hints on the difficulties that would attend the celebration of their marriage, unless-At that instant Bianca burst into the room with a wildness in her look and gestures that spoke the utmost terror.
”Oh! my Lord, my Lord!” cried she; ”we are all undone! it is come again!
it is come again!”
”What is come again?” cried Manfred amazed.
”Oh! the hand! the Giant! the hand!-support me! I am terrified out of my senses,” cried Bianca. ”I will not sleep in the castle to-night. Where shall I go? my things may come after me to-morrow-would I had been content to wed Francesco! this comes of ambition!”
”What has terrified thee thus, young woman?” said the Marquis. ”Thou art safe here; be not alarmed.”
”Oh! your Greatness is wonderfully good,” said Bianca, ”but I dare not-no, pray let me go-I had rather leave everything behind me, than stay another hour under this roof.”
”Go to, thou hast lost thy senses,” said Manfred. ”Interrupt us not; we were communing on important matters-My Lord, this wench is subject to fits-Come with me, Bianca.”
”Oh! the Saints! No,” said Bianca, ”for certain it comes to warn your Highness; why should it appear to me else? I say my prayers morning and evening-oh! if your Highness had believed Diego! 'Tis the same hand that he saw the foot to in the gallery-chamber-Father Jerome has often told us the prophecy would be out one of these days-'Bianca,' said he, 'mark my words-'”
”Thou ravest,” said Manfred, in a rage; ”be gone, and keep these fooleries to frighten thy companions.”
”What! my Lord,” cried Bianca, ”do you think I have seen nothing? go to the foot of the great stairs yourself-as I live I saw it.”
”Saw what? tell us, fair maid, what thou hast seen,” said Frederic.
”Can your Highness listen,” said Manfred, ”to the delirium of a silly wench, who has heard stories of apparitions until she believes them?”
”This is more than fancy,” said the Marquis; ”her terror is too natural and too strongly impressed to be the work of imagination. Tell us, fair maiden, what it is has moved thee thus?”
”Yes, my Lord, thank your Greatness,” said Bianca; ”I believe I look very pale; I shall be better when I have recovered myself-I was going to my Lady Isabella's chamber, by his Highness's order-”
”We do not want the circ.u.mstances,” interrupted Manfred. ”Since his Highness will have it so, proceed; but be brief.”
”Lord! your Highness thwarts one so!” replied Bianca; ”I fear my hair-I am sure I never in my life-well! as I was telling your Greatness, I was going by his Highness's order to my Lady Isabella's chamber; she lies in the watchet-coloured chamber, on the right hand, one pair of stairs: so when I came to the great stairs-I was looking on his Highness's present here-”
”Grant me patience!” said Manfred, ”will this wench never come to the point? what imports it to the Marquis, that I gave thee a bauble for thy faithful attendance on my daughter? we want to know what thou sawest.”
”I was going to tell your Highness,” said Bianca, ”if you would permit me. So as I was rubbing the ring-I am sure I had not gone up three steps, but I heard the rattling of armour; for all the world such a clatter as Diego says he heard when the Giant turned him about in the gallery-chamber.”
”What Giant is this, my Lord?” said the Marquis; ”is your castle haunted by giants and goblins?”
”Lord! what, has not your Greatness heard the story of the Giant in the gallery-chamber?” cried Bianca. ”I marvel his Highness has not told you; mayhap you do not know there is a prophecy-”
”This trifling is intolerable,” interrupted Manfred. ”Let us dismiss this silly wench, my Lord! we have more important affairs to discuss.”
”By your favour,” said Frederic, ”these are no trifles. The enormous sabre I was directed to in the wood, yon casque, its fellow-are these visions of this poor maiden's brain?”
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