Vittoria, Complete

to visit Brescia on his way) and reach the gates of Verona in advance of him, where he obtained entrance among a

his principle of action, he deliberated; but he was compelled to admit that Vittoria's letter was little else than a repetition of her want of discretion when she was on the Motterone. He admitted it, wrathfully: his efforts to convict this woman telling him she deserved some punishment; and his suspicions being unsatisfied, he resolved to keep them hungry upon her, and return to Milan at once. As to the letter itself, he purposed, since the harm in it was accomplished, to send it back honourably to the lieutenant, till finding it blood-stained, he declined to furnish the gratification of such a sight to any Austrian sword. For that reason, he copied it, while Battista's wife held double bandages tight round his head: believing that the letter stood transcribed in a precisely similar hand, he forwarded it to Lieutenant Pierson, and then sank and swooned. Two days he lay incapable and let his thoughts dance as they would. Information was brought to hi

no gates, and the people turned out to see them, for it was a march that looked like the beginning of things. The sold

ul all the while; because, when a woman swears, it's a comfort, somehow: Farewell! Squeeze the cow's udders: I shall be thirsty enough: You pretty

ing splendidly in chorus. Songs of sentiment prevailed, but the traditions of a soldier's experience of the sex have informed his ballads with strange touches of irony,

e chapel just above it, I shall see it as I've seen it a thousand times; and the cloud hangs near it, and moves to the door and enters, for it is an angel, not a cloud; a white angel gone

ix guns were counted as t

black cock's feathers of the Tyrolese were still fluttering up the Corso, when the woman s

ad, accompanied by an expression of unutterable mournfulness. 'There's no other way,' pursued Battista, '

aid him; for he was weak, incapable of a physical or mental contest, and this part of his settled creed that human beings alone failed the patriotic cause as instruments, while circumstances constantly befriended it-was shocked by present events. The image of Vittoria, the traitress, floated over the soldiery marching on Milan through her treachery. Never had an Austrian force seemed to him so terrible. He had to yield the internal fight, and let his faith sink and be blackened, i

the excessive heat was unendurable. Her husband, in the same breath, protested that the heat killed him. He adorned the statement with all kinds of domestic and subterranean imagery, and laughed faintly, saying that after the fifteenth-on wh

ilan on the fifteenth?' said

ou do, and I shall undoubtedly be ther

you how beautiful I think yo

men. I never saw such marching-equal

otel as the General waved his

an-little Luigi!-and I have a mother dying in Milan; and here I am in Verona, ill, and can't get to her, poor soul! Will you allow me that I may sit up behind as quiet as a

areer in her service by shouting to the vetturino to drive on. Wilfrid met them as he was trotting down from the Porta del Palio, and to him his sister confided her new trouble in having a strange man attached to her, who might be anything. 'We don't know the man,' said her husband; and Adela pleaded for him: 'Don't speak to him harshly, pray, Wilfrid; he says he has a

else pitch him out-one of the two. If things go on quietly we shall have the Autumn manoeuvres in a week, and the

the direction of the Revolutionary post-office. This place was nothing other than a blank abutment of a corner house that had long been undergoing repair, and had a great bank of brick and mortar rubbish at its base. A stationary melonseller and some black fig and vegetable stalls occupied the triangular space fronting it. The removal of a square piece of cement showed a recess, where, chiefly during t

ouse is

ent was seen leaving it this mor

-where

doubled, tr

in Verona; wh

to you

alled for ever

could ever learn from others. He threw his eyes all round the vacant space while pencilling i

ife, but a l

out plumes; an Englishman, nephew of General Pierson: speaks crippled I

e out Vittoria's name and enc

h it h

on all the

eenth is

t the d

e of Count M

. From the Pope's Mouth the clear voice of Italian liberty was to issue. This sentiment of the period was a natural and a joyful one, and endowed the popular ebullition with a sense of unity and a stamp of righteousness that the abstract idea of liberty could not assure to it before martyrdom. After suffering, after walking in the shades of death and despair, men of worth and of valour cease to take high personages as representa

r. The marketplace resounded with a clapping of hands; for it was here that Checco came daily to eat figs, and it was known that the 'povero,' the dear half-witted creature, would not tolerate an intruder in the place where he stretched his limbs to peel and suck

rian officers, followed by military servants, rode side by side. Dust had whitened their mustachios, and the heat had laid

kly. 'Weisspriess, there's the rascal who headed the

f that's your work on his head, you did it right well, my Pierso

t gate there; and the first man I see as I come back is this very b

in a finger's length of his forehead, like one who fought a giddiness for steady sight. The mist upon his brain dispersing under the gaze of his enemy, his eyeballs fixed, and he became a curious picture of

nant audibly to himself; and he repeated words t

t. And we're in Milan-not like being in Verona! And my good fellow! remember your bet; the dozen of iced Rudesheimer.

acked me, and tore my coat from my back

etter; a particular letter; we ha

xamine the man, and see whether he thought fit to give

treated you, and committed the rape of the letter, I'm afraid you won't get satisfaction out of him, to judge by his look. I'm really afraid not. Try it if you like. In any case, if you hal

teach me my duty,

I would "remind you." I can al

nstruction, whenever you are

standing claims,

ave fough

hed. 'A Prussian, I mean, in your gross way of blurting out

eisspriess. I am due to Lieutenant Jenna for the

tream of his moustache. 'In the meantime, thank me f

ey rode on to the Duomo. Glancing u

ick them off from there, now, if the dogs we

te peep at the new prima donna this night. They say she's charming, and very pert. "I do not interchange letters with Germans." Benlomik sent her a neat little note to the conservatorio-he hadn't seen her only heard of her, and that was our patriotic reply. She wants taming. I believe I am called upon for that duty. At least, my fr

oughly between them, and with a black brus

that?' said

meddle with the reputation of any woman who is lik

express astonishment at this outburst, and

public. We conduct these affairs upon a different principle. But I'll tell you what. That fellow's behaviour may be construed as a more than common str

ated a riot that became a revolt or not, according to the timidity of the ruling powers or the readiness of the disaffected. The extent and evident regulation of the crowd operated as a warning to the Imperial officers. Weisspriess sheathed his sword and shouted, 'Way, there!' Way was made for him; but Wilfrid lingered to scrutinize the man who, for an unaccountable re

road. Agostino was enjoying the smoke of paper cigarettes, with all prudent regard for the well-being of an inflammable beard. Perceiving Wilfrid going by, he said, 'An Englishman! I continue to hope much from his countrymen. I have no right to do so, only they insist on it. They have promised, and more

o Vittoria's name on two public playbills. His endeavour to ape a delib

name?' sa

n every

hat she is

damnable th

evice of

Nothing of the sort! There is only the intention of a link to unite them. You perceive? It's much to be famous for fine intentions, so we won't complain. Indeed, it's not our business to complain, but Posterity's; for fine intentions are really rich possessions, but they don't leave grand legacies; that is all. They mean to possess the future: they are only the voluptuous sons of the present. It's my belief, Carlino, from observation, apprehension, and other gifts of my senses, that our paternal government is not unacquainted with our intention to sing a song in a certain opera.

gents of the polizia were nearing when Checco ran back, and began mouthing as in retort at something that had been spoken from the cafe as he shot by. He made a gabbling appeal on either side, and addressed the pair of apparent mouchards, in what, if intelligible, should have been the language of earnest en

Agostino, as one of the men returned fr

an idiot,' the man replied. He was a novice:

ice of following Checco or not; one went a step forward, one pulled back; the loiterer hurried to rejoin his comrade, who was now for a retrograde movement, and standing together they swayed like two imperfe

thing better from the gutters than rascals the like of tho

rect,' said the person addressed, in a low tone. He turned a

in Checco's hat. Under the date and the superscription of the Pope's Mouth, 'LA VITTORIA' stood out in the om

a young man of a premature gravity and partial baldness, who spoke

ach importance to a communication of this sort?' sa

i,' returned the pa

isten to a ma

espise him,

w such a man, on his sole authority, to

e that he

uct Count Medole to her, and save him from the shame of subscribing to the monstrous calumny. I beg you to go with our Agostino, Coun

Medole

ied Ammiani, panting

ctingly. 'Keep true to the form of animal, C

man?' Carlo said, n

he may have been indiscreet in some way I am com

o! You call her daughter,

o strongly, and scarce give her much help as an advocate. The matter must be looked into. If Barto shall be found to have acted without just grounds, I am certain that Count

e there,'

what's to follow if you shall choose to consi

there is no risi

We will join you to-night, my dear Count. Now, Carlo, I was observing, it appears to me that the Austrians are not going to be surprised by us, and it affords me exquisite comfort. Fellows prepared are never more than prepared for one day and another day; and they ar

at her; think of her, with her pure dream of Italy and her

to-night, Carlo. You need not be too sweet to him, but beware of explosiveness. I, a Republican, am nevertheless a practical exponent of the sacrifices necessary to unity. I accept the local leadership of Medole-on whom I can never look without thinking of an unfeathered pie; and I sub

Captain Gambier advanced upon a ceremonious bow, saying frankly, in a more colloquial French than he had employed at their first interview, that he had to apologize for his conduct, and to request monsieur's excuse. 'If,' he pursued, 'that lady is the person whom I knew for

hand, who would fair have asked more but for the stately courtesy of the Italian's withdrawing