按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It was an odd name。 I did not know that name。 But； there had been
many noblemen and gentlemen pursued by Austria on political
suspicions； lately； and some names had changed。 Perhaps this was
one。 Altro！ Dellombra was as good a name to me as another。
When the Signor Dellombra came to dinner （said the Genoese courier
in the low voice； into which he had subsided once before）； I showed
him into the reception…room； the great sala of the old palazzo。
Master received him with cordiality； and presented him to mistress。
As she rose； her face changed； she gave a cry； and fell upon the
marble floor。
Then； I turned my head to the Signor Dellombra； and saw that he was
dressed in black； and had a reserved and secret air； and was a
dark； remarkable…looking man； with black hair and a grey moustache。
Master raised mistress in his arms； and carried her to her own
room； where I sent la bella Carolina straight。 La bella told me
afterwards that mistress was nearly terrified to death； and that
she wandered in her mind about her dream； all night。
Master was vexed and anxious … almost angry； and yet full of
solicitude。 The Signor Dellombra was a courtly gentleman； and
spoke with great respect and sympathy of mistress's being so ill。
The African wind had been blowing for some days （they had told him
at his hotel of the Maltese Cross）； and he knew that it was often
hurtful。 He hoped the beautiful lady would recover soon。 He
begged permission to retire； and to renew his visit when he should
have the happiness of hearing that she was better。 Master would
not allow of this； and they dined alone。
He withdrew early。 Next day he called at the gate； on horse…back；
to inquire for mistress。 He did so two or three times in that
week。
What I observed myself； and what la bella Carolina told me； united
to explain to me that master had now set his mind on curing
mistress of her fanciful terror。 He was all kindness； but he was
sensible and firm。 He reasoned with her； that to encourage such
fancies was to invite melancholy； if not madness。 That it rested
with herself to be herself。 That if she once resisted her strange
weakness； so successfully as to receive the Signor Dellombra as an
English lady would receive any other guest； it was for ever
conquered。 To make an end； the signore came again； and mistress
received him without marked distress （though with constraint and
apprehension still）； and the evening passed serenely。 Master was
so delighted with this change； and so anxious to confirm it； that
the Signor Dellombra became a constant guest。 He was accomplished
in pictures； books； and music； and his society； in any grim
palazzo； would have been welcome。
I used to notice； many times； that mistress was not quite
recovered。 She would cast down her eyes and droop her head； before
the Signor Dellombra； or would look at him with a terrified and
fascinated glance； as if his presence had some evil influence or
power upon her。 Turning from her to him； I used to see him in the
shaded gardens； or the large half…lighted sala； looking； as I might
say； 'fixedly upon her out of darkness。' But； truly； I had not
forgotten la bella Carolina's words describing the face in the
dream。
After his second visit I heard master say：
'Now； see； my dear Clara； it's over！ Dellombra has come and gone；
and your apprehension is broken like glass。'
'Will he … will he ever come again？' asked mistress。
'Again？ Why； surely； over and over again！ Are you cold？' （she
shivered）。
'No； dear … but … he terrifies me： are you sure that he need come
again？'
'The surer for the question； Clara！' replied master； cheerfully。
But； he was very hopeful of her complete recovery now； and grew
more and more so every day。 She was beautiful。 He was happy。
'All goes well； Baptista？' he would say to me again。
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We were all （said the Genoese courier； constraining himself to
speak a little louder）； we were all at Rome for the Carnival。 I
had been out； all day； with a Sicilian； a friend of mine； and a
courier； who was there with an English family。 As I returned at
night to our hotel； I met the little Carolina； who never stirred
from home alone； running distractedly along the Corso。
'Carolina！ What's the matter？'
'O Baptista！ O； for the Lord's sake！ where is my mistress？'
'Mistress； Carolina？'
'Gone since morning … told me； when master went out on his day's
journey； not to call her； for she was tired with not resting in the
night （having been in pain）； and would lie in bed until the
evening； then get up refreshed。 She is gone！ … she is gone！
Master has come back； broken down the door； and she is gone！ My
beautiful； my good； my innocent mistress！'
The pretty little one so cried； and raved； and tore herself that I
could not have held her； but for her swooning on my arm as if she
had been shot。 Master came up … in manner； face； or voice； no more
the master that I knew； than I was he。 He took me （I laid the
little one upon her bed in the hotel； and left her with the
chamber…women）； in a carriage； furiously through the darkness；
across the desolate Campagna。 When it was day； and we stopped at a
miserable post…house； all the horses had been hired twelve hours
ago； and sent away in different directions。 Mark me！ by the Signor
Dellombra； who had passed there in a carriage； with a frightened
English lady crouching in one corner。
I never heard （said the Genoese courier； drawing a long breath）
that she was ever traced beyond that spot。 All I know is； that she
vanished into infamous oblivion； with the dreaded face beside her
that she had seen in her dream。
'What do you call THAT？' said the German courier； triumphantly。
'Ghosts！ There are no ghosts THERE！ What do you call this； that I
am going to tell you？ Ghosts！ There are no ghosts HERE！'
I took an engagement once （pursued the German courier） with an
English gentleman； elderly and a bachelor； to travel through my
country； my Fatherland。 He was a merchant who traded with my
country and knew the language； but who had never been there since
he was a boy … as I judge； some sixty years before。
His name was James； and he had a twin…brother John； also a
bachelor。 Between these brothers there was a great affection。
They were in business together； at Goodman's Fields； but they did
not live together。 Mr。 James dwelt in Poland Street； turning out
of Oxford Street； London； Mr。 John resided by Epping Forest。
Mr。 James and I were to start for Germany in about a week。 The
exact day depended on business。 Mr。 John came to Poland Street
（where I was staying in the house）； to pass that week with Mr。
James。 But； he said to his brother on the second day； 'I don't
feel very well； James。 There's not much the matter with me； but I
think I am a little gouty。 I'll go home and put mys