Part 86 (1/2)

”Now you upbraid me,” said the count, unruffled by her sudden pa.s.sion, ”because I gave you in marriage to a man young and n.o.ble?”

”Old in vices, and mean of soul! The marriage I forgave you. You had the right, according to the customs of our country, to dispose of my hand.

But I forgave you not the consolations that you whispered in the ear of a wretched and insulted wife.”

”Pardon me the remark,” replied the count, with a courtly bend of his head, ”but those consolations were also conformable to the customs of our country, and I was not aware till now that you had wholly disdained them. And,” continued the count, ”you were not so long a wife that the gall of the chain should smart still. You were soon left a widow,--free, childless, young, beautiful.”

”And penniless.”

”True, Di Negra was a gambler, and very unlucky; no fault of mine. I could neither keep the cards from his hands, nor advise him how to play them.”

”And my own portion? O Giulio, I knew but at his death why you had condemned me to that renegade Genoese. He owed you money, and, against honour, and I believe against law, you had accepted my fortune in discharge of the debt.”

”He had no other way to discharge it; a debt of honour must be paid,--old stories these. What matters? Since then my purse has been open to you.”

”Yes, not as your sister, but your instrument, your spy! Yes, your purse has been open--with a n.i.g.g.ard hand.”

”Un peu de conscience, ma chere,--you are so extravagant. But come, be plain. What would you?”

”I would be free from you.”

”That is, you would form some second marriage with one of these rich island lords. Ma foi, I respect your ambition.”

”It is not so high. I aim but to escape from slavery,--to be placed beyond dishonourable temptation. I desire,” cried Beatrice, with increased emotion,--”I desire to re-enter the life of woman.”

”Eno'!” said the count, with a visible impatience; ”is there anything in the attainment of your object that should render you indifferent to mine? You desire to marry, if I comprehend you right. And to marry as becomes you, you should bring to your husband not debts, but a dowry.

Be it so. I will restore the portion that I saved from the spendthrift clutch of the Genoese,--the moment that it is mine to bestow, the moment that I am husband to my kinsman's heiress. And now, Beatrice, you imply that my former notions revolted your conscience; my present plan should content it, for by this marriage shall our kinsman regain his country, and repossess, at least, half his lands. And if I am not an excellent husband to the demoiselle, it will be her own fault. I have sown my wild oats. Je suis bon prince, when I have things a little my own way. It is my hope and my intention, and certainly it will be my interest, to become digne epoux et irreprochable pere de famille. I speak lightly,--'t is my way. I mean seriously. The little girl will be very happy with me, and I shall succeed in soothing all resentment her father may retain. Will you aid me then, yes or no? Aid me, and you shall indeed be free. The magician will release the fair spirit he has bound to his will. Aid me not, ma chere, and mark, I do not threaten--I do but warn--aid me not; grant that I become a beggar, and ask yourself what is to become of you,--still young, still beautiful, and still penniless?

Nay, worse than penniless; you have done me the honour,” and here the count, looking on the table, drew a letter from a portfolio emblazoned with his arms and coronet,--”you have done me the honour to consult me as to your debts.”

”You will restore my fortune?” said the marchesa, irresolutely,--and averting her head from an odious schedule of figures.

”When my own, with your aid, is secured.”

”But do you not overrate the value of my aid?”

”Possibly,” said the count, with a caressing suavity--and he kissed his sister's forehead. ”Possibly; but, by my honour, I wish to repair to you any wrong, real or supposed, I may have done you in past times. I wish to find again my own dear sister. I may over-value your aid, but not the affection from which it comes. Let us be friends, cara Beatrice mia,”

added the count, for the first time employing Italian words.

The marchesa laid her head on his shoulder, and her tears flowed softly. Evidently this man had great influence over her,--and evidently, whatever her cause for complaint, her affection for him was still sisterly and strong. A nature with fine flashes of generosity, spirit, honour, and pa.s.sion was hers; but uncultured, unguided, spoilt by the worst social examples, easily led into wrong, not always aware where the wrong was, letting affections good or bad whisper away her conscience or blind her reason. Such women are often far more dangerous when induced to wrong than those who are thoroughly abandoned,--such women are the accomplices men like the Count of Peschiera most desire to obtain.

”Ah, Giulio,” said Beatrice, after a pause, and looking up at him through her tears, ”when you speak to me thus, you know you can do with me what you will. Fatherless and motherless, whom had my childhood to love and obey but you?”

”Dear Beatrice,” murmured the count, tenderly, and he again kissed her forehead. ”So,” he continued, more carelessly,--”so the reconciliation is effected, and our interests and our hearts re-allied. Now, alas! to descend to business. You say that you know some one whom you believe to be acquainted with the lurking-place of my father-in-law--that is to be!”

”I think so. You remind me that I have an appointment with him this day: it is near the hour,--I must leave you.”

”To learn the secret?--Quick, quick. I have no fear of your success, if it is by his heart that you lead him!”

”You mistake; on his heart I have no hold. But he has a friend who loves me, and honourably, and whose cause he pleads. I think here that I have some means to control or persuade him. If not--ah, he is of a character that perplexes me in all but his worldly ambition; and how can we foreigners influence him through THAT?”