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The time flew。 But I observed … listen to this； I pray！ （and here
the courier dropped his voice） … I observed my mistress sometimes
brooding in a manner very strange； in a frightened manner； in an
unhappy manner； with a cloudy； uncertain alarm upon her。 I think
that I began to notice this when I was walking up hills by the
carriage side； and master had gone on in front。 At any rate； I
remember that it impressed itself upon my mind one evening in the
South of France； when she called to me to call master back； and
when he came back； and walked for a long way； talking encouragingly
and affectionately to her； with his hand upon the open window； and
hers in it。 Now and then； he laughed in a merry way； as if he were
bantering her out of something。 By…and…by； she laughed； and then
all went well again。
It was curious。 I asked la bella Carolina； the pretty little one；
Was mistress unwell？ … No。 … Out of spirits？ … No。 … Fearful of bad
roads； or brigands？ … No。 And what made it more mysterious was；
the pretty little one would not look at me in giving answer； but
WOULD look at the view。
But； one day she told me the secret。
'If you must know；' said Carolina； 'I find； from what I have
overheard； that mistress is haunted。'
'How haunted？'
'By a dream。'
'What dream？'
'By a dream of a face。 For three nights before her marriage； she
saw a face in a dream … always the same face； and only One。'
'A terrible face？'
'No。 The face of a dark； remarkable…looking man； in black； with
black hair and a grey moustache … a handsome man except for a
reserved and secret air。 Not a face she ever saw； or at all like a
face she ever saw。 Doing nothing in the dream but looking at her
fixedly； out of darkness。'
'Does the dream come back？'
'Never。 The recollection of it is all her trouble。'
'And why does it trouble her？'
Carolina shook her head。
'That's master's question；' said la bella。 'She don't know。 She
wonders why； herself。 But I heard her tell him； only last night；
that if she was to find a picture of that face in our Italian house
（which she is afraid she will） she did not know how she could ever
bear it。'
Upon my word I was fearful after this （said the Genoese courier） of
our coming to the old palazzo； lest some such ill…starred picture
should happen to be there。 I knew there were many there； and； as
we got nearer and nearer to the place； I wished the whole gallery
in the crater of Vesuvius。 To mend the matter； it was a stormy
dismal evening when we； at last； approached that part of the
Riviera。 It thundered； and the thunder of my city and its
environs； rolling among the high hills； is very loud。 The lizards
ran in and out of the chinks in the broken stone wall of the
garden； as if they were frightened； the frogs bubbled and croaked
their loudest； the sea…wind moaned； and the wet trees dripped； and
the lightning … body of San Lorenzo； how it lightened！
We all know what an old palace in or near Genoa is … how time and
the sea air have blotted it … how the drapery painted on the outer
walls has peeled off in great flakes of plaster … how the lower
windows are darkened with rusty bars of iron … how the courtyard is
overgrown with grass … how the outer buildings are dilapidated …
how the whole pile seems devoted to ruin。 Our palazzo was one of
the true kind。 It had been shut up close for months。 Months？ …
years！ … it had an earthy smell； like a tomb。 The scent of the
orange trees on the broad back terrace； and of the lemons ripening
on the wall； and of some shrubs that grew around a broken fountain；
had got into the house somehow； and had never been able to get out
again。 There was； in every room； an aged smell； grown faint with
confinement。 It pined in all the cupboards and drawers。 In the
little rooms of communication between great rooms； it was stifling。
If you turned a picture … to come back to the pictures … there it
still was； clinging to the wall behind the frame； like a sort of
bat。
The lattice…blinds were close shut； all over the house。 There were
two ugly； grey old women in the house； to take care of it； one of
them with a spindle； who stood winding and mumbling in the doorway；
and who would as soon have let in the devil as the air。 Master；
mistress； la bella Carolina； and I； went all through the palazzo。
I went first； though I have named myself last； opening the windows
and the lattice…blinds； and shaking down on myself splashes of
rain； and scraps of mortar； and now and then a dozing mosquito； or
a monstrous； fat； blotchy； Genoese spider。
When I had let the evening light into a room； master； mistress； and
la bella Carolina； entered。 Then； we looked round at all the
pictures； and I went forward again into another room。 Mistress
secretly had great fear of meeting with the likeness of that face …
we all had； but there was no such thing。 The Madonna and Bambino；
San Francisco； San Sebastiano； Venus； Santa Caterina； Angels；
Brigands； Friars； Temples at Sunset； Battles； White Horses；
Forests； Apostles； Doges； all my old acquaintances many times
repeated？ … yes。 Dark； handsome man in black； reserved and secret；
with black hair and grey moustache； looking fixedly at mistress out
of darkness？ … no。
At last we got through all the rooms and all the pictures； and came
out into the gardens。 They were pretty well kept； being rented by
a gardener； and were large and shady。 In one place there was a
rustic theatre； open to the sky； the stage a green slope； the
coulisses； three entrances upon a side； sweet…smelling leafy
screens。 Mistress moved her bright eyes； even there； as if she
looked to see the face come in upon the scene； but all was well。
'Now； Clara；' master said； in a low voice； 'you see that it is
nothing？ You are happy。'
Mistress was much encouraged。 She soon accustomed herself to that
grim palazzo； and would sing； and play the harp； and copy the old
pictures； and stroll with master under the green trees and vines
all day。 She was beautiful。 He was happy。 He would laugh and say
to me； mounting his horse for his morning ride before the heat：
'All goes well； Baptista！'
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We kept no company。 I took la bella to the Duomo and Annunciata；
to the Cafe； to the Opera； to the village Festa； to the Public
Garden； to the Day Theatre； to the Marionetti。 The pretty little
one was charmed with all she saw。 She learnt Italian … heavens！
miraculously！ Was mistress quite forgetful of that dream？ I asked
Carolina sometimes。 Nearly； said la bella … almost。 It was
wearing out。
One day master received a letter； and called me。
'Baptista！'
'Signore！'
'A gentleman who is presented to me will dine here to…day。 He is
called the Signor Dellombra。 Let me dine like a prince。'
It was an odd name。 I did not know that name。 But； there had b