\"Ifyouhadbeenstayinganywhereelse,monsieur,mybrotherwouldhavegonetopayhisrespectstoyouyesterday。\"
Orsomadeendlessapologies,vowinghehadnothingtodowithhissister’sabsurdstratagem,bywhichheappeareddeeplymortified。TheprefectandtheelderBarriciniappearedtobelieveinthesincerityofhisregret,andindeedthisbeliefwasjustifiedbyhisevidentconfusionandthereproachesheaddressedtohissister。Butthemayor’stwosonsdidnotseemsatisfied。
\"Wearebeingmadetolooklikefools,\"saidOrlanduccioaudibly。
\"Ifmysisterweretoplaymesuchtricks,\"saidVincentello,\"I’dsooncureherfancyforbeginningthemagain。\"
Thewords,andthetoneinwhichtheywereuttered,offendedOrso,anddiminishedhisgood-will。Glancesthatwereanythingbutfriendlywereexchangedbetweenhimandthetwoyoungmen。
Meanwhile,everybodybeingseatedsaveColomba,whoremainedstandingclosetothekitchendoor,theprefecttookuphisparable,andafterafewcommon-placesastolocalprejudices,herecalledthefactthatthemostinveterateenmitiesgenerallyhavetheirrootinsomemeremisunderstanding。Next,turningtothemayor,hetoldhimthatSignordellaRebbiahadneverbelievedtheBarricinifamilyhadplayedanypart,directorindirect,inthedeplorableeventwhichhadberefthimofhisfather;thathehad,indeed,nursedsomedoubtsastoonedetailinthelawsuitbetweenthetwofamilies;thatSignorOrso’slongabsence,andthenatureoftheinformationsenthim,excusedthedoubtinquestion;thatinthelightofrecentrevelationshefeltcompletelysatisfied,anddesiredtore-openfriendlyandneighbourlyrelationswithSignorBarriciniandhissons。
Orsobowedstiffly。SignorBarricinistammeredafewwordsthatnobodycouldhear,andhissonsstaredsteadilyattheceilingrafters。Theprefectwasabouttocontinuehisspeech,andaddressthecounterpartoftheremarkshehadmadetoSignorBarricini,toOrso,whenColombasteppedgravelyforwardbetweenthecontractingparties,atthesametimedrawingsomepapersfrombeneathherneckerchief。
\"Ishouldbehappyindeed,\"shesaid,\"toseethequarrelbetweenourtwofamiliesbroughttoanend。Butifthereconciliationistobesincere,theremustbeafullexplanation,andnothingmustbeleftindoubt。SignorPrefetto,TomasoBianchi’sdeclaration,comingfromamanofsuchvilereport,seemedtomejustlyopentodoubt。IsaidyoursonshadpossiblyseenthismanintheprisonatBastia。\"
\"It’sfalse!\"interruptedOrlanduccio;\"Ididn’tseehim!\"
Colombacastascornfulglanceathim,andproceededwithgreatapparentcomposure。
\"YouexplainedTomaso’sprobableinterestinthreateningSignorBarricini,inthenameofadreadedbandit,byhisdesiretokeephisbrotherTeodoroinpossessionofthemillwhichmyfatherallowedhimtohireataverylowrent。\"
\"That’squiteclear,\"assentedtheprefect。
\"WherewasTomasoBianchi’sinterest?\"exclaimedColombatriumphantly。
\"Hisbrother’sleasehadrunout。Myfatherhadgivenhimnoticeonthe1stofJuly。Hereismyfather’saccount-book;hereishisnoteofwarninggiventoTeodoro,andtheletterfromabusinessmanatAjacciosuggestinganewtenant。\"
Asshespokeshegavetheprefectthepapersshehadbeenholdinginherhand。
Therewasanastonishedpause。Themayorturnedvisiblypale。Orso,knittinghisbrows,leanedforwardtolookatthepapers,whichtheprefectwasperusingmostattentively。
\"Wearebeingmadetolooklikefools!\"criedOrlanduccioagain,springingangrilytohisfeet。\"Letusbeoff,father!Weoughtnevertohavecomehere!\"
Oneinstant’sdelaygaveSignorBarricinitimetorecoverhiscomposure。Heaskedleavetoseethepapers。Withoutawordtheprefecthandedthemovertohim。Pushinghisgreenspectaclesuptohisforehead,helookedthroughthemwithasomewhatindifferentair,whileColombawatchedhimwiththeeyesofatigresswhoseesabuckdrawingneartothelairwhereshehadhiddenhercubs。
\"Well,\"saidSignorBarricini,ashepulleddownhisspectaclesandreturnedthedocuments,\"knowingthelatecolonel’skindheart,Tomasothought——mostlikelyhethought——thatthecolonelwouldchangehismindaboutthenotice。Asamatteroffact,Bianchiisstillatthemill,so——\"
\"ItwasI,\"saidColomba,andtherewasscorninhervoice,\"wholefthimthere。Myfatherwasdead,andsituatedasIwas,Iwasobligedtotreatmybrother’sdependentswithconsideration。\"
\"Yet,\"quoththeprefect,\"thismanTomasoacknowledgesthathewrotetheletter。Thatmuchisclear。\"
\"Thethingthatiscleartome,\"brokeinOrso,\"isthatthereissomevileinfamyunderneaththiswholebusiness。\"
\"Ihavetocontradictanotherassertionmadebythesegentlemen,\"saidColomba。
ShethrewopenthedoorintothekitchenandinstantlyBrandolaccio,thelicentiateintheology,andBrusco,thedog,marchedintotheroom。Thetwobanditswereunarmed——apparently,atallevents;theyworetheircartridgebelts,butthepistols,whicharetheirnecessarycomplement,wereabsent。Astheyenteredtheroomtheydoffedtheircapsrespectfully。
Theeffectproducedbytheirsuddenappearancemaybeconceived。Themayoralmostfellbackward。Hissonsthrewthemselvesboldlyinfrontofhim,eachonefeelingforhisdaggerinhiscoatpocket。Theprefectmadeasteptowardthedoor,andOrso,seizingBrandolacciobythecollar,shouted:
\"Whathaveyoucomeherefor,youvillain?\"
\"Thisisatrap!\"criedthemayor,tryingtogetthedooropen。But,bythebandits’orders,aswasafterwarddiscovered,Saveriahadlockeditontheoutside。
\"Goodpeople,\"saidBrandolaccio,\"don’tbeafraidofme。I’mnotsuchadevilasIlook。Wemeannoharmatall。SignorPrefetto,I’myourveryhumbleservant。Gently,lieutenant!You’restranglingme!We’rehereaswitnesses!Nowthen,Padre,speakup!Yourtongue’sglibenough!\"
\"SignorPrefetto,\"quoththelicentiate,\"Ihavenotthehonourofbeingknowntoyou。MynameisGiocantoCastriconi,betterknownasthePadre。Aha,it’scomingbacktoyou!Thesignorinahere,whomI
havenotthepleasureofknowingeither,hassenttoaskmetosupplysomeinformationaboutafellowofthenameofTomasoBianchi,withwhomIchancedtobeshutup,aboutthreeweeksago,intheprisonatBastia。ThisiswhatIhavetotellyou。\"
\"Spareyourselfthetrouble,\"saidtheprefect。\"Icannotlistentoanythingfromsuchamanasyou。SignordellaRebbia,Iamwillingtobelieveyouhavehadnothingtodowiththisdetestableplot。Butareyoumasterinyourownhouse?Willyouhavethedooropened?Yoursistermayhavetogiveanaccountofthestrangerelationsinwhichsheliveswithasetofbandits。\"
\"SignorPrefetto!\"criedColomba,\"Ibeseechyoutolistentowhatthismanhastosay!Youareheretodojusticetoeverybody,anditisyourdutytosearchoutthetruth。Speak,GiocantoCastriconi!\"
\"Don’tlistentohim,\"chorusedthethreeBarricini。
\"Ifeverybodytalksatonce,\"remarkedthebandit,withasmile,\"nobodycancontrivetohearwhatanybodysays。Well,intheprisonatBastiaIhadasmycompanion——notasmyfriend——thisveryman,Tomaso。
HereceivedfrequentvisitsfromSignorOrlanduccio。\"
\"Youlie!\"shoutedthetwobrotherstogether。
\"Twonegativesmakeanaffirmative,\"pursuedCastriconicoolly。
\"Tomasohadmoney,heateanddrankofthebest。Ihavealwaysbeenfondofgoodcheer(that’stheleastofmyfailings),andinspiteofmyrepugnancetorubbingshoulderswithsuchawretch,Iletmyselfbetempted,severaltimesover,intodiningwithhim。Outofgratitude,I
proposedheshouldescapewithme。Ayoungperson——towhomIhadshownsomekindness——hadprovidedmewiththenecessarymeans。Idon’tintendtocompromiseanybody。Tomasorefusedmyoffer,tellingmehewascertaintobeallright,aslawyerBarricinihadspokentoallthejudgesforhim,andhewassuretogetoutofprisonwithacharacteraswhiteassnow,andwithmoneyinhispocket,too。Asforme,I
thoughtitbettertogetintothefreshair。/Dixi/。\"
\"Everythingthatfellowhassaidisaheapoflies,\"reiteratedOrlanducciostoutly。\"Ifwewereintheopencountry,andeachofushadhisgun,hewouldn’ttalkinthatway。\"
\"Here’saprettyfolly!\"criedBrandolaccio。\"Don’tyouquarrelwiththePadre,Orlanduccio!\"
\"Willyoubegoodenoughtoallowmetoleavethisroom,SignordellaRebbia,\"saidtheprefect,andhestampedhisfootinhisimpatience。
\"Saveria!Saveria!\"shoutedOrso,\"openthedoor,inthedevil’sname!\"
\"Onemoment,\"saidBrandolaccio。\"Wehavetoslipawayfirst,onourside。SignorPrefetto,thecustom,whenpeoplemeetinthehouseofamutualfriend,istoalloweachotherhalfanhour’slaw,afterdeparture。\"
Theprefectcastascornfulglanceathim。
\"Yourservant,signorina,andgentlemenall!\"saidBrandolaccio。Thenstretchingouthisarm,\"Hi,Brusco,\"hecriedtohisdog,\"jumpfortheSignorPrefetto!\"
Thedogjumped;thebanditsswiftlysnatcheduptheirarmsinthekitchen,fledacrossthegarden,andatashrillwhistlethedooroftheroomflewopenasthoughbymagic。
\"SignorBarricini,\"saidOrso,andsuppressedfuryvibratedinhisvoice,\"Iholdyoutobeaforger!ThisverydayIshallchargeyoubeforethepublicprosecutorwithforgeryandcomplicitywithBianchi。
Imayperhapshaveastillmoreterribleaccusationtobringagainstyou!\"
\"AndI,SignordellaRebbia,\"repliedthemayor,\"shalllaymychargeagainstyouforconspiracyandcomplicitywithbandits。Meanwhiletheprefectwilldesirethegendarmestokeepaneyeuponyou。\"
\"Theprefectwilldohisduty,\"saidthatgentlemansternly。\"HewillseethepublicorderisnotdisturbedatPietranera;hewilltakecarejusticeisdone。Isaythistoyouall,gentlemen!\"
ThemayorandVincentellowereoutsidetheroomalready,andOrlanducciowasfollowingthem,steppingbackward,whenOrsosaidtohiminanundertone:
\"Yourfatherisanoldman。Onecufffrommewouldkillhim。ItiswithyouandwithyourbrotherthatIintendtodeal。\"
Orlanduccio’sonlyresponsewastodrawhisdaggerandflylikeamadmanatOrso。ButbeforehecouldusehisweaponColombacaughtholdofhisarmandtwisteditviolently,whileOrsogavehimablowinthefacewithhisfist,whichmadehimstaggerseveralpacesback,andcomeintoviolentcollisionwiththedoorframe。Orlanduccio’sdaggerdroppedfromhishand。ButVincentellohadhisready,andwasrushingbackintotheroom,whenColomba,snatchingupagunconvincedhimthatthestrugglemustbeunequal。Atthesametimetheprefectthrewhimselfbetweenthecombatants。
\"Weshallsoonmeet,Ors’Anton’!\"shoutedOrlanduccio,andslammingthedooroftheroomviolently,heturnedthekeyinthelock,soastoinsurehimselftimetoretreat。
ForafullquarterofanhourOrsoandtheprefectkepttheirplacesindeadsilence,atoppositeendsoftheroom。Colomba,theprideoftriumphshiningonherbrow,gazedfirstatoneandthenattheother,assheleanedonthegunthathadturnedthescaleofvictory。
\"Whatacountry!Oh,whatacountry!\"criedtheprefectatlast,risinghastilyfromhischair。\"SignordellaRebbia,youdidwrong!
Youmustgivemeyourwordofhonourtoabstainfromallviolence,andtowaittillthelawsettlesthiscursedbusiness。\"
\"Yes,SignorPrefetto,Iwaswrongtostrikethatvillain。ButIdidstrikehim,afterall,andIcan’trefusehimthesatisfactionhehasdemandedofme。\"
\"Pooh!no!Hedoesn’twanttofightyou!Butsupposinghemurdersyou?
You’vedoneeverythingyoucouldtoinsureit。\"
\"We’llprotectourselves,\"saidColomba。
\"Orlanduccio,\"saidOrso,\"strikesmeasbeingapluckyfellow,andI
thinkbetterofhimthanthat,monsieur。Hewasveryquickaboutdrawinghisdagger。ButperhapsIshouldhavedonethesamethinginhisplace,andI’mgladmysisterhasnotanordinaryfinelady’swrist。\"
\"Youarenottofight,\"exclaimedtheprefect。\"Iforbidit!\"
\"Allowmetosay,monsieur,thatinmattersthataffectmyhonourtheonlyauthorityIacknowledgeisthatofmyownconscience。\"
\"Yousha’n’tfight,Itellyou!\"
\"Youcanputmeunderarrest,monsieur——thatis,ifIletyoucatchme。Butifyouweretodothat,youwouldonlydelayathingthathasnowbecomeinevitable。Youareamanofhonouryourself,monsieur;youknowtherecanbenoothercourse。\"
\"Ifyouweretohavemybrotherarrested,\"addedColomba,\"halfthevillagewouldtakehispart,andweshouldhaveafinefusillade。\"
\"Igiveyoufairnotice,monsieur,andIentreatyounottothinkIamtalkingmerebravado。IwarnyouthatifSignorBarriciniabuseshisauthorityasmayor,tohavemearrested,Ishalldefendmyself。\"
\"Fromthisveryday,\"saidtheprefect,\"SignorBarriciniissuspended。Itrusthewillexculpatehimself。Listentome,myyounggentleman,Ihavealikingforyou。WhatIaskofyouisnothingtospeakof。JusttostayquietlyathometillIgetbackfromCorte。I
shallonlybethreedaysaway。I’llbringbackthepublicprosecutorwithme,andthenwe’llsiftthiswretchedbusinesstothebottom。
Willyoupromisemeyouwillabstainfromallhostilitiestillthen?\"
\"Icannotpromisethat,monsieur,if,asIexpect,Orlanduccioasksmetomeethim。\"
\"What,SignordellaRebbia!Wouldyou——aFrenchofficer——thinkofgoingoutwithamanyoususpectofbeingaforger?\"
\"Istruckhim,monsieur!\"
\"Butsupposingyoustruckaconvict,andhedemandedsatisfactionofyou,wouldyoufighthim?Come,come,SignorOrso!ButI’llaskyoutodoevenless,donothingtoseekoutOrlanduccio。I’llconsenttoyourfightinghimifheasksyouforameeting。\"
\"Hewillaskforit,Ihaven’tadoubtofthat。ButI’llpromiseI
won’tgivehimfreshcuffstoinducehimtodoit。\"
\"Whatacountry!\"criedtheprefectoncemore,ashestrodetoandfro。\"ShallInevergetbacktoFrance?\"
\"SignorPrefetto,\"saidColombainhermostdulcettones,\"itisgrowingverylate。Wouldyoudousthehonourofbreakfastinghere?\"
Theprefectcouldnothelplaughing。
\"I’vebeenheretoolongalready——itmaylooklikepartiality。Andthereisthatcursedfoundation-stone。Imustbeoff。SignorinadellaRebbia!whatcalamitiesyoumayhavepreparedthisday!\"
\"Atallevents,SignorPrefetto,youwilldomysisterthejusticeofbelievingherconvictionsaredeeplyrooted——andIamsure,now,thatyouyourselfbelievethemtobewell-founded。\"
\"Farewell,sir!\"saidtheprefect,wavinghishand。\"Iwarnyouthatthesergeantofgendarmeswillhaveorderstowatcheverythingyoudo。\"
Whentheprefecthaddeparted——
\"Orso,saidColomba,\"thisisn’ttheContinent。Orlanduccioknowsnothingaboutyourduels,andbesides,thatwretchmustnotdiethedeathofabraveman。\"
\"Colomba,mydear,youareacleverwoman。Ioweyouagreatdealfromhavingsavedmefromaheartyknife-thrust。Givemeyourlittlehandtokiss!But,harkye,letmehavemyway。Therearecertainmattersthatyoudon’tunderstand。Givememybreakfast。AndassoonastheprefecthadstartedoffsendforlittleChilina,whoseemstoperformallthecommissionssheisgiveninthemostwonderfulfashion。I
shallwanthertotakealetterforme。\"
WhileColombawassuperintendingthepreparationofhisbreakfast,Orsowentuptohisownroomandwrotethefollowingnote:
\"Youmustbeinahurrytomeetme,andIamnolesseager。Wecanmeetatsixo’clockto-morrowmorninginthevalleyofAcquaviva。
Iamaskilfulpistol-shot,soIdonotsuggestthatweapontoyou。Ihearyouareagoodshotwithagun。Letuseachtakeadouble-barrelledgun。Ishallbeaccompaniedbyamanfromthisvillage。Ifyourbrotherwishestogowithyou,takeasecondwitness,andletmeknow。Inthatcaseonly,Ishouldbringtwowithme。
\"ORSOANTONIODELLAREBBIA。\"
Afterspendinganhourwiththedeputy-mayor,andgoingintotheBarricinihouseforafewminutes,theprefect,attendedbyasinglegendarme,startedforCorte。Aquarterofanhourlater,Chilinacarriedoverthelettermyreadershavejustperused,anddelivereditintoOrlanduccio’sownhands。
Theanswerwasnotprompt,anddidnotarrivetillevening。ItborethesignatureoftheelderBarricini,andinformedOrsothathewaslayingthethreateninglettersenttohissonbeforethepublicprosecutor。Hismissiveconcludedthus:\"Stronginthesenseofaclearconscience,Ipatientlywaittillthelawhaspronouncedonyourcalumnies。\"
Meanwhilefiveorsixherdsmen,summonedbyColomba,arrivedtogarrisonthedellaRebbiaTower。InspiteofOrso’sprotests,/archere/werearrangedinthewindowslookingontothesquare,andallthroughtheeveningoffersofservicekeptcominginfromvariouspersonsbelongingtothevillage。Therewasevenaletterfromthebandit-theologian,undertaking,forhimselfandBrandolaccio,thatintheeventofthemayor’scallingonthegendarmes,theythemselveswouldstraightwayintervene。Thefollowingpostscriptclosedtheletter:
\"DareIaskyouwhattheSignorPrefettothinksoftheexcellenteducationbestowedbymyfriendonBrusco,thedog?NexttoChilina,heisthemostdocileandpromisingpupilIhaveevercomeacross。\"
CHAPTERXVI
Thefollowingdaywentbywithoutanyhostiledemonstration。Bothsideskeptonthedefensive。Orsodidnotleavehishouse,andthedooroftheBarricinidwellingremainedcloselyshut。ThefivegendarmeswhohadbeenlefttogarrisonPietraneraweretobeseenwalkingaboutthesquareandtheoutskirtsofthevillage,incompanywiththevillageconstable,thesolerepresentativeoftheurbanpoliceforce。Thedeputy-mayorneverputoffhissash。Buttherewasnoactualsymptomofwar,excepttheloopholesinthetwoopponents’
houses。NobodybutaCorsicanwouldhavenoticedthatthegrouproundtheevergreenoakinthemiddleofthesquareconsistedsolelyofwomen。
Atsupper-timeColombagleefullyshowedherbrotheralettershehadjustreceivedfromMissNevil。
\"MydearSignorinaColomba,\"itran,\"Ilearnwithgreatpleasure,throughaletterfromyourbrother,thatyourenmitiesareallatanend。Icongratulateyouheartily。MyfathercannotendureAjaccionowyourbrotherisnottheretotalkaboutwarandgooutshootingwithhim。Wearestartingto-day,andshallsleepatthehouseofyourkinswoman,towhomwehavealetter。Thedayafterto-morrow,somewhereabouteleveno’clock,Ishallcomeandaskyoutoletmetastethatmountain/bruccio/ofyours,whichyousayissovastlysuperiortowhatwegetinthetown。
\"Farewell,dearSignorinaColomba。
\"Youraffectionate\"LYDIANEVIL。\"
\"Thenshehasn’treceivedmysecondletter!\"exclaimedOrso。
\"YouseebythedateofthisonethatMissLydiamusthavealreadystartedwhenyourletterreachedAjaccio。Butdidyoutellhernottocome?\"
\"Itoldherwewereinastateofsiege。Thatdoesnotseemtomeaconditionthatpermitsofourreceivingcompany。\"
\"Bah!TheseEnglishpeoplearesoodd。TheverylastnightIsleptinherroomshetoldmeshewouldbesorrytoleaveCorsicawithouthavingseenagood/vendetta/。Ifyouchoose,Orso,youmightletherseeanassaultonourenemies’house。\"
\"Doyouknow,Colomba,\"saidOrso,\"Natureblunderedwhenshemadeyouawoman。You’dhavemadeafirst-ratesoldier。\"
\"Maybe。Anyhow,I’mgoingtomakemy/bruccio/。\"
\"Don’twasteyourtime。Wemustsendsomebodydowntowarnthemandstopthembeforetheystart。\"
\"Doyoumeantosayyouwouldsendamessengeroutinsuchweather,tohavehimandyourletterbothsweptawaybyatorrent?HowIpitythosepoorbanditsinthisstorm!Luckilytheyhavegood/piloni/
(thickclothcloakswithhoods)。Doyouknowwhatyououghttodo,Orso。Ifthestormclearsyoushouldstartoffveryearlyto-morrowmorning,andgettoourkinswoman’shousebeforetheyleaveit。Thatwillbeeasyenough,forMissLydiaalwaysgetsupsolate。Youcantellthemeverythingthathashappenedhere,andiftheystillpersistincoming,why!weshallbeverygladtowelcomethem。\"
Orsolostnotimeinassentingtothisplan,andafterafewmoments’
silence,Colombacontinued:
\"Perhaps,Orso,youthinkIwasjokingwhenItalkedofanassaultontheBarricini’shouse。Doyouknowweareinforce——twotooneattheveryleast?Nowthattheprefecthassuspendedthemayor,everymanintheplaceisonourside。Wemightcutthemtopieces。Itwouldbequiteeasytobringitabout。Ifyouliked,Icouldgoovertothefountainandbegintojeerattheirwomenfolk。Theywouldcomeout。
Perhaps——theyaresuchcowards!——theywouldfireatmethroughtheirloopholes。Theywouldn’thitme。Thenthethingwouldbedone。Theywouldhavebeguntheattack,andthebeatenpartymusttakeitschance。Howisanybodytoknowwhichperson’saimhasbeentrue,inascuffle?Listentoyourownsister,Orso!Theselawyerswhoarecomingwillblackenlotsofpaper,andtalkagreatdealofuselessstuff。
Nothingwillcomeofitall。Thatoldfoxwillcontrivetomakethemthinktheyseestarsinbroadmidday。Ah!iftheprefecthadn’tthrownhimselfinfrontofVincentello,weshouldhavehadonelesstodealwith。\"
Allthiswassaidwiththesamecalmairasthatwithwhichshehadspoken,aninstantpreviously,ofherpreparationsformakingthe/bruccio/。
Orso,quitedumfounded,gazedathissisterwithanadmirationnotunmixedwithalarm。
\"MysweetColomba,\"hesaid,asherosefromthetable,\"Ireallyamafraidyouaretheverydevil。Butmakeyourmindeasy。IfIdon’tsucceedingettingtheBarricinihanged,I’llcontrivetogetthebetteroftheminsomeotherfashion。’Hotbulletorcoldsteel’——youseeIhaven’tforgottenmyCorsican。\"
\"Thesoonerthebetter,\"saidColomba,withasigh。\"Whathorsewillyourideto-morrow,Ors’Anton’?\"
\"Theblack。Whydoyouask?\"
\"Soastomakesurehehassomebarley。\"
WhenOrsowentuptohisroom,ColombasentSaveriaandtheherdsmentotheirbeds,andsatonaloneinthekitchen,wherethe/bruccio/
wassimmering。Nowandthensheseemedtolisten,andwasapparentlywaitingveryanxiouslyforherbrothertogotobed。Atlast,whenshethoughthewasasleep,shetookaknife,madesureitwassharp,slippedherlittlefeetintothickshoes,andpassednoiselesslyoutintothegarden。
Thisgarden,whichwasinclosedbywalls,laynexttoagood-sizedpieceofhedgedground,intowhichthehorseswereturned——forCorsicanhorsesdonotknowwhatastablemeans。Theyaregenerallyturnedlooseintoafield,andlefttothemselves,tofindpastureandshelterfromcoldwinds,asbesttheymay。
Colombaopenedthegardengatewiththesameprecaution,enteredtheinclosure,andwhistlinggently,soonattractedthehorses,towhomshehadoftenbroughtbreadandsalt。Assoonastheblackhorsecamewithinreach,shecaughthimfirmlybythemane,andsplithisearopenwithherknife。Thehorsegaveaviolentleap,andtoreoffwiththatshrillcrywhichsharppainoccasionallyextortsfromhiskind。
Quitesatisfied,Colombawasmakingherwaybackintothegarden,whenOrsothrewopenhiswindowandshouted,\"Whogoesthere?\"Atthesametimesheheardhimcockhisgun。Luckilyforherthegarden-doorlayintheblackestshadow,andwaspartlyscreenedbyalargefig-tree。
Sheverysoongathered,fromthelightshesawglancingupanddowninherbrother’sroom,thathewastryingtolighthislamp。Shelostnotimeaboutclosingthegarden-door,andslippingalongthewall,sothattheoutlineofherblackgarmentswaslostagainstthedarkfoliageofthefruit-trees,andsucceededingettingbackintothekitchenafewmomentsbeforeOrsoenteredit。
\"What’sthematter?\"sheinquired。
\"IfanciedIheardsomebodyopeningthegarden-door,\"saidOrso。
\"Impossible!Thedogwouldhavebarked。Butletusgoandsee!\"
Orsowentroundthegarden,andhavingmadesurethattheouterdoorwassafelysecured,hewasgoingbacktohisroom,ratherashamedofhisfalsealarm。
\"Iamglad,brother,\"remarkedColomba,\"thatyouarelearningtobeprudent,asamaninyourpositionoughttobe。\"
\"Youaretrainingmewell,\"saidOrso。\"Good-night!\"
BydawnthenextmorningOrsowasupandreadytostart。Hisstyleofdressbetrayedthedesireforsmartnessfeltbyeverymanboundforthepresenceoftheladyhewouldfainplease,combinedwiththecautionofaCorsican/invendetta/。Overabluecoat,thatsatcloselytohisfigure,heworeasmalltincasefullofcartridges,slungacrosshisshoulderbyagreensilkcord。Hisdaggerlayinhissidepocket,andinhishandhecarriedhishandsomeManton,readyloaded。WhilehewashastilyswallowingthecupofcoffeeColombahadpouredoutforhim,oneoftheherdsmenwentouttoputthebridleandsaddleontheblackhorse。Orsoandhissisterfollowedcloseonhisheelsandenteredthefield。Themanhadcaughtthehorse,buthehaddroppedbothsaddleandbridle,andseemedquiteparalyzedwithhorror,whilethehorse,rememberingthewoundithadreceivedduringthenight,andtremblingforitsotherear,wasrearing,kicking,andneighingliketwentyfiends。
\"Nowthen!Makehaste!\"shoutedOrso。
\"Ho,Ors’Anton’!Ho,Ors’Anton’!\"yelledtheherdsman。\"HolyMadonna!\"andhepouredoutastringofimprecations,numberless,endless,andmostofthemquiteuntranslatable。
\"Whatcanbethematter?\"inquiredColomba。Theyalldrewneartothehorse,andatthesightofthecreature’sbleedingheadandspliteartherewasageneraloutcryofsurpriseandindignation。MyreadersmustknowthatamongtheCorsicanstomutilateanenemy’shorseisatonceavengeance,achallenge,andamortalthreat。\"Nothingbutabullet-woundcanexpiatesuchacrime。\"
ThoughOrso,havinglivedsolongonthemainland,wasnotsosensitiveasotherCorsicanstotheenormityoftheinsult,still,ifanysupporteroftheBarricinihadappearedinhissightatthatmoment,hewouldprobablyhavetakenvengeanceonhimfortheoutrageheascribedtohisenemies。
\"Thecowardlywretches!\"hecried。\"Toavengethemselvesonapoorbrute,whentheydarenotmeetmefacetoface!\"
\"Whatarewewaitingfor?\"exclaimedColombavehemently。\"Theycomehereandbraveus!Theymutilateourhorses!andwearenottomakeanyresponse?Areyoumen?\"
\"Vengeance!\"shoutedtheherdsmen。\"Letusleadthehorsethroughthevillage,andattacktheirhouse!\"
\"There’sathatchedbarnthattouchestheirTower,\"saidoldPoloGriffo;\"I’dsetfiretoitinatrice。\"
Anothermanwantedtofetchtheladdersoutofthechurchsteeple。A
thirdproposedtheyshouldbreakinthedoorsofthehousewithaheavybeamintendedforsomehouseincourseofbuilding,whichhadbeenleftlyinginthesquare。AmidalltheangryvoicesColombawasheardtellinghersatellitesthatbeforetheywenttoworkshewouldgiveeachmanofthemalargeglassofanisette。
Unluckily,orratherluckily,theimpressionshehadexpectedtoproducebyherowncrueltreatmentofthepoorhorsewaslargelylostonOrso。Hefeltnodoubtthatthesavagemutilationwasduetooneofhisfoes,andhespeciallysuspectedOrlanduccio;buthedidnotbelievethattheyoungman,whomhehimselfhadprovokedandstruck,hadwipedouthisshamebyslittingahorse’sear。Onthecontrary,thismeanandridiculouspieceofvengeancehadincreasedOrso’sscornforhisopponents,andhenowfelt,withtheprefect,thatsuchpeoplewerenotworthytotryconclusionswithhimself。Assoonashewasabletomakehimselfheard,heinformedhisastonishedpartisansthattheywouldhavetorelinquishalltheirbellicoseintentions,andthatthepowerofthelaw,whichwouldshortlybeonthespot,wouldamplysufficetoavengethehurtdonetoahorse’sear。
\"I’mmasterhere!\"headdedsternly;\"andIinsistonbeingobeyed。
Thefirstmanwhodarestosayanythingmoreaboutkillingorburning,willquitepossiblygetascorchingatmyhands!Beoff!Saddlemethegrayhorse!\"
\"What’sthis,Orso?\"saidColomba,drawinghimapart。\"Youallowthesepeopletoinsultus?NoBarriciniwouldhavedaredtomutilateanybeastofoursinmyfather’stime。\"
\"Ipromiseyoutheyshallhavereasontorepentit。Butitisgendarme’sandjailer’sworktopunishwretcheswhoonlyventuretoraisetheirhandsagainstbrutebeasts。I’vetoldyoualready,thelawwillpunishthem;andifnot,youwillnotneedtoremindmewhosesonIam。\"
\"Patience!\"answeredColomba,withasigh。
\"Rememberthis,sister,\"continuedOrso;\"ifIfind,whenIcomeback,thatanydemonstrationwhateverhasbeenmadeagainsttheBarriciniI
shallneverforgiveyou。\"Then,inagentlertone,headded,\"Verypossibly——veryprobably——Ishallbringthecolonelandhisdaughterbackwithme。Seethattheirroomsarewellprepared,andthatthebreakfastisgood。Infact,letusmakeourguestsascomfortableaswecan。It’saverygoodthingtobebrave,Colomba,butawomanmustknowhowtomanageherhousehold,aswell。Come,kissme,andbegood!
Here’sthegray,readysaddled。\"
\"Orso,\"saidColomba,\"youmustn’tgoalone。\"
\"Idon’tneedanybody,\"repliedOrso;\"andI’llpromiseyounobodyshallslitmyear。\"
\"Oh,I’llneverconsenttoyourgoingalone,whilethereisafeud。
Here!PoloGriffo!Gian’Franco!Memmo!Takeyourguns;youmustgowithmybrother。\"
Afterasomewhatlivelyargument,Orsohadtogivein,andacceptanescort。Fromthemostexcitedoftheherdsmenhechoseoutthosewhohadbeenloudestintheirdesiretocommencehostilities;then,afterlayingfreshinjunctionsonhissisterandthemenhewasleavingbehind,hestarted,makingadetour,thistime,soastoavoidtheBarricinis’dwelling。
TheywerealongwayfromPietranera,andweretravellingalongatagreatpace,when,astheycrossedastreamletthatranintoamarsh,PoloGriffonoticedseveralporkerswallowingcomfortablyinthemud,infullenjoymentatonceofthewarmthofthesunandthecoolnessofthewater。Instantlyhetookaimatthebiggest,firedatitshead,andshotitdead。Thedeadcreature’scomradesroseandfledwithastonishingswiftness,andthoughanotherherdsmanfiredatthemtheyreachedathicketanddisappearedintoit,safeandsound。
\"Idiots!\"criedOrso。\"You’vebeentakingpigsforwildboars!\"
\"Notabit,Ors’Anton’,\"repliedPoloGriffo。\"Butthatherdbelongstothelawyer,andI’vetaughthim,now,tomutilateourhorses。\"
\"What!yourascal!\"shoutedOrso,inaperfectfury。\"Youapethevilebehaviourofourenemies!Beoff,villains!Idon’twantyou!You’reonlyfittofightwithpigs。IsweartoGodthatifyoudarefollowmeI’llblowyourbrainsout!\"
Theherdsmenstaredateachother,struckquitedumb。Orsospurredhishorse,gallopedoff,andwassoonoutofsight。
\"Well,well!\"saidPoloGriffo。\"Here’saprettything。Youdevoteyourselftopeople,andthenthisishowtheytreatyou。Hisfather,thecolonel,wasangrywithyoulongago,becauseyoulevelledyourgunatthelawyer。Greatidiotyouwere,nottoshoot。Andnowhereishisson。YousawwhatIdidforhim。Andhetalksaboutcrackingmyskull,justashewouldcrackagourdthatletsthewineleakout。
That’swhatpeoplelearnonthemainland,Memmo!\"
\"Yes,andifanyonefindsoutitwasyouwhokilledthatpigthere’llbeasuitagainstyou,andOrs’Anton’won’tspeaktothejudges,norbuyoffthelawyerforyou。Luckilynobodysaw,andyouhaveSaintNegatohelpyouout。\"
Afterahastyconclave,thetwoherdsmenconcludedtheirwisestplanwastothrowthedeadpigintoabog,andthisprojecttheycarefullyexecuted,aftereachhaddulycarvedhimselfseveralslicesoutofthebodyofthisinnocentvictimofthefeudbetweentheBarriciniandthedellaRebbia。
CHAPTERXVII
Onceridofhisunrulyescort,Orsoproceededcalmlyonhisway,farmoreabsorbedbytheprospectivepleasureofseeingMissNevilthanstirredbyanyfearofcomingacrosshisenemies。
\"ThelawsuitImustbringagainsttheseBarricinivillains,\"hemused,\"willnecessitatemygoingdowntoBastia。WhyshouldInotgotherewithMissNevil?AndonceatBastia,whyshouldn’tweallgotogethertothespringsofOrezza?\"
Suddenlyhischildishrecollectionsofthatpicturesquespotroseupbeforehim。Hefanciedhimselfontheverdantlawnthatspreadsbeneaththeancientchestnut-trees。Onthelustrousgreensward,studdedwithblueflowerslikeeyesthatsmileduponhim,hesawMissLydiaseatedathisside。Shehadtakenoffherhat,andherfairhair,softerandfinerthananysilk,shonelikegoldinthesunlightthatglintedthroughthefoliage。Herclearblueeyeslookedtohimbluerthantheskyitself。Withhercheekrestingononehand,shewaslisteningthoughtfullytothewordsoflovehepouredtremblinglyintoherear。SheworethemuslingowninwhichshehadbeendressedthatlastdayatAjaccio。Frombeneathitsfoldspeepedoutatinyfoot,shodwithblacksatin。Orsotoldhimselfthathewouldbehappyindeedifhemightdaretokissthatlittlefoot——butoneofMissLydia’shandswasbareandheldadaisy。Hetookthedaisyfromher,andLydia’shandpressedhis,andthenhekissedthedaisy,andthenhekissedherhand,andyetshedidnotchidehim……andallthesethoughtspreventedhimfrompayinganyattentiontotheroadhewastravelling,andmeanwhilehetrottedsteadilyonward。Forthesecondtime,inhisfancy,hewasabouttokissMissNevil’ssnow-whitehand,when,ashishorsestoppedshort,heverynearlykisseditshead,insternreality。LittleChilinahadbarredhisway,andseizedhisbridle。
\"Whereareyougoingto,Ors’Anton’?\"shesaid。\"Don’tyouknowyourenemyiscloseby?\"
\"Myenemy!\"criedOrso,furiousatbeinginterruptedatsuchadelightfulmoment。\"Whereishe?\"
\"Orlanduccioiscloseby,he’swaitingforyou!Goback,goback!\"
\"Ho!Ho!Sohe’swaitingforme!Didyouseehim?\"
\"Yes,Ors’Anton’!Iwaslyingdownintheheatherwhenhepassedby。
Hewaslookingroundeverywherethroughhisglass。\"
\"Andwhichwaydidhego?\"
\"Hewentdownthere。Justwhereyouweregoing!\"
\"Thankyou!\"
\"Ors’Anton’,hadn’tyoubetterwaitformyuncle?Hemustbeheresoon——andwithhimyouwouldbesafe。\"
\"Don’tbefrightened,Chili。Idon’tneedyouruncle。\"
\"Ifyouwouldletme,Iwouldgoinfrontofyou。\"
\"No,thanks!No,thanks!\"
AndOrso,spurringhishorse,roderapidlyinthedirectiontowhichthelittlegirlhadpointed。
Hisfirstimpulsehadbeenoneofblindfury,andhehadtoldhimselfthatfortunewasofferinghimanexcellentopportunityofpunishingthecowardwhohadavengedtheblowhehadreceivedbymutilatingahorse。Butashemovedonwardthethoughtofhispromisetotheprefect,and,aboveall,hisfearofmissingMissNevil’svisit,alteredhisfeelings,andmadehimalmostwishhemightnotcomeuponOrlanduccio。Soon,however,thememoryofhisfather,theindignityofferedtohisownhorse,andthethreatsoftheBarricini,stirredhisrageafresh,andincitedhimtoseekhisfoe,andtoprovokeandforcehimtoafight。Thustossedbyconflictingfeelings,hecontinuedhisprogress,thoughnowhecarefullyscrutinizedeverythicketandhedge,andsometimesevenpulleduphishorsetolistentothevaguesoundstobeheardinanyopencountry。TenminutesafterhehadleftlittleChilina(itwasthenaboutnineo’clockinthemorning)hefoundhimselfontheedgeofanexceedinglysteepdeclivity。Theroad,orrathertheveryslightpath,whichhewasfollowing,ranthrougha/maquis/thathadbeenlatelyburned。Thegroundwascoveredwithwhitishashes,andhereandtheresomeshrubs,andafewbigtrees,blackenedbytheflames,andentirelystrippedoftheirleaves,stillstooderect——thoughlifehadlongsincedepartedoutofthem。Thesightofaburned/maquis/isenoughtomakeamanfancyhehasbeentransportedintomidwinterinsomenorthernclime,andthecontrastbetweenthebarrennessofthegroundoverwhichtheflameshavepassed,withtheluxuriantvegetationroundaboutit,heightensthisappearanceofsadnessanddesolation。ButatthatmomenttheonlythingthatstruckOrsointhisparticularlandscapewasonepoint——animportantone,itistrue,inhispresentcircumstances。Thebarenessofthegroundrenderedanykindofambushimpossible,andthemanwhohasreasontofearthatatanymomenthemayseeagun-barrelthrustoutofathicketstraightathisownchest,looksonastretchofsmoothground,withnothingonittointercepthisview,asakindofoasis。Afterthisburned/maquis/
cameanumberofcultivatedfields,inclosed,accordingtothefashionofthatcountry,withbreast-highwalls,builtofdrystones。Thepathranbetweenthesefields,producing,fromadistance,theeffectofathickwood。
ThesteepnessofthedeclivitymadeitnecessaryforOrsotodismount。
Hewaswalkingquicklydownthehill,whichwasslipperywithashes(hehadthrownthebridleonhishorse’sneck),andwashardlyfive-
and-twentypacesfromoneofthesestonefences,when,justinfrontofhim,ontheright-handsideoftheroad,heperceivedfirstofallthebarrelofagun,andthenahead,risingoverthetopofthewall。
Thegunwaslevelled,andherecognisedOrlanduccio,justreadytofire。Orsoswiftlypreparedforself-defence,andthetwomen,takingdeliberateaim,staredateachotherforseveralseconds,withthatthrillofemotionwhichthebravestmustfeelwhenheknowshemusteitherdealdeathorendureit。
\"Vilecoward!\"shoutedOrso。
ThewordswerehardlyoutofhismouthwhenhesawtheflashofOrlanduccio’sgun,andalmostatthesameinstantasecondshotrangoutonhisleftfromtheothersideofthepath,firedbyamanwhomhehadnotnoticed,andwhowasaimingathimfrombehindanotherwall。Bothbulletsstruckhim。Thefirst,Orlanduccio’s,passedthroughhisleftarm,whichOrsohadturnedtowardhimasheaimed。
Thesecondshotstruckhiminthechest,andtorehiscoat,butcomingincontactwiththebladeofhisdagger,itluckilyflattenedagainstit,andonlyinflictedatriflingbruise。Orso’sleftarmfellhelplessathisside,andthebarrelofhisgundroppedforamoment,butheraiseditatonce,andaiminghisweaponwithhisrighthandonly,hefiredatOrlanduccio。Hisenemy’shead,whichwasonlyexposedtotheleveloftheeyes,disappearedbehindthewall。ThenOrso,swingingroundtotheleft,firedthesecondbarrelatamaninacloudofsmokewhomhecouldhardlysee。Thisfacelikewisedisappeared。Thefourshotshadfollowedeachotherwithincredibleswiftness;notrainedsoldierseverfiredtheirvolleysinquickersuccession。AfterOrso’slastshotagreatsilencefell。Thesmokefromhisweaponroseslowlyupintothesky。Therewasnotamovement,nottheslightestsoundfrombehindthewall。Butforthepaininhisarm,hecouldhavefanciedthemenonwhomhehadjustfiredhadbeenphantomsofhisownimagination。
Fullyexpectingasecondvolley,Orsomovedafewsteps,toplacehimselfbehindoneoftheburnedtreesthatstillstooduprightinthe/maquis/。Thussheltered,heputhisgunbetweenhisknees,andhurriedlyreloadedit。Meanwhilehisleftarmbegantohurthimhorribly,andfeltasifitwerebeingdraggeddownbyahugeweight。
Whathadbecomeofhisadversaries?Hecouldnotunderstand。Iftheyhadtakentoflight,iftheyhadbeenwounded,hewouldcertainlyhaveheardsomenoise,somestiramongtheleaves。Weretheydead,then?
Or,whatwasfarmorelikely,weretheynotwaitingbehindtheirwallforachanceofshootingathimagain。Inhisuncertainty,andfeelinghisstrengthfastfailinghim,hekneltdownonhisrightknee,restedhiswoundedarmupontheother,andtookadvantageofabranchthatprotrudedfromthetrunkoftheburnedtreetosupporthisgun。Withhisfingeronthetrigger,hiseyefixedonthewall,andhisearstrainedtocatchtheslightestsound,hekneltthere,motionless,forseveralminutes,whichseemedtohimacentury。Atlast,behindhim,inthefardistance,heheardafaintshout,andverysoonadogflewlikeanarrowdowntheslope,andstoppedshort,closetohim,waggingitstail。ItwasBrusco,thecomradeandfollowerofthebandits——theherald,doubtless,ofhismaster’sapproach。Neverwasanyhonestmanmoreimpatientlyawaited。Withhismuzzleintheair,andturnedtowardthenearestfence,thedogsniffedanxiously。Suddenlyhegaveventtoalowgrowl,sprangataboundoverthewall,andalmostinstantlyreappeareduponitscrest,whencehegazedsteadilyatOrsowitheyesthatspokesurpriseasclearlyasadog’smaydoit。Thenhesniffedagain,thistimetowardtheotherinclosure,thewallofwhichhealsocrossed。Withinasecondhewasbackonthetopofthat,withthesameairofastonishmentandalarm,andstraightwayheboundedintothethicketwithhistailbetweenhislegs,stillgazingatOrso,andretiringfromhimslowly,andsideways,untilhehadputsomedistancebetweenthem。Thenoffhestartedagain,tearinguptheslopealmostasfastashehadcomedownit,tomeetaman,who,inspiteofitssteepness,wasrapidlydescending。
\"Help,Brando!\"shoutedOrso,assoonashethoughthewaswithinhearing。
\"Hallo!Ors’Anton’!areyouwounded?\"inquiredBrandolaccio,asheranuppanting。\"Isitinyourbodyoryourlimbs?\"
\"Inthearm。\"
\"Thearm——oh,that’snothing!Andtheotherfellow?\"
\"IthinkIhithim。\"
Brandolaccioranafterthedogtothenearestfieldandleanedovertolookattheothersideofthewall,thenpullingoffhiscap——
\"SignorOrlanduccio,Isaluteyou!\"saidhe,thenturningtowardOrso,hebowedtohim,also,gravely。
\"That,\"heremarked,\"iswhatIcallamanwhohasbeenproperlydonefor。\"
\"Ishestillalive?\"askedOrso,whocouldhardlybreathe。
\"Oh!hewouldn’twishit!he’dbetoomuchvexedaboutthebulletyouputintohiseye!HolyMadonna!Whatahole!That’sagoodgun,uponmysoul!whataweight!Thatspattersaman’sbrainsforyou!Harkye,Ors’Anton’!whenIheardthefirst/piff,piff/,saysItomyself:
’Dashit,they’remurderingmylieutenant!’ThenIheard/boum,boum/。
’Ha,ha!’saysI,’that’stheEnglishgunbeginningtotalk——he’sfiringback。’Butwhatonearthdoyouwantwithme,Brusco?\"
Thedogguidedhimtotheotherfield。
\"Uponmyword,\"criedBrandolaccio,utterlyastonished,\"arightandleft,that’swhatitis!Deucetakeit!Clearenough,powdermustbedear,foryoudon’twasteit!\"
\"Whatdoyoumean,forGod’ssake?\"askedOrso。
\"Come,sir,don’ttrytohumbugme;youbringdownthedame,andthenyouwantsomebodytopickitupforyou。Well!there’sonemanwho’llhaveaqueerdessertto-day,andthat’sLawyerBarricini!——youwantbutcher’smeat,doyou?Well,hereyouhaveit。Now,whothedevilwillbetheheir?\"
\"What!isVincentellodeadtoo?\"
\"Deadasmutton。/Saluteanoi!/Thegoodpointaboutyouisthatyoudon’tletthemsuffer。JustcomeoverandlookatVincentello;he’skneelingherewithhisheadagainstthewall,asifhewereasleep。
Youmaysayhesleepslikelead,thistime,poordevil。\"
Orsoturnedhisheadinhorror。
\"Areyoucertainhe’sdead?\"
\"You’relikeSampieroCorso,whoneverhadtofiremorethanonce。
Lookatitthere,inhischest,ontheleft——justwhereVincileonewashitatWaterloo。I’llwagerthatbulletisn’tfarfromhisheart——arightandleft!Ah!I’llnevertalkaboutshootingagain。Twowithtwoshots,andbulletsatthat!Thetwobrothers!Ifhe’dhadathirdshothe’dhavekilledtheirpapa。Betterlucknexttime。Whatashot!Ors’
Anton’!Andtothinkthatanhonestpoorchaplikemewillnevergetthechanceofarightandalefttwogendarmes!\"
AshetalkedthebanditwasscanningOrso’sarm,andsplittinguphissleevewithhisdagger。
\"Thisisnothing,\"saidhe。\"ButthiscoatofyourswillgiveSignorinaColombaworktodo。Ha!what’sthisIsee?thisgashuponyourchest?Nothingwentinthere,surely?No!youwouldn’tbesobriskasyouare!Come,trytomoveyourfinger。DoyoufeelmyteethwhenIbiteyourlittlefinger?Notverywell?Nevermind!Itwon’tbemuch。Letmetakeyourhandkerchiefandyourneckcloth。Well,yourcoat’sspoilt,anyhow!Whatthedevildidyoumakeyourselfsosmartfor?Wereyougoingtoawedding?There!drinkadropofwine。Whyonearthdon’tyoucarryaflask?DoesanyCorsicanevergooutwithoutaflask?\"
Thenagainhebrokeoffthedressingofthewoundtoexclaim:
\"Arightandleft!Bothofthemstonedead!HowthePadrewilllaugh!
Arightandleft!Oh,here’sthatlittledawdleChilinaatlast!\"
Orsomadenoreply——hewasaspaleasdeathandshakingineverylimb。
\"Chili!\"shoutedBrandolaccio,\"goandlookbehindthatwall!\"
Thechild,usingbothhandsandfeet,scrambledontothewall,andthemomentshecaughtsightofOrlanduccio’scorpseshecrossedherself。
\"That’snothing,\"proceededthebandit;\"goandlookfartheron,overthere!\"
Thechildcrossedherselfagain。
\"Wasityou,uncle?\"sheaskedtimidly。
\"Me!Don’tyouknowI’veturnedintoauselessoldfellow!This,Chili,isthesignor’swork;offerhimyourcompliments。\"
\"Thesignorinawillbegreatlyrejoiced,\"saidChilina,\"andshewillbeverymuchgrievedtoknowyouarewounded,Ors’Anton’。\"
\"Nowthen,Ors’Anton’,\"saidthebandit,whenhehadfinishedbindingupthewound。\"Chilina,here,hascaughtyourhorse。Youmustgetonhisback,andcomewithmetotheStazzona/maquis/。Itwouldbeaslyfellowwho’dlayhishandonyouthere。WhenwegettotheCrossofSantaChristina,you’llhavetodismount。You’llgiveoveryourhorsetoChilina,who’llgooffandwarnthesignorina。Youcansayanythingtothechild,Ors’Anton’。Shewouldletherselfbecutinpiecesratherthanbetrayherfriends,\"andthen,fondly,heturnedtothelittlegirl,\"That’sit,youlittlehussy;abanonyou,acurseonyou——youjade!\"ForBrandolaccio,whowassuperstitious,likemostbandits,fearedhemightcastaspellonachildifheblesseditorpraisedit,seeingitisawell-knownfactthatthemysteriouspowersthatrulethe/Annocchiatura/[*]haveavilehabitoffulfillingourwishesintheveryoppositesensetothatwegivethem。
[*]/Annocchiatura/,aninvoluntaryspellcasteitherbytheeyeorbyspokenwords。
\"WhereamItogo,Brando?\"queriedOrsoinafaintvoice。
\"Faith!youmustchoose;eithertojailortothe/maquis/。ButnodellaRebbiaknowsthepaththatleadshimtothejail。Tothe/maquis/,Ors’Anton’。\"
\"Farewell,then,toallmyhopes!\"exclaimedthewoundedman,sadly。
\"Yourhopes?Deucetakeit!Didyouhopetodoanybetterwithadouble-barrelledgun?Howonearthdidthefellowscontrivetohityou?Therascalsmusthavebeenashardtokillascats。\"
\"Theyfiredfirst,\"saidOrso。
\"True,true;I’dforgottenthat!——/piff,piff——boum,boum/!Arightandleft,andonlyonehand!Ifanymancandobetter,I’llgohangmyself。Come!nowyou’resafelymounted!Beforewestart,justgiveaglanceatyourwork。Itisn’tciviltoleaveone’scompanywithoutsayinggood-bye。\"
Orsospurredhishorse。Hewouldnothavelookedatthetwopoorwretcheshehadjustdestroyed,foranythingonearth。
\"Harkye,Ors’Anton’,\"quoththebandit,ashecaughtholdofthehorse’sbridle,\"shallItellyouthetruth?Well,nooffencetoyou!
I’msorryforthosepooryoungfellows!You’llpardonme,Ihope;sogood-looking,sostrong,soyoung。Orlanduccio,I’veshotwithhimsooften!Onlyfourdaysagohegavemeabundleofcigars,andVincentello——hewasalwayssocheery。Ofcourseyou’veonlydonewhatyouhadtodo,andindeedtheshotwassuchasplendidone,nobodycouldregretit。ButI,yousee,hadnothingtodowithyourvengeance。Iknowyou’reperfectlyintheright。Whenonehasanenemyonemustgetridofhim。ButtheBarriciniwereanoldfamily。Here’sanotherofthemwipedout,andbyarightandlefttoo!It’sstriking。\"
AshethusspokehisfuneralorationovertheBarricini,BrandolacciohastilyguidedOrso,Chilina,andBrusco,thedog,towardtheStazzona/maquis/。
CHAPTERXVIII
Meanwhile,veryshortlyafterOrso’sdeparture,Colomba’sspieshadwarnedherthattheBarriciniwereoutonthewarpath,andfromthatmomentshewasrackedbythemostintenseanxiety。Shewastobeseenmovinghitherandthitheralloverthehouse,betweenthekitchenandtheroomsthatwerebeingmadereadyforherguests,doingnothing,yetalwaysbusy,andconstantlystoppingtolookoutofawindowforanyunusualstirinthevillage。Towardeleveno’clock,asomewhatnumerouscavalcaderodeintoPietranera。Thiswasthecolonel,withhisdaughter,theirservants,andtheirguide。Colomba’sfirstword,asshewelcomedthem,was\"Haveyouseenmybrother?\"Thenshequestionedtheguideastotheroadtheyhadtaken,andthehouroftheirdeparture,andhavingheardhisanswers,shecouldnotunderstandwhytheyhadnotmethim。
\"Perhaps,\"saidtheguide,\"yourbrothertookthehigherpath;wecamebythelowerone。\"
ButColombaonlyshookherheadandaskedmorequestions。Inspiteofhernaturalfirmnessofcharacter,increasedasitwasbyherprouddesiretoconcealanysignofweaknessbeforestrangers,shecouldnothideheranxiety,andassoonasshehadinformedthemoftheattemptedreconciliation,andofitsunfortunateissue,thiswassharedbythecolonelandMissLydia。MissNevilbecameveryuneasy,andwantedtohavemessengerssentoffineverydirection,andherfatherofferedtoremountatonceandsetoutwiththeguideinsearchofOrso。Herguests’alarmrecalledColombatoasenseofherdutiesasahostess。Shestrovetoforceasmileasshepressedthecoloneltocometotable,andsuggestedtwentyplausiblereasons,whichsheherselfdemolishedwithinaninstant,toaccountforherbrother’sdelay。Thecolonel,feelingittobehisduty,asaman,toreassuretheladies,putforwardhisownexplanation。
\"I’llwager,\"hesaid,\"thatdellaRebbiahascomeacrosssomegameorother。Hehasnotbeenabletostandoutagainstthattemptation,andweshallsoonseehimcomeinwithaheavybag。’Ponmysoul,\"hewenton,\"wedidhearfourshotsfiredontheroad。Twoofthemwerelouderthantheothers,andIsaidtomygirl,’I’llbetanythingthat’sdellaRebbiaoutshooting!Mygunistheonlyonethatwouldmakethatnoise。’\"
Colombaturnedpale,andLydia,whowaswatchingherclosely,hadnodifficultyinguessingthesuspicionswithwhichthecolonel’sconjecturehadinspiredher。Afterafewminutes’silence,Colombaeagerlyinquiredwhetherthetwolouderreportshadbeenheardbeforeoraftertheothers。Butneitherthecolonel,hisdaughter,northeguidehadpaidmuchattentiontothisall-importantdetail。
Towardoneo’clock,asnoneofColomba’smessengershadyetreturned,shegatheredallhercourage,andinsistedthatherguestsshouldsitdowntotablewithher。But,exceptthecolonel,noneofthemcouldeat。Attheslightestsoundinthesquare,Colombarantothewindow。
Thendrearilyshereturnedtoherplace,andstruggledyetmoredrearilytocarryonatrivialconversation,towhichnobodypaidtheslightestattention,andwhichwasbrokenbylongintervalsofsilence。Allatoncetheyheardahorse’sgallop。
\"Ah!Thatmustbemybrotheratlast!\"saidColomba,risingfromherchair。ButwhenshesawChilinaastrideonOrso’shorse——\"Mybrotherisdead!\"shecried,inaheart-rendingvoice。
Thecoloneldroppedhisglass。MissLydiascreamed。Theyallrushedtothedoorofthehouse。BeforeChilinacouldjumpoffhersteed,shewassnatcheduplikeafeatherbyColomba,whoheldhersotightthatshealmostchokedher。Thechildunderstoodheragonizedlook,andherfirstwordswerethoseofthechorusinOthello:\"Helives!\"Colomba’sgrasprelaxed,andnimblyasakittenChilinadroppedupontheground。
\"Theothers?\"queriedColombahoarsely。Chilinacrossedherselfwithherfirstandmiddlefinger。AdeepflushinstantlyreplacedthedeadlypallorofColomba’sface。ShecastonefiercelookattheBarricinidwelling,andthen,withasmile,sheturnedtoherguests。
\"Letusgoinanddrinkourcoffee,\"shesaid。
Thestorythebandit’sIrishadtotellwasalongone。Hernarrative,translatedliterallyintoItalianbyColomba,andthenintoEnglishbyMissNevil,wrungmorethanoneoathfromthecolonel,morethanonesighfromthefairLydia。ButColombahearditallunmoved。Onlyshetwistedherdamasknapkintillitseemedasifshemusttearitinpieces。Sheinterruptedthechild,fiveorsixtimesover,tomakeherrepeatagainthatBrandolacciohadsaidthewoundwasnotdangerous,andthathehadseenmanyworse。Whenshehadfinishedhertale,ChilinaannouncedthatOrsoearnestlybeggedhemightbesentwritingmaterials,andthathedesiredhissisterwouldbeseechaladywhomightbestayinginhishousenottodepartfromit,untilshehadreceivedaletterfromhim。
\"Thatiswhatwasworryinghimmost,\"thechildadded;\"andevenafterIhadstartedhecalledmeback,tobidmenotforgetthemessage。Itwasthethirdtimehehadgivenittome。\"WhenColombaheardofherbrother’sinjunctionshesmiledfaintly,andsqueezedthefairEnglishwoman’shand。Thatyoungladyburstintotears,anddidnotseemtothinkitadvisabletotranslatethatparticularpartofthestorytoherfather。
\"Yes,mydear,\"criedColomba,kissingMissNevil。\"Youshallstaywithme,andyoushallhelpus。\"
Then,takingapileofoldlinenoutofacupboard,shebegantocutitup,tomakelintandbandages。Anyonewhosawherflashingeyes,herheightenedcolour,heralternatefitsofanxietyandcomposure,wouldhavefoundithardtosaywhetherdistressatherbrother’swound,ordelightattheextinctionofherfoes,weremostaffectingher。Onemomentshewaspouringoutthecolonel’scoffee,andtellinghimhowwellshemadeit,thenextshewassettingMissLydiaandChilinatowork,exhortingthemtosewbandages,androllthemup。
Then,forthetwentiethtime,shewouldaskwhetherOrso’swoundwasverypainful。Sheconstantlybrokeoffherownworktoexclaimtothecolonel:
\"Twosuchcunningmen,suchdangerousfellows!Andhealone,wounded,withonlyonearm!Hekilledthetwoofthem!Whatcourage,colonel!
Isn’theahero?Ah,MissNevil!Howgooditistoliveinapeacefulcountrylikeyours!I’msureyoudidnotreallyknowmybrothertillnow!Isaidit——’Thefalconwillspreadhiswings!’Youweredeceivedbyhisgentlelook!That’sbecausewithyou,MissNevil——Ah!ifhecouldseeyouworkingforhimnow!MypoorOrso!\"
MissLydiawasdoinghardlyanywork,andcouldnotfindasinglewordtosay。Herfatherkeptaskingwhynobodywenttolayacomplaintbeforeamagistrate。Hetalkedaboutacoroner’sinquest,andallsortsofotherproceedingsquiteunknowntoCorsicaneconomy。AndthenhebeggedtobetoldwhetherthecountryhouseownedbythatworthySignorBrandolaccio,whohadbroughtsuccourtothewoundedman,wasveryfarawayfromPietranera,andwhetherhecouldnotgotherehimself,toseehisfriend。