第75章

CHAPTERXXI

AnAncientCastle——Clementine——TheFairPenitent——Lodi——AMutualPassionThemanorialcastleofthelittletownofSt。Angeloisavastandancientbuilding，datingbackatleasteightcenturies，butdevoidofregularity，andnotindicatingthedateofitserectionbythestyleofitsarchitecture。Thegroundfloorconsistsofinnumerablesmallrooms，afewlargeandloftyapartments，andanimmensehall。Thewalls，whicharefullofchinksandcrannies，areofthatimmensethicknesswhichprovesthatourancestorsbuiltfortheirremotedescendants，andnotinourmodernfashion；

forwearebeginningtobuildintheEnglishstyle，thatis，barelyforonegeneration。Thestonestairshadbeentroddenbysomanyfeetthatonehadtobeverycarefulingoingupordown。

Thefloorwasallofbricks，andasithadbeenrenewedatvariousepochswithbricksofdiverscoloursitformedakindofmosaic，notverypleasanttolookupon。Thewindowswereofapiecewiththerest；theyhadnoglassinthem，andthesasheshavinginmanyinstancesgivenwaytheywerealwaysopen；shutterswereutterlyunknownthere。Happilythewantofglasswasnotmuchfeltinthegenialclimateofthecountry。Theceilingswereconspicuousbytheirabsence，buttherewereheavybeams，thehauntsofbats，owls，andotherbirds，andlightornamentwassuppliedbythenumerousspiders’webs。

InthisgreatGothicpalace——forpalaceitwasratherthancastle，forithadnotowersorotherattributesoffeudalism，excepttheenormouscoat—of—armswhichcrownedthegateway——inthispalace，I

say，thememorialoftheancientgloriesoftheCountsA————B————，whichtheylovedbetterthanthefinestmodernhouse，therewerethreesetsofroomsbetterkeptthantherest。Heredweltthemasters，ofwhomtherewerethree；theCountA————B————，myfriend，CountAmbrose，whoalwayslivedthere，andathird，anofficerintheSpanishWalloonGuards。Ioccupiedtheapartmentofthelastnamed。ButImustdescribethewelcomeIreceived。

CountAmbrosereceivedmeatthegateofthecastleasifIhadbeensomehighandpuissantprince。Thedoorstoodwideopenonbothsides，butIdidnottaketoomuchpridetomyselfonthisaccount，astheyweresooldthatitwasimpossibletoshutthem。

Thenoblecountwhoheldhiscapinhishand，andwasdecentlybutnegligentlydressed，thoughhewasonlyfortyyearsold，toldmewithhigh—bornmodestythathisbrotherhaddonewrongtobringmeheretoseetheirmiserableplace，whereIshouldfindnoneofthoseluxuriestowhichIhadbeenaccustomed，buthepromisedmeagoodold—fashionedMilanesewelcomeinstead。ThisisaphraseofwhichtheMilaneseareveryfond，butastheyputitintopracticeitbecomesthemwell。Theyaregenerallymostworthyandhospitablepeople，andcontrastfavourablywiththePiedmonteseandGenoese。

TheworthyAmbroseintroducedmetohiscountessandhistwosisters—in—law，oneofwhomwasanexquisitebeauty，ratherdeficientinmanner，butthiswasnodoubtduetothefactthattheysawnopolishedcompanywhatever。Theotherwasathoroughlyordinarywoman，neitherprettynorugly，ofatypewhichisplentifulalltheworldover。ThecountesslookedlikeaMadonna；

herfeatureshadsomethingangelicaboutthemintheirdignityandopenness。ShecamefromLodi，andhadonlybeenmarriedtwoyears。Thethreesisterswereveryyoung，verynoble，andverypoor。WhilewewereatdinnerCountAmbrosetoldmethathehadmarriedapoorwomanbecausehethoughtmoreofgoodnessthanriches。

"Shemakesmehappy，"headded；"andthoughshebroughtmenodower，Iseemtobearicherman，forshehastaughtmetolookoneverythingwedon’tpossessasasuperfluity。"

"There，indeed，"saidI，"youhavethetruephilosophyofanhonestman。"

Thecountess，delightedatherhusband’spraiseandmyapproval，smiledlovinglyathim，andtookaprettybabyfromthenurse’sarmsandoffereditheralabasterbreast。Thisistheprivilegeofanursingmother；naturetellsherthatbydoingsoshedoesnothingagainstmodesty。Herbosom，feedingthehelpless，arousesnootherfeelingsthanthoseofrespect。Iconfess，however，thatthesightmighthaveproducedatenderersentimentinme；itwasexquisitelybeautiful，andIamsurethatifRaphaelhadbeheldithisMadonnawouldhavebeenstillmorelovely。

Thedinnerwasexcellent，withtheexceptionofthemadedishes，whichweredetestable。Soup，beef，freshsaltedpork，sausages，mortadella，milkdishes，vegetables，game，mascarponcheese，preservedfruits——allweredelicious；butthecounthavingtoldhisbrotherthatIwasagreatgourmand，theworthyAmbrosehadfeltithisdutytogivemesomeragouts，whichwereasbadascanwellbeimagined。Ihadtotastethem，outofpoliteness；butI

madeupmymindthatIwoulddosonomore。AfterdinnerItookmyhostapart，andspewedhimthatwithtenplaincourseshistablewouldbedelicateandexcellent，andthathehadnoneedofintroducinganyragouts。FromthattimeIhadachoicedinnereveryday。

Thereweresixofusattable，andwealltalkedandlaughedwiththeexceptionofthefairClementine。Thiswastheyoungcountesswhohadalreadymadeanimpressiononme。Sheonlyspokewhenshewasobligedtodoso，andherwordswerealwaysaccompaniedwithablush；butasIhadnootherwayofgettingasightofherbeautifuleyes，Iaskedheragoodmanyquestions。However，sheblushedsoterriblythatIthoughtImustbedistressingher，andIleftherinpeace，hopingtobecomebetteracquaintedwithher。

AtlastIwastakentomyapartmentandleftthere。Thewindowswereglazedandcurtainedasinthediningroom，butClairmontcameandtoldmethathecouldnotunpackmytrunksastherewerenolockstoanythingandshouldnotcaretotaketheresponsibility。

Ithoughthewasright，andIwenttoaskmyfriendaboutit。

"There’snotalockorakey，"saidhe，"inthewholecastle，exceptinthecellar，buteverythingissafeforallthat。TherearenorobbersatSt。Angelo，andifthereweretheywouldnotdaretocomehere。"

"Idaresay，mydearcount，butyouknow’itismybusinesstosupposerobberseverywhere。Myownvaletmighttaketheopportunityofrobbingme，andyouseeIshouldhavetokeepsilenceifIwererobbed。"

"Quiteso，Ifeeltheforceofyourargument。Tomorrowmorningalocksmithshallputlocksandkeystoyourdoors，andyouwillbetheonlypersoninthecastlewhoisproofagainstthieves。"

ImighthaverepliedinthewordsofJuvenal，’Cantabitvacuuscoramlatroneviator’，butIshouldhavemortifiedhim。ItoldClairmonttoleavemytrunksalonetillnextday，andIwentoutwithCountA————B————andhissisters—in—lawtotakeawalkinthetown。

CountAmbroseandhisbetter—halfstayedinthecastle；thegoodmotherwouldneverleavehernursling。Clementinewaseighteen，hermarriedsisterbeingfouryearsolder。Shetookmyarm，andmyfriendofferedhistoEleanore。

"Wewillgoandseethebeautifulpenitent，"saidthecount。

Iaskedhimwhothebeautifulpenitentwas，andheanswered，withouttroublinghimselfabouthissisters—in—law，"ShewasonceaLaisofMilan，andenjoyedsuchareputationforbeautythatnotonlyalltheflowerofMilanbutpeoplefromtheneighbouringtownswereatherfeet。Herhall—doorwasopenedandshutahundredtimesinaday，andeventhenshewasnotabletosatisfythedesiresaroused。Atlastanendcametowhattheoldandthedevoutcalledascandal。CountFirmian，amanoflearningandwit，wenttoVienna，andonhisdeparturereceivedorderstohavehershutupinaconvent。OuraugustMarieTheresecannotpardonmercenarybeauty，andthecounthadnochoicebuttohavethefairsinnerimprisoned。Shewastoldthatshehaddoneamiss，anddealtwickedly；shewasobligedtomakeageneralconfession，andwascondemnedtoalife—longpenanceinthisconvent。ShewasabsolvedbyCardinalPozzobonelli，ArchbishopofMilan，andhethenconfirmedher，changingthenameofTherese，whichshehadreceivedatthebaptismalfont，toMaryMagdalen，thusshewingherhowsheshouldsavehersoulbyfollowingtheexampleofhernewpatroness，whosewantonnesshadhithertobeenherpattern。

"Ourfamilyarethepatronsofthisconvent，whichisdevotedtopenitents。Itissituatedinaninaccessiblespot，andtheinmatesareinthechargeofakindmother—superior，whodoesherbesttosoftenthemanifoldausteritiesoftheirexistences。Theyonlyworkandpray，andseenoonebesidestheirconfessor，whosaysmasseveryday。Wearetheonlypersonswhomthesuperioresswouldadmit，aslongassomeofourfamilyarepresentshealwaysletthembringwhomtheylike。"

Thisstorytouchedmeandbroughttearstomyeyes。PoorMaryMagdalen！Cruelempress！IthinkIhavenotedinanotherpassagethesourceofherausterevirtue。

Whenwewereannouncedthemother—superiorcametomeetus，andtookusintoalargehall，whereIsoonmadeoutthefamouspenitentamongstfiveorsixothergirls，whowerepenitentslikeherself，butIpresumefortriflingoffences，astheywereallugly。Assoonasthepoorwomensawustheyceasedworking，andstooduprespectfully。Inspiteoftheseveresimplicityofherdress，Theresemadeagreatimpressiononme。Whatbeauty！Whatmajestybroughtlow！Withmyprofaneeyes，insteadoflookingtotheenormityoftheoffencesforwhichshewassufferingsocruelly，Isawbeforemeapictureofinnocence——ahumbledVenus。

Herfineeyeswerefixedontheground，butwhatwasmysurprise，when，suddenlylookingatme，sheexclaimed，——

"OmyGod！whatdoIsee？HolyMary，cometomyaid！Begone，dreadfulsinner，thoughthoudeservesttobeheremorethanI。

Scoundrel！"

Ididnotfeelinclinedtolaugh。Herunfortunateposition，andthesingularapostropheshehadaddressedtome，piercedmetotheheart。Themother—superiorhastenedtosay，——

"Donotbeoffended，sir，thepoorgirlhasbecomemad，andunlessshereallyhasrecognizedyou……"

"Thatisimpossible，madam，Ihaveneverseenherbefore。"

"Ofcoursenot，butyoumustforgiveher，asshehaslosttheuseofherreason"

"MaybetheLordhasmadeherthusinmercy。"

Asamatteroffact，Isawmoresensethanmadnessinthisoutburst，foritmusthavebeenverygrievousforthepoorgirltohavetoencountermyidlecuriosity，intheplaceofherpenitence。Iwasdeeplymoved，andinspiteofmyselfabigtearrolleddownmyface。Thecount，whohadknownher，laughed，butI

beggedhimtorestrainhimself。

Amomentafter，thepoorwretchbeganagain。Sheravedagainstmemadly，andbeggedthemother—superiortosendmeaway，asIhadcometheretodamnher。

Thegoodladychidherwithallatruemother’sgentleness，andtoldhertoleavetheroom，addingthatallwhocamethereonlydesiredthatsheshouldbesavedeternally。Shewassternenough，however，toadd，thatnoonehadbeenagreatersinnerthanshe，andthepoorMagdalenwentoutweepingbitterly。

IfithadbeenmyfortunetoenterMilanattheheadofavictoriousarmy，thefirstthingIshouldhavedonewouldbehesettingfreeofthispoorcaptive，andiftheabbesshadresistedshewouldhavefelttheweightofmywhip。

WhenMagdalenwasgone，themother—superiortoldusthatthepoorgirlhadmanygoodqualities，andifGodwilledthatsheshouldkeepsomeparticleofsenseshedidnotdoubtherbecomingasaintlikeherpatroness。

"Shehasbeggedme，"sheadded，"totakedownthepicturesofSt。

LouisdeGonzagaandSt。Antonyfromthechapelwallbecauseshesaystheydistractherfearfully。Ihavethoughtitmydutytoyieldtoherrequest，inspiteofourconfessor，whosaysit’sallnonsense。"

Theconfessorwasarudechurl。Ididnotexactlytelltheabbessthat，butIsaidenoughforacleverwomanasshewastograspmymeaning。

Weleftthesorrowfulplaceinsadnessandsilence，cursingthesovereignwhohadmadesuchilluseofherpower。

If，asourholyreligionmaintains，thereisafuturelifebeforeusall，MarieTheresecertainlydeservesdamnation，ifonlytheoppressionsshehasusedtowardsthosepoorwomenwhoselifeiswretchedenoughatthebest。PoorMaryMagdalenhadgonemadandsufferedthetormentsofthedamnedbecausenaturehadgivenhertwoofherbestgifts——beauty，andanexcellentheart。Youwillsayshehadabusedthem，butforafaultwhichisonlyacrimebeforeGod，shouldafellow—creatureandagreatersinnerhavecondemnedhertosuchafearfuldoom？Idefyanyreasonablemantoanswerintheaffirmative。

OnourwaybacktothecastleClementine，whowasonmyarm，laughedtoherselfonceortwice。Ifeltcurioustoknowwhatshewaslaughingat，andsaid，——

"MayIaskyou，faircountess，whyyoulaughthustoyourself？"

"Forgiveme；Iwasnotamusedatthepoorgirl’srecognizingyou，forthatmusthavebeenamistake，butIcannothelplaughingwhenIthinkofyourfaceatherwordy’YouaremoredeservingofimprisonmentthanI。’"

"Perhapsyouthinkshewasright。"

"I？Notatall。Buthowisitthatsheattackedyouandnotmybrother—in—law？"

"ProbablybecauseshethoughtIlookedagreatersinnerthanhe。"

"That，Isuppose，musthavebeenthereason。Oneshouldneverheedthetalkofmadpeople。"

"Youaresarcastic，butItakeitallingoodpart。PerhapsIamasgreatasinnerasIlook；butbeautyshouldbemercifultome，foritisbybeautythatIamledastray。"

"Iwondertheempressdoesnotshutupmenaswellaswomen。"

"Perhapsshehopestoseethemallatherfeetwhentherearenomoregirlslefttoamusethem。"

"Thatisajest。Youshouldrathersaythatshecannotforgiveherownsexthelackofavirtuewhichsheexercisessoeminently，andwhichissoeasilyobserved。"

"Ihavenothingtoallegeagainsttheempress’svirtue，butwithyourleaveIbegtoentertainverystrongdoubtsastothepossibilityofthegeneralexerciseofthatvirtuewhichwecallcontinence。"

"Nodoubteveryonethinksbyhisownstandard。Amanmaybepraisedfortemperanceinwhomtemperanceisnomerit。Whatiseasytoyoumaybehardtome，and’viceversa’。Bothofusmayberight。"

ThisinterestingconversationmademecompareClementinetothefairmarchionessatMilan，buttherewasthisdifferencebetweenthem:Mdlle。Q————spokewithanairofgravityandimportance，whereasClementineexpoundedhersystemwithgreatsimplicityandanutterindifferenceofmanner。Ithoughtherobservationssoacuteandherutterancesoperfectandartistic，thatIfeltashamedofhavingmisjudgedheratdinner。Hersilence，andtheblushwhichmountedtoherfacewhenanyoneaskedheraquestion，hadmademesuspectbothconfusionandpovertyinherideas，fortimidityisoftenanotherwordforstupidity；buttheconversationIhavejustreportedmademefeelthatIhadmadeagreatmistake。

Themarchioness，beingolderandhavingseenmoreoftheworld，wasmoreskilledinargument；butClementinehadtwiceeludedmyquestionswiththeutmostskill，andIfeltobligedtoawardherthepalm。

Whenwegotbacktothecastlewefoundaladywithhersonanddaughter，andanotherrelationofthecount’s，ayoungabbe，whomIfoundmostobjectionable。

Hewasapitilesstalker，andonthepretenceofhavingseenmeatMilanhetooktheopportunityofflatteringmeinadisgustingmanner。Besides，hemadesheep’seyesatClementine，andIdidnotliketheideaofhavingafellowlikethatforarival。I

saidverydrylythatIdidnotrememberhimatall；buthewasnotamanofdelicatefeeling，andthisdidnotdisconcerthimintheleast。HesatdownbesideClementine，andtakingherhandtoldherthatshemustaddmetothelongcatalogueofhervictims。

Shecoulddonothingelsebutlaughatsillytalkofthiskind；I

knewit，butthatlaughofhersdispleasedme。Iwouldhavehadhersay——Idonotknowwhat，butsomethingbitingandsarcastic。

Notatall；theimpertinentfellowwhisperedsomethinginherear，andsheansweredinthesameway。ThiswasmorethanIcouldbear。Somequestionorotherwasbeingdiscussed，andtheabbeaskedformyopinion。IdonotrememberwhatIanswered，butI

knowthatIgavehimabitterreplyinthehopeofputtinghiminabadtemperandreducinghimtosilence。Buthewasabattlecharger，andusedtotrumpet，fife，andgun；nothingputhimout。

HeappealedtoClementine，andIhadthemortificationofhearingheropiniongiven，thoughwithablush，inhisfavour。Thefopwassatisfied，andkissedtheyoungcountess’shandwithanairoffatuoushappiness。Thiswastoomuch；andIcursedtheabbeandClementine，too。Irosefrommyseatandwenttothewindow。

Thewindowisagreatblessingtoanimpatientman，whomtherulesofpolitenessinsomedegreeconstrain。Hecanturnhisbackonbores，withouttheirbeingabletochargehimwitchdirectrudeness；butpeopleknowwhathemeans，andthatsootheshisfeelings。

Ihavenotedthistriflingcircumstanceonlytopointouthowbadtemperblindsitsvictims。ThepoorabbevexedmebecausehemadehimselfagreeabletoClementine，withwhomIwasalreadyinlovewithoutknowingit。Isawinhimarival，butfarfromendeavouringtooffendme，hehaddonehisbesttopleaseme；andIshouldhavetakenaccountofhisgoodwill。ButundersuchcircumstancesIalwaysgavewaytoillhumour，andnowIamtoooldtobegincuringmyself。Idon’tthinkIneeddoso，forifI

amilltemperedthecompanypolitelypassmeover。Mymisfortuneobligesmetosubmit。

Clementinehadconqueredmeinthespaceofafewhours。True，I

wasaninflammablesubject，buthithertonobeautyhadcommittedsuchravagesuponmeinsoshortatime。Ididnotdoubtofsuccess，andIconfessthattherewasacertainamountofvanityinthisassurance；butatthesametimeIwasmodest，forIknewthatattheslightestsliptheenterprisewouldmiscarry。ThusI

regardedtheabbeasawasptobecrushedasspeedilyaspossible。

Iwasalsoavictimtothatmosthorribleofpassions，jealousy；

itseemedtomethatifClementinewasnotinlovewiththisman—

monkey，shewasextremelyindulgenttohim；andwiththisideaI

conceivedahorribleplanofrevengingmywrongsonher。Loveisthegodofnature，butthisgodis，afterall，onlyaspoiltchild。Weknowallhisfolliesandfrailties，butwestilladorehim。

Myfriendthecount，whowassurprised，Isuppose，toseemecontemplatingtheprospectforsuchalongtime，cameuptomeandaskedmeifIwantedanything。

"Iamthinkingsomematterover，"saidI，"andImustgoandwriteoneortwolettersinmyroomtillitistimeforsupper。"

"Youwon’tleaveussurely？"saidhe。

"Clementine，helpmetokeepM。deSeingalt；youmustmakehimpostponehisletter—writing。"

"Butmydearbrother，"saidthecharminggirl，"ifM。deSeingalthasbusinesstodo，itwouldberudeofmetotryandpreventhisdoingit。"

Thoughwhatshesaidwasperfectlyreasonable，itstungmetothequick；whenoneisinanillhumour，everythingisfuelforthefire。ButtheabbesaidpleasantlythatIhadmuchbettercomeandmakeabankatfaro，andaseverythingechoedthissuggestionIhadtogivein。

Thecardswerebroughtin，andvariouscolouredcountershandedround，andIsatdownputtingthirtyducatsbeforeme。Thiswasaverylargesumforacompanywhoonlyplayedforamusement’ssake；

fifteencounterswerevaluedonlyatasequin。