The Red Redmaynes

d and turquoise, shone amid her flowery margins. The hour was very silent; the little towns and hamlets scattered beside Como, like clusters of white and rosy shells, dreamed on until th

wrapped about her brow-a sturdy, muscular creature who carried a great, empty wicker basket upon her shoulders; the othe

seemed to hover upon her forehead. Her wonderful eyes looked ahead up the precipitous tract that she and the Italian woman climbed together.

had nearly all spun their cocoons now, for it was June again and the annua

ith his niece, now upon a visit to him, and together the women climbed, where

and squares of cultivated earth, where sprang alternate patches of corn yellowing to harvest and the lush green of growing maize. Figs and almonds and rows of red and white mulberries, with naked branches stripped of foliage, broke the lines of the crops. Here hedges s

e shrine and stayed a while. Jenny set down the basket which she carried with their m

ot streamers of light into the mountain shadows at its brink; but th

nta hated them, for the strange craft told of the ceaseless battle waged by authority against the mountain smugglers and reminded the widow of her own lawless husba

the lesser hills flamed; the waters beneath them flashed; and far away, among the table-

rched a mellow tint of brown. To Maris Stella was the shrine dedicated; and within, under the altar, white

r, and Assunta, in gloomy mood before the recollection of

s are ended. Those heads, that have ached and

ed Assunta on her knees and together they made their morning prayer t

ree trader between Italy and Switzerland, should have been destroyed by the slaves in the government vessels beneath, and Jenny nodded and strove to understand. She was making progress in Ita

w; then a steep section of the

eadow grass that sparkled with tiny flowers and spread its alpine sward among thickets of mulberry. Here their work awaited them; but first they ate the eggs and wheaten bread, walnuts and dried figs that they had brought and shar

the women started upon their homeward way. They had descended about a mile and at a shoulder of Griante sat down to rest in welcome shadow. Beneath, to the northward, lay their home beside the water and,

if it had been some apparition limned upon the air, there stood in the path the figure of a tall man. His red head was bare and from the face beneath shone a pair o

one loud cry of terror and then relaxed and fell unconscious upon the ground. The widow leaped to her aid, cried comfortable words and prayed t

linging to Assunta and gazing fe

he wood and disappeared. He was not an Italian. A German or Englishman, I think. Perhaps a smuggler planning to fetch tea and cigars and coff

what he looked like, that you may be able to tell Uncle Albert just

ystery and understood that her master's

ossed

vil man. And so red!

way did

through the w

? Did he seem to know me? I d

ally followed

d his face was like a lost soul's face. Then you cried out

How has he come

Perhaps the ma

master, Assunta. We must go

to the signor f

ow. I think

t on her shoulders and then set off beside her. But

that we ought to be going faster. Would you be frightened

nderstand and declared

e said. "Why should he hurt me? Perhaps

a ghost you heard leap into the wood, Assunta. I w

h the energy of youth and on the wings of fear. Assunta saw her stop and turn a

met him, it remained for him to consider the significance of this event and determine what steps should be taken for his own safety. He was at Bellagio when she reached

needs hire boat and cross at once," explained Ernesto, w

anding stage when Albert returned. He smiled

ir Thomas Browne-his 'Pseudodoxia Epidemica.' A red-letter day for us both! But-but-" He looked at Jenny's fri

ible thing has happened. I cannot think what we should do. Only thi

sombre bindings of five thousand volumes. Jenny told him that she had seen Robert Redmayne, whereupon her uncle considered for five minutes, then declared himself both puzzled and alarm

again here, so near to me, it is exceedingly amazing, Jenny. Can you say positively, without a shadow of do

could, Uncle Albert.

port an argument in favour of hallucination," declared her uncle. "For how on earth can the poor creature, if

He was certainly not in my thoughts. I was thinking of nothing and talking to

did yo

s that I cried out very loud and then toppled over and f

hen: did Assunt

d it was only some picture of the mind as you suggest. But she saw him clearly enough-so clearly that she describe

e and reco

ot know. Pro

a box on a little table by the open hearth. He

ance of my brother Bendigo, I have a right to feel fear. By some miracle, Robert, for the last six months, has continued to evade capture and conceal the fact of his insanity. Tha

ter more. We must do something swi

wever. I have never before, to my knowledge, been in any physical danger and the sensation is exceedingly unpleasant

d expression, but Mr. Redmayne had never told a falseho

aid. "You must cross to Bellagio and sta

epare the tea and leave me f

ert-he-he might co

will intrude in honest sunshine upon the haunts of men. Leave me and tell Ernesto to adm

nny returned with

ck. She has seen nothing

ate a large macaroon biscuit. Then he told h

rs of this ugly sequel to the story I confided in his ears last winter, I am bold to believe that he will hasten to me immediately and not hesitate to modify his plans. He is a methodica

e will," de

high opinion; and also write to your husband. Direct Brendon to approach Peter Ganns and beg them both to come to me as quickly as

ed no joy at t

a peaceful month wi

he past and he knows poor Robert by sight. If, therefore, my brother is indeed near at hand and to be expected at any moment, then I should be glad of some capable person to stand between us. Should my brother prese

ly felt no desire to see him again until her

as left Ventimiglia and gone to Turin, where he used to

our twenty thousand pounds and yourself, Jenny. In the course of nature all that is mine will also be yours, and when the estate of poor Bendigo is wound up, my present income must be nearly doubled. Leave to presume

y si

ke him understa

end your money. I will not allow that. Write to him at Turin and entreat him from me to abandon anything that he may have in hand and join

uch enthusiasm, to call h

e you think it wise, I will beg him to hasten and tell him what

mpossible that Robert should know we are there. Virgilio Poggi will take

t warn the police about Uncle Robert

consider to-morrow. I little lik

to-night, ready to take him if

decided against giv

presence suddenly so close is very distressing and I do not want to think of him any more until to-morr

r for your book

he will not look to the right or the left. Even when he was sane, poor Robert never knew an

here in the past? Does

ever visited me. It is, in fact, so many years since I have seen hi

hat no stranger must be admitted until his return on the following day, Albert Redmayne prepared to cross the lake. First, however, h

o and they soon reached the dwelling of Albert's friend, who

sped their hands and listened with wonder to the reason for their arrival. He knew E

d be his enemy-he who is the friend of every man? What romance is this

isappearance. Now, suddenly, when I have long come to believe that my younger brother's lurid career was ended and that he had ceased to be, he leaps upon the mountains and reappears i

grim and painful description. You are, however, safe enou

have written to England for Peter Ganns who, by God's providence, is now in that country and hoped to visit me in a few months. We

irer of the Englishman, prepared apartments. Nothing but delight filled Poggi's mind at the opportunity

through the June twilight in Virgilio's rose garden, smelled the fragrance of oleanders and myrtles in the evening breeze, saw the fireflies flash

with her, but Virgilio and Albert talked far into

ore they repaired to Bellagio before dark, and for three days lived thus. Then there came a telegram from Turin to say that Doria was returning immediately to Como and might soon be expected via M

ll engage pleasant apartments with dear Signor Bullo at the Hotel Victoria. T