Part 26 (1/2)

Yet he was by the side of Violante, and she spoke to him with such praise of Helen! Alas! it is not always so sweet as folks say, to hear the praises of one we love. Sometimes those praises seem to ask ironically, ”And what right hast thou to hope because thou lovest? _All_ love _her_.”

CHAPTER V.

No sooner had Lady Lansmere found herself alone with Riccabocca and Harley than she laid her hand on the exile's arm, and, addressing him by a t.i.tle she had not before given him, and from which he appeared to shrink nervously, said--”Harley, in bringing me to visit you, was forced to reveal to me your incognito, for I should have discovered it. You may not remember me, in spite of your gallantry. But I mixed more in the world than I do now, during your first visit to England, and once sat next to you at dinner at Carlton House. Nay, no compliments, but listen to me. Harley tells me you have cause for some alarm respecting the designs of an audacious and unprincipled--adventurer, I may call him; for adventurers are of all ranks. Suffer your daughter to come to me, on a visit, as long as you please. With me, at least, she will be safe; and if you, too, and the--”

”Stop, my dear madam,” interrupted Riccabocca, with great vivacity, ”your kindness overpowers me. I thank you most gratefully for your invitation to my child; but--”

”Nay,” in his turn interrupted Harley, ”no buts. I was not aware of my mother's intention when she entered this room. But since she whispered it to me, I have reflected on it, and am convinced that it is but a prudent precaution. Your retreat is known to Mr. Leslie--he is known to Peschiera. Grant that no indiscretion of Mr. Leslie's betray the secret; still I have reason to believe that the Count guesses Randal's acquaintance with you. Audley Egerton this morning told me he had gathered that, not from the young man himself, but from questions put to himself by Madame di Negra; and Peschiera might, and would, set spies, to track Leslie to every house that he visits--might and would, still more naturally, set spies to track myself. Were this man an Englishman, I should laugh at his machinations; but he is an Italian, and has been a conspirator. What he could do, I know not; but an a.s.sa.s.sin can penetrate into a camp, and a traitor can creep through closed walls to one's hearth. With my mother, Violante must be safe; that you cannot oppose.

And why not come yourself?”

Riccabocca had no reply to these arguments, so far as they affected Violante; indeed, they awakened the almost superst.i.tious terror with which he regarded his enemy, and he consented at once that Violante should accept the invitation proffered. But he refused it for himself and Jemima.

”To say truth,” said he simply, ”I made a secret vow, on re-entering England, that I would a.s.sociate with none who knew the rank I had formerly held in my own land. I felt that all my philosophy was needed, to reconcile and habituate myself to my altered circ.u.mstances. In order to find in my present existence, however humble, those blessings which make all life n.o.ble--dignity and peace--it was necessary for poor, weak human nature, wholly to dismiss the past. It would unsettle me sadly, could I come to your house, renew a while, in your kindness and respect--nay, in the very atmosphere of your society--the sense of what I have been; and then (should the more than doubtful chance of recall from my exile fail me) to awake, and find myself for the rest of life--what I am. And though, were I alone, I might trust myself perhaps to the danger--yet my wife: she is happy and contented now; would she be so, if you had once spoiled her for the simple position of Dr.

Riccabocca's wife? Should I not have to listen to regrets, and hopes, and fears that would p.r.i.c.k sharp through my thin cloak of philosophy?

Even as it is, since in a moment of weakness I confided my secret to her, I have had 'my rank' thrown at me--with a careless hand, it is true--but it hits hard, nevertheless. No stone hurts like one taken from the ruins of one's own home; and the grander the home, why, the heavier the stone! Protect, dear madam--protect my daughter, since her father doubts his own power to do so. But--ask no more.”

Riccabocca was immovable here. And the matter was settled as he decided, it being agreed that Violante should be still styled the daughter of Dr.

Riccabocca.

”And now, one word more,” said Harley. ”Do not confide to Mr. Leslie these arrangements; do not let him know where Violante is placed--at least, until I authorize such confidence in him. It is sufficient excuse, that it is no use to know unless he called to see her, and his movements, as I said before, may be watched. You can give the same reason to suspend his visits to yourself. Suffer me, meanwhile, to mature my judgment on this young man. In the mean while also, I think that I shall have means of ascertaining the real nature of Peschiera's schemes. His sister has sought to know me; I will give her the occasion.

I have heard some things of her in my last residence abroad, which make me believe that she cannot be wholly the Count's tool in any schemes nakedly villanous; that she has some finer qualities in her than I once supposed; and that she can be won from his influence. It is a state of war; we will carry it into the enemy's camp. You will promise me, then, to refrain from all further confidence to Mr. Leslie.”

”For the present, yes,” said Riccabocca, reluctantly.

”Do not even say that you have seen me, unless he first tell you that I am in England, and wish to learn your residence. I will give him full occasion to do so. Pis.h.!.+ don't hesitate; you know your own proverb--

'Boccha chiusa, ed occhio aperto Non fece mai nissun deserto.'

'The closed mouth and the open eye,' &c.”

”That's very true,” said the Doctor, much struck. ”Very true. '_In bocchac hiusa non c'entrano mosche_.' One can't swallow flies if one keeps one's mouth shut. _Corpo di Bacco!_ that's very true!”

Harley took aside the Italian.

”You see if our hope of discovering the lost packet, or if our belief in the nature of its contents, be too sanguine, still, in a few months it is possible that Peschiera can have no further designs on your daughter--possible that a son may be born to you, and Violante would cease to be in danger, because she would cease to be an heiress. Indeed, it may be well to let Peschiera know this chance; it would, at least, make him delay all his plans while we are tracking the doc.u.ment that may defeat them for ever.”

”No, no! for heaven's sake, no!” exclaimed Riccabocca, pale as ashes.

”Not a word to him. I don't mean to impute to him crimes of which he may be innocent. But he meant to take my life when I escaped the pursuit of his hirelings in Italy. He did not hesitate, in his avarice, to denounce a kinsman; expose hundreds to the sword, if resisting--to the dungeon, if pa.s.sive. Did he know that my wife might bear me a son, how can I tell that his designs might not change into others still darker, and more monstrous, than those he now openly parades, though, after all, not more infamous and vile? Would my wife's life be safe? Not more difficult to convey poison into my house, than to steal my child from my hearth.

Don't despise me; but when I think of my wife, my daughter, and that man, my mind forsakes me: I am one fear.”

”Nay, this apprehension is too exaggerated. We do not live in the age of the Borgias. Could Peschiera resort to the risks of a murder, it is for yourself that you should fear.”

”For myself!--I! I!” cried the exile, raising his tall stature to its full height. ”Is it not enough degradation to a man who has borne the name of such ancestors, to fear for those he loves! Fear for myself! Is it you who ask if I am a coward?”

He recovered himself as he felt Harley's penitential and admiring grasp of the hand.