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！
balls in it； and looked down upon the square。 It was crowded with the
country people in their bright… coloured costumes chaffering over their
produce。 I looked above them to the tall campanile of the church which
filled one side of the square。 I receded a step and adjusted my gun on the
ledge of the window to my satisfaction。 I then looked down the street in
which the prison was situated； and which debouched on the square； and
awaited events。 At ten minutes past ten I saw the soldiers at the door of the
prison form up； and then I knew that the twenty prisoners of whom they
formed the escort were starting； but the moment they began to move I
fired at the big bell in the campanile； which responded with a loud clang。
All the people in the square looked up。 As the prisoners entered the square；
which they had begun to cross in its whole breadth； I fired again and again。
The bell banged twice； and the people began to buzz about。 〃Now；〃 I
thought； 〃I must let the old bell have it。〃 By the time five more balls had
struck the bell with a resounding din the whole square was in commotion。
A miracle was evidently in progress or the campanile was bewitched。
People began to run hither and thither； all the soldiers forming the escort
gaped open…mouthed at the steeple as the clangour continued。 As soon as
the last shot had been fired I looked down into the square and saw all this；
and I saw that the prisoners were attempting to escape； and in more than
one instance had succeeded； for the soldiers began to scatter in pursuit；
and the country people to form themselves into impeding crowds as
though by accident； but nowhere could I see Valeria。 When I was quite
sure she had escaped I went down and joined the crowd。 I saw three
76
… Page 77…
STORIES
prisoners captured and brought back； and when I asked the officer in
command how many had escaped he said three Croppo's wife； the priest；
and another。
When I met my cavalry friends at dinner that evening it was amusing
to hear them speculate upon the remarkable occurrence which had； in fact；
upset the wits of the whole town。 Priests and vergers and sacristans had
visited the campanile； and one of them had brought away a flattened piece
of lead； which looked as if it might have been a bullet； but the suggestion
that eight bullets could have hit the bell in succession without anybody
hearing a sound was treated with ridicule。 I believe the bell was
subsequently exorcised with holy water。 I was afraid to remain with the
regiment with my air…gun after this； lest some one should discover it and
unravel the mystery； besides； I felt a sort of traitor to the brave friends
who had so generously offered me their hospitality； so I invented urgent
private affairs which demanded my immediate return to Naples； and on the
morning of my departure found myself embraced by all the officers of the
regiment from the colonel downward； who in the fervour of their kisses
thrust sixteen waxed moustache…points against my cheeks。
About eighteen months after this I heard of the capture and execution
of Croppo； and I knew that Valeria was free； but I had unexpectedly
inherited a property and was engaged to be married。 I am now a country
gentleman with a large family。 My sanctum is stocked with various
mementos of my youthful adventures； but none awakens in me such
thrilling memories as are excited by the breviary of the brigand priest and
the portrait of the brigand's bride。
77
… Page 78…
STORIES
MRS。 GENERAL TALBOYS
BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE
Why Mrs。 General Talboys first made up her mind to pass the winter
of 1859 at Rome I never clearly understood。 To myself she explained her
purposes soon after her arrival at the Eternal City； by declaring； in her own
enthusiastic manner； that she was inspired by a burning desire to drink
fresh at the still living fountains of classical poetry and sentiment。 But I
always thought that there was something more than this in it。 Classical
poetry and sentiment were doubtless very dear to her； but so also； I
imagine； were the substantial comforts of Hardover Lodge； the general's
house in Berkshire； and I do not think that she would have emigrated for
the winter had there not been some slight domestic misunderstanding。 Let
this； however； be fully made clear that such misunderstanding； if it
existed； must have been simply an affair of temper。 No impropriety of
conduct has； I am very sure； ever been imputed to the lady。 The general； as
all the world knows； is hot； and Mrs。 Talboys； when the sweet rivers of her
enthusiasm are unfed by congenial waters； can； I believe； make herself
disagreeable。
But be this as it may； in November； 1859； Mrs。 Talboys came among
us English at Rome； and soon succeeded in obtaining for herself a
comfortable footing in our society。 We all thought her more remarkable for
her mental attributes than for physical perfection； but nevertheless she was
in her own way a sightly woman。 She had no special brilliance； either of
eye or complexion； such as would produce sudden flames in susceptible
hearts； nor did she seem to demand instant homage by the form and step of
a goddess； but we found her to be a good…looking woman of some thirty or
thirty…three years of age； with soft； peach…like cheeks；rather too like
those of a cherub； with sparkling eyes which were hardly large enough；
with good teeth； a white forehead； a dimpled chin； and a full bust。 Such
outwardly was Mrs。 General Talboys。 The description of the inward
woman is the purport to which these few pages will be devoted。
There are two qualities to which the best of mankind are much subject；
which are nearly related to each other； and as to which the world has not
78
… Page 79…
STORIES
yet decided whether they are to be classed among the good or evil
attributes of our nature。 Men and women are under the influence of them
both； but men oftenest u