Latest / Mysteries of London Vol. II / 94 - Mysteries of London Vol II by George W M Reynolds

Transcript

94 - Mysteries of London Vol II by George W M Reynolds · Mysteries of London Vol. II

0:00
Speaker 1: The widow. We must now return to that beautiful little
0:06
Speaker 1: villa in the environs of Upper Clapton to which we
0:10
Speaker 1: introduced our readers in the early portion of this history,
0:13
Speaker 1: and where we first found Eliza Sidney disguised in the
0:17
Speaker 1: garb of a man. Nothing was altered in the appearance
0:21
Speaker 1: of that charming suburban retreat, either externally or internally, unless
0:26
Speaker 1: it were that there were no dogs in the kennels,
0:29
Speaker 1: nor horses in the stables, and that the elegant boudoir
0:34
Speaker 1: no longer displayed articles of male attire. But the trees
0:38
Speaker 1: around were green with the verdure of spring. The fields
0:42
Speaker 1: stretching behind far as the eye could reach, were smiling
0:46
Speaker 1: and cultivated. And umbrageous was the circular grove that bounded
0:50
Speaker 1: the garden. In the parlor, on the ground floor still
0:54
Speaker 1: hung the miniatures of Eliza and her dead brother, that
0:58
Speaker 1: brother whom she had persons with such fatal consequences to herself.
1:03
Speaker 1: And now on the sofa in that parlor sat Eliza Sidney, herself,
1:09
Speaker 1: dressed in deep mourning. She was pale, but beautiful as ever.
1:15
Speaker 1: The snow white widow's cap concealed her bright chestnut hair.
1:20
Speaker 1: Save where the shining masses were parted glossy and smooth
1:24
Speaker 1: over her lofty and polished forehead. The high black dress
1:29
Speaker 1: and plain collar covered the snowy whiteness of her neck,
1:33
Speaker 1: but still displayed the admirable contours of her bust. Her
1:37
Speaker 1: countenance bore a somewhat melancholy but resigned expression, and the
1:42
Speaker 1: amiability of her soul shone in her large, soft, melting
1:47
Speaker 1: hazel eyes. It was noon, about a week after the
1:51
Speaker 1: date of the incidents related in the preceding chapter. Scarcely
1:56
Speaker 1: had the time piece upon the mantle proclaimed the midday hour.
2:00
Speaker 1: When a carriage drove up to the front door of
2:02
Speaker 1: the villa. A few moments elapsed and three visitors were
2:07
Speaker 1: ushered into the parlor, where Eliza awaited them. These were
2:11
Speaker 1: the Prince and Princess of Montoni and Catherine Markham. Eliza
2:17
Speaker 1: extended her hand with ingenuous courtesy towards Richard, saying, Prince,
2:22
Speaker 1: no selfish feelings can prevent me from congratulating you on
2:26
Speaker 1: that proud position which your prowess and your virtues have
2:30
Speaker 1: achieved for yourself. Then offering her hand to Isabella, she added,
2:36
Speaker 1: nor need I wait for a formal introduction to one
2:40
Speaker 1: whom I now see for the first time, but of
2:42
Speaker 1: whom I have heard so much that I am well
2:45
Speaker 1: prepared to become her friend, if her Highness will permit me.
2:50
Speaker 1: There was something so sweet and touching, something so frank
2:54
Speaker 1: and sincere, in the manner of the exiled Grand Duchess
2:58
Speaker 1: of Castelchicala, that Isabella's heart was instantaneously warmed towards her. Moreover,
3:06
Speaker 1: the young princess felt all the noble generosity of that
3:09
Speaker 1: conduct on the part of one who had lost a
3:12
Speaker 1: throne by the events which had led to the happiness
3:15
Speaker 1: of herself and her husband, and which had achieved the
3:19
Speaker 1: exaltation of her parents. Thus were those two beauteous creatures
3:24
Speaker 1: attracted to each other the instant they met, and Isabella,
3:29
Speaker 1: instead of receiving the outstretched hand that was offered as
3:32
Speaker 1: the pledge of friendship, threw herself into Eliza's arms. It
3:37
Speaker 1: was a touching picture, the embrace of that charming bride
3:41
Speaker 1: and that scarcely less charming widow. In due course, Markham
3:47
Speaker 1: presented his sister to the exiled Grand Duchess, who received
3:51
Speaker 1: her in the most affable and cordial manner. When the
3:56
Speaker 1: first excitement of this meeting was over, and they were
3:59
Speaker 1: all seated. Eliza broke a temporary silence which ensued the
4:05
Speaker 1: last time we met, Prince, she said, addressing herself to
4:09
Speaker 1: our hero. No human foresight could have divined the great
4:13
Speaker 1: events that were so shortly to ensue the brilliant destinies
4:18
Speaker 1: that were in waiting for yourself. And if there be
4:22
Speaker 1: one regret which I have experienced, observed Richard, arising from
4:26
Speaker 1: those events, it is that they deprived an amiable lady
4:30
Speaker 1: of that throne which her virtues embellished. But the cause
4:34
Speaker 1: of castel chicalan freedom outweighed all other considerations, and the
4:39
Speaker 1: duty imposed upon me by those adherents who made me
4:43
Speaker 1: their chief was stern, solemn, and imperative. You need not
4:49
Speaker 1: reproach yourself, exclaimed Eliza. You need not entertain a moment's
4:54
Speaker 1: regret on my account. All that occurred was inevitable, and
4:59
Speaker 1: it was for the best. Castelchikala panted for freedom, and
5:04
Speaker 1: she had a right to claim it. This I may
5:07
Speaker 1: assert without injustice, without insult to the memory of my husband.
5:12
Speaker 1: And had no such reclamation been made by the people
5:15
Speaker 1: of Castechicala, had no revolution occurred. Had Angelo been more
5:21
Speaker 1: prudent and less severe, Alberto would still at this moment
5:25
Speaker 1: be the sovereign of that country. For my husband had
5:29
Speaker 1: long been afflicted with the disease of the heart that
5:33
Speaker 1: was incurable, and that must inevitably have terminated in a
5:37
Speaker 1: sudden death. As I informed you in my letter of yesterday,
5:42
Speaker 1: he had scarcely reached the city of Vienna, where he
5:46
Speaker 1: was received as became his rank, and lodged in one
5:50
Speaker 1: of the imperial palaces. When he was taken ill and
5:55
Speaker 1: in a few hours breathed his last. His misfortunes could
6:00
Speaker 1: not have accelerated an event which his physicians had previously
6:05
Speaker 1: seen to be near at hand. Although this prescience was
6:09
Speaker 1: all along religiously concealed from me. You have, therefore, Prince,
6:14
Speaker 1: not wherewith to reproach yourself on that head. Your kind
6:19
Speaker 1: assurances are conveyed in a spirit worthy of your generous heart,
6:23
Speaker 1: said Richard, and Isabella, who was greatly affected by the
6:27
Speaker 1: noble behavior of Eliza, enthusiastically echoed her husband's sentiments. It
6:34
Speaker 1: was but a week ago, continued Eliza, that I received
6:38
Speaker 1: the tidings of the late Grand Duke's death. He had
6:42
Speaker 1: misunderstood me. He had suspected me, and we had parted
6:47
Speaker 1: in anger. Nay, I had fled to save myself from
6:50
Speaker 1: his fury. May I hope, and yet I dare not
6:56
Speaker 1: that the generous behavior of your serene Highness towards me, Richard,
7:01
Speaker 1: proved not the cause of that lamentable misunderstanding. Oh, I
7:06
Speaker 1: should be grieved, deeply grieved, were such. Indeed the case,
7:10
Speaker 1: exclaimed Isabella. For Richard has made me acquainted with all
7:14
Speaker 1: the details of your Serene Highness's noble conduct towards him
7:18
Speaker 1: after he was taken prisoner at Ossore. I will explain all,
7:23
Speaker 1: said Eliza. But in the first place, she added, with
7:28
Speaker 1: a sweet smile, let me entreat a favor of you
7:31
Speaker 1: all you style me by that title which became mine
7:35
Speaker 1: when I was honored with the hand of the late
7:37
Speaker 1: Grand Duke Angelo, and which still is mine. Did I
7:41
Speaker 1: choose to adopt it? For the new government has passed
7:44
Speaker 1: no decree to deprive me of it, nor ever will,
7:48
Speaker 1: exclaimed Richard warmly. And yet I now value it, not,
7:53
Speaker 1: continued the royal widow. Thanks for that assurance, Prince, but
7:58
Speaker 1: it is unnecessary. I was ever happier as Eliza Sydney,
8:03
Speaker 1: than as the Marchioness of Ziani, or as the Grand
8:06
Speaker 1: Duchess of Castelchicala. As Eliza Sydney. I left England as
8:13
Speaker 1: Eliza Sydney. I returned to England, and by that name
8:17
Speaker 1: do I wish to be known? Nay, I implore you
8:21
Speaker 1: not to interrupt me, if you would please me, if
8:24
Speaker 1: you would do aught to contribute to my happiness, if
8:27
Speaker 1: you value my poor friendship, that friendship, which poor as
8:32
Speaker 1: it is, I so cordially offer to you all, let
8:35
Speaker 1: me henceforth be Eliza Sydney as I once was. When
8:40
Speaker 1: I came back three months ago to my native land.
8:43
Speaker 1: I re entered this house which is my own, with
8:47
Speaker 1: feelings of a far more peaceful happiness than those which
8:51
Speaker 1: I experienced when I first set foot as its mistress
8:55
Speaker 1: in the Palace of Montoni. Here do I hope to
8:58
Speaker 1: pass the remainder of my days. And if you will
9:02
Speaker 1: sometimes come to cheer my solitude, I shall require no
9:06
Speaker 1: other source of felicity, no other society. We will visit
9:12
Speaker 1: you often, dearest Eliza, for so you will permit me
9:16
Speaker 1: to call you, said Isabella, and you must come to
9:19
Speaker 1: our dwelling frequently, very frequently. It shall be the care
9:24
Speaker 1: of my husband, his dear sister Catherine, and myself, and
9:29
Speaker 1: also of the friends who dwell with us, to contribute
9:32
Speaker 1: to your happiness, to the utmost of our power. Eliza
9:37
Speaker 1: pressed Isabella's hand and smiled sweetly upon her and Catherine
9:42
Speaker 1: through the tears that stood upon her lashes. But I
9:46
Speaker 1: promised you in explanation of those events which led to
9:50
Speaker 1: my precipitate departure from Castelchicala, continued Eliza after a short pause.
9:57
Speaker 1: You must know that the loss which the Duckle troops
10:00
Speaker 1: experienced at Ossore, chiefly through your prowess. Prince overwhelmed my
10:06
Speaker 1: late husband with a fury which rendered him terrible to
10:10
Speaker 1: all around. He threatened the most deadly vengeance against the
10:15
Speaker 1: constitutional prisoners, and was only persuaded by my entreaties and
10:19
Speaker 1: prayers to relinquish the extreme measures which he had first
10:24
Speaker 1: conceived against them. It was I think, on the fourth
10:29
Speaker 1: day after you, Prince left Montoni, disguised as an artist
10:34
Speaker 1: and with a passport made out in a fictitious name,
10:38
Speaker 1: that the usher who had admitted you into the palace,
10:41
Speaker 1: and who it appeared had listened at the door of
10:44
Speaker 1: the room where our interview took place, betrayed the whole
10:48
Speaker 1: circumstances to the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke came immediately
10:53
Speaker 1: to my apartment, overwhelmed me with reproaches, and leveled the
10:58
Speaker 1: most unjust accusations against me. But I will not insult
11:04
Speaker 1: you nor your amiable bride by repeating all that the
11:07
Speaker 1: Duke said on that occasion. Never were suspicions more cruel,
11:13
Speaker 1: Never was woman's conduct so thoroughly misunderstood, so unjustly interpreted.
11:20
Speaker 1: His serene Highness commanded me to keep my own chamber,
11:24
Speaker 1: to consider myself a prisoner. An hour afterwards, Signor Bazzano
11:30
Speaker 1: contrived to obtain access to me, unperceived by the spies
11:35
Speaker 1: set to watch me. His uncle was, as I think
11:39
Speaker 1: I informed you when we met at Montoni, Prince the
11:42
Speaker 1: under Secretary of State for the Home Department, and from
11:46
Speaker 1: that relative Bazzano had learnt the fearful tidings which he
11:50
Speaker 1: came to impart to me. It appeared that the Grand
11:54
Speaker 1: Duke intended to appoint a commission of judges and counselors
11:58
Speaker 1: of state to try me me his wife, all his
12:03
Speaker 1: former affection for me had suddenly changed beneath the weight
12:07
Speaker 1: of his injurious suspicions into the most unbounded hatred. I
12:14
Speaker 1: knew that he would form the commission of men, rather
12:16
Speaker 1: inclined to do the royal bidding than to investigate the
12:20
Speaker 1: entire matter with justice and impartiality. He was a prince
12:24
Speaker 1: who knew no other law than his own sovereign will.
12:28
Speaker 1: Alas that was his failing, and it triumphed over all
12:33
Speaker 1: the better feelings of a mind naturally generous signor. Butzzano
12:39
Speaker 1: also informed me that spies had been sent out all
12:43
Speaker 1: over the country to track you, Prince, and that your death,
12:47
Speaker 1: should you be captured, was determined upon Fortunately, however, you
12:52
Speaker 1: escaped the pursuit of your foes. And yet what danger
12:58
Speaker 1: must you have incurred? Exclaimed Isabella, gazing with tearful affection
13:03
Speaker 1: at her husband. Providence shielded you, dearest brother, murmured Catherine. Yes,
13:11
Speaker 1: Providence shielded him for its own wise and good purposes,
13:14
Speaker 1: added Eliza Sidney. To continue the thread of my narrative,
13:19
Speaker 1: I must observe that the information brought me by the
13:23
Speaker 1: faithful Bazzano filled me with alarm. I already saw myself
13:28
Speaker 1: disgraced by an unjust verdict. My life was even in danger.
13:34
Speaker 1: I was not compelled to implore Signor Bazzano to assist
13:38
Speaker 1: me to escape. He proposed the step as the only
13:42
Speaker 1: means of safety, alike to myself and to him, for
13:46
Speaker 1: he was already endangered by the revelations of the Usher,
13:49
Speaker 1: although the influence of his uncle had served to shield
13:53
Speaker 1: him from the immediate vengeance of the Grand Duke. A
13:58
Speaker 1: post chaise was procured by by Bazzano that same afternoon,
14:02
Speaker 1: and I managed to escape from the palace, accompanied by Louisa,
14:06
Speaker 1: a faithful englishwoman who has been in my service for
14:10
Speaker 1: some years. At Freuili, Signor Bazzano met you, Prince and
14:16
Speaker 1: gave you a timely warning, the nature of which you
14:19
Speaker 1: can now understand, for it was known that you had
14:22
Speaker 1: quitted Montoni, attended by a servant of dark complexion, and
14:27
Speaker 1: the spies sent after you were therefore led to inquire
14:30
Speaker 1: for two persons answering a certain description and journeying together.
14:36
Speaker 1: Thence the recommendation to separate company, which Basano so wisely
14:41
Speaker 1: gave you, and perhaps to that circumstance of thus parting
14:45
Speaker 1: from your servant you each owed your safety. In reference
14:50
Speaker 1: to my own flight, it only remains for me to
14:53
Speaker 1: say that we proceeded to Monte Coucouli, having left behind
14:58
Speaker 1: us at Freuili an impression that we were going in
15:00
Speaker 1: quite another direction. Arrived in safety at Montecuculi. We set
15:06
Speaker 1: back the chaise to Montoni and secured places in a
15:09
Speaker 1: public vehicle for the nearest town in the Roman States.
15:14
Speaker 1: Our perils were soon over. We traveled day and night
15:18
Speaker 1: until we reached Leghorn in Tuscany, whence we embarked on
15:22
Speaker 1: board a vessel bound for England. Shortly after my arrival here,
15:27
Speaker 1: the news of the Castel Chicalan insurrection reached this country,
15:31
Speaker 1: and then I heard, Prince that you were at the
15:34
Speaker 1: head of the constitutionalists. But I did not violate my
15:39
Speaker 1: promise to you, observed Richard, I pledged myself on the
15:43
Speaker 1: occasion of our interview at Montoni, never to draw the
15:47
Speaker 1: hostile weapon in Castel Chicala, save at the command of
15:50
Speaker 1: Alberto and in a just cause or to relieve the
15:54
Speaker 1: Grand Duchy from a foreign invader. Yes, Prince, returned Eliza.
16:00
Speaker 1: You kept your word, for the Austrians were in the
16:03
Speaker 1: land when you became the champion of the Constitutionalists. I
16:07
Speaker 1: have now but a few words more to say in
16:10
Speaker 1: reference to myself. When the news of the Battle of
16:14
Speaker 1: Montoni reached England, accompanied with the statement that the Grand
16:18
Speaker 1: Duke Angelo had fled into the Roman States, I felt
16:22
Speaker 1: persuaded that he would repair to Vienna, the Austrian Emperor,
16:26
Speaker 1: being his near relative. I accordingly wrote to my husband,
16:31
Speaker 1: addressing my letters to him in that city. I explained
16:35
Speaker 1: all that had occurred between yourself, Prince and me at
16:39
Speaker 1: our interview immediately after the defeat of the Constitutionalists at Ossure.
16:45
Speaker 1: I told him how deeply he had wronged me, with
16:47
Speaker 1: the most injurious suspicions, and I implored him to allow
16:52
Speaker 1: me to join him and comfort him in his exile,
16:56
Speaker 1: in his misfortunes. The answer I received was that factory
17:01
Speaker 1: was in itself all I could wish, But it was
17:04
Speaker 1: accompanied by the tidings of his death on the bed
17:09
Speaker 1: from which he never rose again. He recognized my innocence,
17:13
Speaker 1: he acknowledged his injustice. He besought me to forgive him.
17:19
Speaker 1: Heaven be thanked that through your goodness towards me, you
17:23
Speaker 1: were not doomed to undergo the additional torment of his
17:26
Speaker 1: dying enmity ejaculated. The prince fervently rest tranquil on that head,
17:32
Speaker 1: returned Eliza. I have now told you all that concerns myself.
17:37
Speaker 1: I may, however, observe that I should have sought an
17:40
Speaker 1: interview with you sooner. Only I was unwilling to disturb
17:44
Speaker 1: the first few days of your happiness with your charming bride.
17:49
Speaker 1: Would that you had written to me the moment I
17:51
Speaker 1: arrived in England, cried Richard. The parents of Isabella would
17:56
Speaker 1: have been rejoiced to obtain your friendship. But you have
18:00
Speaker 1: not yet told us what has become of the faithful
18:03
Speaker 1: Mario Bazzano. I owe him a debt of deep gratitude,
18:07
Speaker 1: and if he be in this country still he is
18:10
Speaker 1: in England, interrupted Eliza. And as I felt persuaded that
18:15
Speaker 1: you would comply with the request contained in my letter
18:19
Speaker 1: of yesterday and come hither to day, I wrote to
18:22
Speaker 1: Signor Bazzano to request his presence in the afternoon. We
18:27
Speaker 1: may therefore expect him shortly. He has grown very melancholy
18:31
Speaker 1: of late. I know not why some secret care appears
18:36
Speaker 1: to oppress him. On our arrival in England, he hired
18:40
Speaker 1: apartments at the West End, but shortly afterwards he encountered
18:45
Speaker 1: an English officer with whom he had formed an acquaintance
18:48
Speaker 1: some years ago in Montoni. It appears that this officer
18:53
Speaker 1: was traveling at that time in Italy, and during his
18:56
Speaker 1: temporary stay in the Castachicalan capital, he and Signor Bazzano
19:01
Speaker 1: grew intimate. When they met at the West End two
19:05
Speaker 1: or three months ago, this officer pressed Signor Bazzano to
19:09
Speaker 1: stay with him at some town near London, where his
19:13
Speaker 1: regiment is stationed. Signor Bazzano accepted the invitation, and for
19:18
Speaker 1: some weeks I saw nothing of him. Since his return
19:22
Speaker 1: to London, he has not appeared to be the same being.
19:26
Speaker 1: It is true that I see him, but seldom. Still,
19:30
Speaker 1: that change has not escaped my notice. He is fond
19:34
Speaker 1: of solitude and long lonely walks, in which he employs
19:39
Speaker 1: the greater portion of his time, save those hours which
19:42
Speaker 1: he devotes to the study of English by the aid
19:45
Speaker 1: of a master. And I can assure you that his
19:48
Speaker 1: progress in acquiring our language has been truly remarkable. Perhaps
19:53
Speaker 1: his melancholy is produced by absence from his native land,
19:57
Speaker 1: said Richard. There can be no possible re reason for
20:00
Speaker 1: him to remain in exile against his inclination, and should
20:04
Speaker 1: he wish to return to Italy, I will provide him
20:07
Speaker 1: with strong recommendations to the Grand Duke. No, he does
20:12
Speaker 1: not desire to leave England, answered Eliza, for I myself
20:16
Speaker 1: have questioned him upon that subject. I am rather inclined
20:20
Speaker 1: to believe that some motive of a more tender nature,
20:24
Speaker 1: some hopeless attachment, perhaps, has produced in him the alteration
20:29
Speaker 1: which I have seen and deplored. But he will be
20:32
Speaker 1: here shortly, and Eliza was interrupted by a loud knock
20:36
Speaker 1: at the front door. Catherine sighed, for the words of
20:41
Speaker 1: the royal widow had aroused within her gentle breast painful
20:45
Speaker 1: remembrances of her own romantic and apparently hopeless attachment. The
20:51
Speaker 1: door opened, and Signor Bazzano was introduced. Richard immediately hastened
20:56
Speaker 1: forward to greet him. But how strange, a cry of
21:01
Speaker 1: wild delight burst from the lips of the handsome Castelchiclan
21:06
Speaker 1: as his eyes encountered one particular countenance in that room,
21:10
Speaker 1: And at the same moment, Catherine clung convulsively to Isabella's arm,
21:16
Speaker 1: as if to save herself from falling from the sofa.
21:20
Speaker 1: For Mario Bazzano was the hero of the young maiden's
21:24
Speaker 1: romantic adventures at Hounslow Catherine, with the ingenuous confidence of
21:30
Speaker 1: a sister, had revealed to her brother and also to Isabella,
21:34
Speaker 1: the particulars of those strange meetings with the handsome unknown,
21:39
Speaker 1: and had not attempted to disguise the impression made upon
21:42
Speaker 1: her heart by that individual, an impression against which she
21:47
Speaker 1: had vainly endeavored to struggle. Thus, when those tokens of
21:52
Speaker 1: recognition were manifested alike by Mario Bazzano and Catherine Markham,
21:58
Speaker 1: both Richard and Isabella instantly divined the cause. Pardon me,
22:03
Speaker 1: your highness, exclaimed the Castel Chikalan officer, endeavoring to throw
22:08
Speaker 1: off the trammels of embarrassment, and speaking in excellent English.
22:13
Speaker 1: But that young lady, I think I have seen her before,
22:18
Speaker 1: I perhaps, interrupted the prince, laughing at all events. I
22:24
Speaker 1: will introduce her to you now, for she is my sister.
22:27
Speaker 1: Your sister, my lord, cried Mario, in a tone which
22:31
Speaker 1: expressed some degree of vexation at this announcement, as if
22:35
Speaker 1: he dared not aspire to so near a relative of
22:39
Speaker 1: a personage of our hero's rank. Throw aside all ceremony
22:43
Speaker 1: with me, Buttsano, said Richard, shaking him warmly by the hand.
22:48
Speaker 1: I am your debtor, deeply, your debtor. You saved my
22:52
Speaker 1: life after the defeat of Ossore. Your conduct was too generous,
22:57
Speaker 1: too noble ever to be lightly valued. But say, was
23:01
Speaker 1: it near Hounslow that you have met my sister? And
23:06
Speaker 1: as he spoke, he glanced slyly towards the blushing Catherine,
23:10
Speaker 1: who was half hiding her countenance behind Isabella. It was,
23:15
Speaker 1: it was, exclaimed Mario. And will your highness be offended
23:20
Speaker 1: if I confess that your charming sister made a profound
23:24
Speaker 1: impression upon my mind. Although believing her to be only
23:28
Speaker 1: the daughter of the tenants of that farm house near
23:31
Speaker 1: which I encountered her in my walks, I felt myself
23:34
Speaker 1: irresistibly attracted towards her. And but your Highness will laugh
23:39
Speaker 1: at my romantic dreams. I determined to acquire the English
23:44
Speaker 1: language for her sake, that I might speak to her,
23:47
Speaker 1: that I might render myself intelligible to her. We will
23:52
Speaker 1: give you an opportunity of convincing her of your proficiency
23:55
Speaker 1: in our native tongue. Mario, said the prince again, smiling,
23:59
Speaker 1: but with kindness and in a manner well calculated to
24:03
Speaker 1: reassure the young Italian officer, whom he led towards Catherine.
24:08
Speaker 1: And Oh, how the bashful maiden's heart beat, and how
24:13
Speaker 1: Crimson became her sweet countenance as she felt her hand
24:17
Speaker 1: pressed in that of him, who had now for some
24:20
Speaker 1: months occupied so large a portion of her thoughts. You
24:24
Speaker 1: guessed rightly as to the cause of Signor Bazzano's melancholy
24:28
Speaker 1: and altered appearance, whispered Isabella to Eliza, as they walked
24:33
Speaker 1: towards the window from which Richard was now gazing upon
24:36
Speaker 1: the prospect spread before the villa. Then Mario and Catherine
24:42
Speaker 1: began to converse timidly and with frequent intervals of silence
24:47
Speaker 1: at first, but by degrees those intervals became shorter and shorter,
24:52
Speaker 1: and at length the young officer found himself describing how
24:56
Speaker 1: he had felt deeply grieved at being unable to utter
25:00
Speaker 1: a word to her in her own tongue when they
25:03
Speaker 1: had met in the fields near the farm, How he
25:06
Speaker 1: had torn himself away from the spot and returned to
25:10
Speaker 1: London to study English, How he had gone back to
25:14
Speaker 1: Hounslow a few days afterwards, and vainly wandered about in
25:18
Speaker 1: those fields with the hope of seeing her. How he
25:22
Speaker 1: conceived at length that she must purposely remain within the
25:25
Speaker 1: house to avoid him, the idea that she had left
25:29
Speaker 1: the neighborhood never entering his mind. How he had returned
25:33
Speaker 1: again to London and pursued his English studies under the
25:37
Speaker 1: romantic impression that they would some day serve him in
25:41
Speaker 1: respect to the attachment he had formed for her, And
25:45
Speaker 1: how he paid frequent visits to the vicinity of the farm,
25:48
Speaker 1: and was at length almost compelled to abandon the hope
25:52
Speaker 1: of ever seeing her again. All this he suddenly found
25:57
Speaker 1: himself telling her, and she as suddenly found herself listening
26:02
Speaker 1: to him with attention, neither quite recollecting how the subject
26:06
Speaker 1: had first been touched upon their pleasant tete, a tete
26:10
Speaker 1: was at length interrupted by Eliza Sidney, who tapped the
26:14
Speaker 1: meach on the shoulder with the laughing assurance that the
26:18
Speaker 1: servant had already announced luncheon three times. And then Kate's
26:23
Speaker 1: countenance was again suffused with blushes as she took the
26:27
Speaker 1: proffered arm of her lover to repair to the apartment.
26:31
Speaker 1: Where an elegant collation was served up. The afternoon passed
26:36
Speaker 1: speedily away, and all were so happy that they were
26:40
Speaker 1: in no haste to break up such a pleasant party.
26:44
Speaker 1: Eliza accordingly insisted that her guests should remain to dinner,
26:48
Speaker 1: an invitation which was accepted. Indeed, it was eleven that
26:53
Speaker 1: night ere the Prince's carriage and Mario's horse were ordered
26:57
Speaker 1: round to the door, And when the young officer separated
27:01
Speaker 1: from Catherine, it was not without an assurance from her
27:05
Speaker 1: brother that he would always be a welcome guest at
27:08
Speaker 1: Markham Place. Great was the surprise, but not less the
27:12
Speaker 1: joy of Ellen Monroe when Catherine, on her return home
27:17
Speaker 1: and ere the two young ladies sought their couch, made
27:21
Speaker 1: her friend acquainted with the elucidation of the mystery of
27:25
Speaker 1: the Handsome Stranger. End of section ninety four. Recording by
27:32
Speaker 1: Linda Johnson