\"Letusdropthesubject，\"saidshe，withincomparabledignityofgesture，expression，andattitude。\"Makeasplendidfortune，beoneoftheremarkablemenofyourcountry；thatismydesire。Fameisadrawbridgewhichmayservetocrossadeepgulf。Beambitiousifyoumust。Ibelieveyouhavegreatandpowerfultalents，butusethemratherforthehappinessofmankindthantodeserveme；youwillbeallthegreaterinmyeyes。\"
Inthecourseofthisconversation，whichlastedtwohours，RodolphediscoveredthatFrancescawasanenthusiastforLiberalideas，andforthatworshipoflibertywhichhadledtothethreerevolutionsinNaples，Piemont，andSpain。Onleaving，hewasshowntothedoorbyGina，theso-calledmute。Ateleveno\'clocknoonewasastirinthevillage，therewasnofearoflisteners；RodolphetookGinaintoacorner，andaskedherinalowvoiceandbadItalian，\"Whoareyourmasterandmistress，child？Tellme，Iwillgiveyouthisfinenewgoldpiece。\"
\"Monsieur，\"saidthegirl，takingthecoin，\"mymasteristhefamousbooksellerLampariniofMilan，oneoftheleadersoftherevolution，andtheconspiratorofallotherswhomAustriawouldmostliketohaveintheSpielberg。\"
\"Abookseller\'swife!Ah，somuchthebetter，\"thoughthe；\"weareonanequalfooting——Andwhatisherfamily？\"headded，\"forshelookslikeaqueen。\"
\"AllItalianwomendo，\"repliedGinaproudly。\"Herfather\'snameisColonna。\"
EmboldenedbyFrancesca\'smodestrank，Rodolphehadanawningfittedtohisboatandcushionsinthestern。Whenthiswasdone，thelovercametoproposetoFrancescatocomeoutonthelake。TheItalianaccepted，nodoubttocarryoutherpartofayoungEnglishMissintheeyesofthevillagers，butshebroughtGinawithher。FrancescaColonna\'slightestactionsbetrayedasuperioreducationandthehighestsocialrank。BythewayinwhichshetookherplaceattheendoftheboatRodolphefelthimselfinsomesortcutofffromher，and，inthefaceofalookofprideworthyofanaristocrat，thefamiliarityhehadintendedfelldead。ByaglanceFrancescamadeherselfaprincess，withalltheprerogativesshemighthaveenjoyedintheMiddleAges。Sheseemedtohavereadthethoughtsofthisvassalwhowassoaudaciousastoconstitutehimselfherprotector。
Already，inthefurnitureoftheroomwhereFrancescahadreceivedhim，inherdress，andinthevarioustriflesshemadeuseof，Rodolphehaddetectedindicationsofasuperiorcharacterandafinefortune。Alltheseobservationsnowrecurredtohismind；hebecamethoughtfulafterhavingbeentrampledon，asitwere，byFrancesca\'sdignity。Gina，herhalf-grown-up/confidante/，alsoseemedtohaveamockingexpressionasshegaveacovertorasideglanceatRodolphe。
ThisobviousdisagreementbetweentheItalianlady\'srankandhermannerswasafreshpuzzletoRodolphe，whosuspectedsomefurthertricklikeGina\'sassumeddumbness。
\"Wherewouldyougo，SignoraLamporani？\"heasked。
\"TowardsLucerne，\"repliedFrancescainFrench。
\"Good!\"saidRodolphetohimself，\"sheisnotstartledbyhearingmespeakhername；shehad，nodoubt，foreseenthatIshouldaskGina——
sheissocunning——Whatisyourquarrelwithme？\"hewenton，goingatlasttositdownbyherside，andaskingherbyagesturetogivehimherhand，whichshewithdrew。\"Youarecoldandceremonious；what，incolloquiallanguage，weshouldcall/short/。\"
\"Itistrue，\"sherepliedwithasmile。\"Iamwrong。Itisnotgoodmanners；itisvulgar。InFrenchyouwouldcallitinartistic。Itisbettertobefrankthantoharborcoldorhostilefeelingstowardsafriend，andyouhavealreadyprovedyourselfmyfriend。PerhapsIhavegonetoofarwithyou。Youmusttakemetobeaveryordinarywoman。\"——
Rodolphemademanysignsofdenial——\"Yes，\"saidthebookseller\'swife，goingonwithoutnoticingthispantomime，which，however，sheplainlysaw。\"Ihavedetectedthat，andnaturallyIhavereconsideredmyconduct。Well!Iwillputanendtoeverythingbyafewwordsofdeeptruth。Understandthis，Rodolphe:Ifeelinmyselfthestrengthtostifleafeelingifitwerenotinharmonywithmyideasoranticipationofwhattrueloveis。Icouldlove——aswecanloveinItaly，butIknowmyduty。Nointoxicationcanmakemeforgetit。
Marriedwithoutmyconsenttothatpooroldman，Imighttakeadvantageofthelibertyhesogenerouslygivesme；butthreeyearsofmarriedlifeimplyacceptanceofitslaws。Hencethemostvehementpassionwouldnevermakemeutter，eveninvoluntarily，awishtofindmyselffree。
\"Emilioknowsmycharacter。Heknowsthatwithoutmyheart，whichismyown，andwhichImightgiveaway，Ishouldneverallowanyonetotakemyhand。ThatiswhyIhavejustrefusedittoyou。Idesiretobelovedandwaitedforwithfidelity，nobleness，ardor，whileallI
cangiveisinfinitetendernessofwhichtheexpressionmaynotoversteptheboundaryoftheheart，thepermittedneutralground。Allthisbeingthoroughlyunderstood——Oh!\"shewentonwithagirlishgesture，\"Iwillbeascoquettish，asgay，asglad，asachildwhichknowsnothingofthedangersoffamiliarity。\"
Thisplainandfrankdeclarationwasmadeinatone，anaccent，andsupportedbyalookwhichgaveitthedeepeststampoftruth。
\"APrincessColonnacouldnothavespokenbetter，\"saidRodolphe，smiling。
\"Isthat，\"sheansweredwithsomehaughtiness，\"areflectiononthehumblenessofmybirth？Mustyourloveflauntacoat-of-arms？AtMilanthenoblestnamesarewrittenovershop-doors:Sforza，Canova，Visconti，Trivulzio，Ursini；thereareArchintosapothecaries；but，believeme，thoughIkeepashop，Ihavethefeelingsofaduchess。\"
\"Areflection？Nay，madame，Imeantitforpraise。\"
\"Byacomparison？\"shesaidarchly。
\"Ah，onceforall，\"saidhe，\"nottotorturemeifmywordsshouldillexpressmyfeelings，understandthatmyloveisperfect；itcarrieswithitabsoluteobedienceandrespect。\"
Shebowedasawomansatisfied，andsaid，\"Thenmonsieuracceptsthetreaty？\"
\"Yes，\"saidhe。\"Icanunderstandthatinarichandpowerfulfemininenaturethefacultyoflovingoughtnottobewasted，andthatyou，outofdelicacy，wishedtorestrainit。Ah!Francesca，atmyagetendernessrequited，andbysosublime，soroyallybeautifulacreatureasyouare——why，itisthefulfilmentofallmywishes。Toloveyouasyoudesiretobeloved——isnotthatenoughtomakeayoungmanguardhimselfagainsteveryevilfolly？Isitnottoconcentrateallhispowersinanoblepassion，ofwhichinthefuturehemaybeproud，andwhichcanleavenonebutlovelymemories？IfyoucouldbutknowwithwhathuesyouhaveclothedthechainofPilatus，theRigi，andthissuperblake——\"
\"Iwanttoknow，\"saidshe，withtheItalianartlessnesswhichhasalwaysatouchofartfulness。
\"Well，thishourwillshineonallmylifelikeadiamondonaqueen\'sbrow。\"
Francesca\'sonlyreplywastolayherhandonRodolphe\'s。
\"Ohdearest!foreverdearest!——Tellme，haveyouneverloved？\"
\"Never。\"
\"Andyouallowmetoloveyounobly，lookingtoheavenfortheutmostfulfilment？\"heasked。
Shegentlybentherhead。TwolargetearsrolleddownRodolphe\'scheeks。
\"Why!whatisthematter？\"shecried，abandoningherimperialmanner。
\"IhavenownomotherwhomIcantellofmyhappiness；sheleftthisearthwithoutseeingwhatwouldhavemitigatedheragony——\"
\"What？\"saidshe。
\"Hertendernessreplacedbyanequaltenderness——\"
\"/Poveromio/!\"exclaimedtheItalian，muchtouched。\"Believeme，\"shewentonafterapause，\"itisaverysweetthing，andtoawoman，astrongelementoffidelitytoknowthatsheisallinallonearthtothemansheloves；tofindhimlonely，withnofamily，withnothinginhisheartbuthislove——inshort，tohavehimwhollytoherself。\"
Whentwoloversthusunderstandeachother，theheartfeelsdeliciouspeace，supremetranquillity。Certaintyisthebasisforwhichhumanfeelingscrave，foritisneverlackingtoreligioussentiment；manisalwayscertainofbeingfullyrepaidbyGod。Loveneverbelievesitselfsecurebutbythisresemblancetodivinelove。Andtherapturesofthatmomentmusthavebeenfullyfelttobeunderstood；itisuniqueinlife；itcanneverreturnnomore，alas!thantheemotionsofyouth。Tobelieveinawoman，tomakeheryourhumanreligion，thefountoflife，thesecretluminaryofallyourleastthoughts!——isnotthisasecondbirth？Andayoungmanmingleswiththislovealittleofthefeelinghehadforhismother。
RodolpheandFrancescaforsometimeremainedinperfectsilence，answeringeachotherbysympatheticglancesfullofthoughts。TheyunderstoodeachotherinthemidstofoneofthemostbeautifulscenesofNature，whoseglories，interpretedbythegloryintheirhearts，helpedtostampontheirmindsthemostfugitivedetailsofthatuniquehour。TherehadnotbeentheslightestshadeoffrivolityinFrancesca\'sconduct。Itwasnoble，large，andwithoutanysecondthought。ThismagnanimitystruckRodolphegreatly，forinitherecognizedthedifferencebetweentheItalianandtheFrenchwoman。Thewaters，theland，thesky，thewoman，allweregrandioseandsuave，eventheirloveinthemidstofthispicture，sovastinitsexpanse，sorichindetail，wherethesternnessofthesnowypeaksandtheirhardfoldsstandingclearlyoutagainstthebluesky，remindedRodolpheofthecircumstanceswhichlimitedhishappiness；alovelycountryshutinbysnows。
Thisdelightfulintoxicationofsoulwasdestinedtobedisturbed。A
boatwasapproachingfromLucerne；Gina，whohadbeenwatchingitattentively，gaveajoyfulstart，thoughfaithfultoherpartasamute。Thebarkcamenearer；whenatlengthFrancescacoulddistinguishthefacesonboard，sheexclaimed，\"Tito!\"assheperceivedayoungman。Shestoodup，andremainedstandingattheriskofbeingdrowned。
\"Tito!Tito!\"criedshe，wavingherhandkerchief。
Titodesiredtheboatmentoslacken，andthetwoboatspulledsidebyside。TheItalianandTitotalkedwithsuchextremerapidity，andinadialectunfamiliartoamanwhohardlykneweventheItalianofbooks，thatRodolphecouldneitherhearnorguessthedriftofthisconversation。ButTito\'shandsomeface，Francesca\'sfamiliarity，andGina\'sexpressionofdelight，allaggrievedhim。Andindeednolovercanhelpbeingillpleasedatfindinghimselfneglectedforanother，whoeverhemaybe。TitotossedalittleleatherbagtoGina，fullofgoldnodoubt，andapacketofletterstoFrancesca，whobegantoreadthem，withafarewellwaveofthehandtoTito。
\"GetquicklybacktoGersau，\"shesaidtotheboatmen，\"IwillnotletmypoorEmiliopinetenminuteslongerthanheneed。\"
\"Whathashappened？\"askedRodolphe，ashesawFrancescafinishreadingthelastletter。
\"/Laliberta/!\"sheexclaimed，withanartist\'senthusiasm。
\"/Edenaro/!\"addedGina，likeanecho，forshehadfoundhertongue。
\"Yes，\"saidFrancesca，\"nomorepoverty!FormorethanelevenmonthshaveIbeenworking，andIwasbeginningtobetiredofit。Iamcertainlynotaliterarywoman。\"
\"WhoisthisTito？\"askedRodolphe。
\"TheSecretaryofStatetothefinancialdepartmentofthehumbleshopoftheColonnas，inotherwords，thesonofour/ragionato/。Poorboy!
hecouldnotcomebytheSaint-Gothard，norbytheMont-Cenis，norbytheSimplon；hecamebysea，byMarseilles，andhadtocrossFrance。
Well，inthreeweeksweshallbeatGeneva，andlivingatourease。
Come，Rodolphe，\"sheadded，seeingsadnessoverspreadtheParisian\'sface，\"isnottheLakeofGenevaquiteasgoodastheLakeofLucerne？\"
\"ButallowmetobestowaregretontheBergmanns\'delightfulhouse，\"
saidRodolphe，pointingtothelittlepromontory。
\"Comeanddinewithustoaddtoyourassociations，/poveromio/，\"
saidshe。\"Thisisagreatday；weareoutofdanger。Mymotherwritesthatwithinayeartherewillbeanamnesty。Oh!/lacarapatria/!\"
ThesethreewordsmadeGinaweep。\"Anotherwinterhere，\"saidshe，\"andIshouldhavebeendead!\"
\"PoorlittleSiciliankid!\"saidFrancesca，strokingGina\'sheadwithanexpressionandanaffectionwhichmadeRodolphelongtobesocaressed，evenifitwerewithoutlove。
Theboatgrounded；Rodolphesprangontothesand，offeredhishandtotheItalianlady，escortedhertothedooroftheBergmanns\'house，andwenttodressandreturnassoonaspossible。
Whenhejoinedthelibrarianandhiswife，whoweresittingonthebalcony，Rodolphecouldscarcelyrepressanexclamationofsurpriseatseeingtheprodigiouschangewhichthegoodnewshadproducedintheoldman。Henowsawamanofaboutsixty，extremelywellpreserved，aleanItalian，asstraightasanI，withhairstillblack，thoughthinandshowingawhiteskull，withbrighteyes，afullsetofwhiteteeth，afacelikeCaesar，andonhisdiplomaticlipsasardonicsmile，thealmostfalsesmileunderwhichamanofgoodbreedinghideshisrealfeelings。
\"Hereismyhusbandunderhisnaturalform，\"saidFrancescagravely。
\"Heisquiteanewacquaintance，\"repliedRodolphe，bewildered。
\"Quite，\"saidthelibrarian；\"Ihaveplayedmanyapart，andknowwellhowtomakeup。Ah!IplayedoneinParisundertheEmpire，withBourrienne，MadameMurat，Madamed\'Abrantis/etuttequanti/。
Everythingwetakethetroubletolearninouryouth，eventhemostfutile，isofuse。Ifmywifehadnotreceivedaman\'seducation——anunheard-ofthinginItaly——Ishouldhavebeenobligedtochopwoodtogetmylivinghere。/Povera/Francesca!whowouldhavetoldmethatshewouldsomedaymaintainme!\"
Ashelistenedtothisworthybookseller，soeasy，soaffable，sohale，Rodolphescentedsomemystification，andpreservedthewatchfulsilenceofamanwhohasbeenduped。
\"/Cheavete，signor/？\"Francescaaskedwithsimplicity。\"Doesourhappinesssaddenyou？\"
\"Yourhusbandisayoungman，\"hewhisperedinherear。
Shebrokeintosuchafrank，infectiouslaughthatRodolphewasstillmorepuzzled。
\"Heisbutsixty-five，atyourservice，\"saidshe；\"butIcanassureyouthateventhatissomething——tobethankfulfor!\"
\"Idonotliketohearyoujestaboutanaffectionsosacredasthis，ofwhichyouyourselfprescribedtheconditions。\"
\"/Zitto/!\"saidshe，stampingherfoot，andlookingwhetherherhusbandwerelistening。\"Neverdisturbthepeaceofmindofthatdearman，assimpleasachild，andwithwhomIcandowhatIplease。Heisundermyprotection，\"sheadded。\"IfyoucouldknowwithwhatgenerosityheriskedhislifeandfortunebecauseIwasaLiberal!forhedoesnotsharemypoliticalopinions。Isnotthatlove，MonsieurFrenchman？——Buttheyarelikethatinhisfamily。Emilio\'syoungerbrotherwasdesertedforahandsomeyouthbythewomanheloved。Hethrusthisswordthroughhisownhearttenminutesafterhehadsaidtohisservant，\'Icouldofcoursekillmyrival，butthatwouldgrievethe/Diva/toodeeply。\'\"
Thismixtureofdignityandbanter，ofhaughtinessandplayfulness，madeFrancescaatthismomentthemostfascinatingcreatureintheworld。Thedinnerandtheeveningwerefullofcheerfulness，justified，indeed，bythereliefofthetworefugees，butdepressingtoRodolphe。
\"Canshebefickle？\"heaskedhimselfashereturnedtotheStopfers\'
house。\"Shesympathizedinmysorrow，andIcannottakepartinherjoy!\"
Heblamedhimself，justifyingthisgirl-wife。
\"Shehasnotaintofhypocrisy，andiscarriedawaybyimpulse，\"
thoughthe，\"andIwanthertobelikeaParisianwoman。\"
Nextdayandthefollowingdays，infact，fortwentydaysafter，RodolphespentallhistimeattheBergmanns\'，watchingFrancescawithouthavingdeterminedtowatchher。Insomesoulsadmirationisnotindependentofacertainpenetration。TheyoungFrenchmandiscernedinFrancescatheimprudenceofgirlhood，thetruenatureofawomanasyetunbroken，sometimesstrugglingagainstherlove，andatothermomentsyieldingandcarriedawaybyit。Theoldmancertainlybehavedtoherasafathertohisdaughter，andFrancescatreatedhimwithadeeplyfeltgratitudewhichrousedherinstinctivenobleness。
ThesituationandthewomanweretoRodolpheanimpenetrableenigma，ofwhichthesolutionattractedhimmoreandmore。
Theselastdayswerefullofsecretjoys，alternatingwithmelancholymoods，withtiffsandquarrelsevenmoredelightfulthanthehourswhenRodolpheandFrancescawereofonemind。Andhewasmoreandmorefascinatedbythistendernessapartfromwit，alwaysandinallthingsthesame，anaffectionthatwasjealousofmerenothings——already!
\"Youcareverymuchforluxury？\"saidheoneeveningtoFrancesca，whowasexpressingherwishtogetawayfromGersau，whereshemissedmanythings。
\"I!\"criedshe。\"IloveluxuryasIlovethearts，asIloveapicturebyRaphael，afinehorse，abeautifulday，ortheBayofNaples。
Emilio，\"shewenton，\"haveIevercomplainedhereduringourdaysofprivation。\"
\"Youwouldnothavebeenyourselfifyouhad，\"repliedtheoldmangravely。
\"Afterall，isitnotinthenatureofplainfolkstoaspiretograndeur？\"sheasked，withamischievousglanceatRodolpheandatherhusband。\"Weremyfeetmadeforfatigue？\"sheadded，puttingouttwoprettylittlefeet。\"Myhands\"——andsheheldoneouttoRodolphe——
\"werethosehandsmadetowork？——Leaveus，\"shesaidtoherhusband；
\"Iwanttospeaktohim。\"
Theoldmanwentintothedrawing-roomwithsublimegoodfaith；hewassureofhiswife。
\"IwillnothaveyoucomewithustoGeneva，\"shesaidtoRodolphe。
\"Itisagossipingtown。ThoughIamfarabovethenonsensetheworldtalks，Idonotchoosetobecalumniated，notformyownsake，butforhis。Imakeitmypridetobethegloryofthatoldman，whois，afterall，myonlyprotector。Weareleaving；stayhereafewdays。WhenyoucomeontoGeneva，callfirstonmyhusband，andlethimintroduceyoutome。Letushideourgreatandunchangeableaffectionfromtheeyesoftheworld。Iloveyou；youknowit；butthisishowIwillproveittoyou——youshallneverdiscerninmyconductanythingwhateverthatmayarouseyourjealousy。\"
Shedrewhimintoacornerofthebalcony，kissedhimontheforehead，andfled，leavinghiminamazement。
NextdayRodolpheheardthatthelodgersattheBergmanns\'hadleftatdaybreak。ItthenseemedtohimintolerabletoremainatGersau，andhesetoutforVevaybythelongestroute，startingsoonerthanwasnecessary。AttractedtothewatersofthelakewherethebeautifulItalianawaitedhim，hereachedGenevabytheendofOctober。ToavoidthediscomfortsofthetownhetookroomsinahouseatEaux-Vives，outsidethewalls。Assoonashewassettled，hisfirstcarewastoaskhislandlord，aretiredjeweler，whethersomeItalianrefugeesfromMilanhadnotlatelycometoresideatGeneva。
\"NotsofarasIknow，\"repliedtheman。\"PrinceandPrincessColonnaofRomehavetakenMonsieurJeanrenaud\'splaceforthreeyears；itisoneofthefinestonthelake。ItissituatedbetweentheVillaDiodatiandthatofMonsieurLafin-de-Dieu，lettotheVicomtessedeBeauseant。PrinceColonnahascometoseehisdaughterandhisson-in-
lawPrinceGandolphini，aNeopolitan，orifyoulike，aSicilian，anoldadherentofKingMurat\'s，andavictimofthelastrevolution。
ThesearethelastarrivalsatGeneva，andtheyarenotMilanese。
Seriousstepshadtobetaken，andthePope\'sinterestintheColonnafamilywasinvoked，toobtainpermissionfromtheforeignpowersandtheKingofNaplesforthePrinceandPrincessGandolphinitolivehere。GenevaisanxioustodonothingtodispleasetheHolyAlliancetowhichitowesitsindependence。/Our/partisnottoruffleforeigncourts；therearemanyforeignershere，RussiansandEnglish。\"
\"EvensomeGevenese？\"
\"Yes，monsieur，ourlakeissofine!LordByronlivedhereaboutsevenyearsattheVillaDiodati，whicheveryonegoestoseenow，likeCoppetandFerney。\"