第153章

"Listen to me," said the countess, "and do not be so very headstrong.I am going home.I have a party at my house to-night, and therefore cannot possibly remain till the end of the opera.Now, I cannot for one instant believe you so devoid of gallantry as to refuse a lady your escort when she even condescends to ask you for it."There was nothing else left for Franz to do but to take up his hat, open the door of the box, and offer the countess his arm.It was quite evident, by her manner, that her uneasiness was not feigned; and Franz himself could not resist a feeling of superstitious dread -- so much the stronger in him, as it arose from a variety of corroborative recollections, while the terror of the countess sprang from an instinctive belief, originally created in her mind by the wild tales she had listened to till she believed them truths.Franz could even feel her arm tremble as he assisted her into the carriage.Upon arriving at her hotel, Franz perceived that she had deceived him when she spoke of expecting company; on the contrary, her own return before the appointed hour seemed greatly to astonish the servants.

"Excuse my little subterfuge," said the countess, in reply to her companion's half-reproachful observation on the subject; "but that horrid man had made me feel quite uncomfortable, and I longed to be alone, that I might compose my startled mind." Franz essayed to smile."Nay,"said she, "do not smile; it ill accords with the expression of your countenance, and I am sure it does not spring from your heart.however, promise me one thing.""What is it?"

"Promise me, I say."

"I will do anything you desire, except relinquish my determination of finding out who this man is.I have more reasons than you can imagine for desiring to know who he is, from whence he came, and whither he is going.""Where he comes from I am ignorant; but I can readily tell you where he is going to, and that is down below, without the least doubt.""Let us only speak of the promise you wished me to make,"said Franz.

"Well, then, you must give me your word to return immediately to your hotel, and make no attempt to follow this man to-night.There are certain affinities between the persons we quit and those we meet afterwards.For heaven's sake, do not serve as a conductor between that man and me.

Pursue your chase after him to-morrow as eagerly as you please; but never bring him near me, if you would not see me die of terror.And now, good-night; go to your rooms, and try to sleep away all recollections of this evening.For my own part, I am quite sure I shall not be able to close my eyes." So saying, the countess quitted Franz, leaving him unable to decide whether she were merely amusing herself at his expense, or whether her fears and agitations were genuine.

Upon his return to the hotel, Franz found Albert in his dressing-gown and slippers, listlessly extended on a sofa, smoking a cigar."My dear fellow." cried he, springing up, "is it really you? Why, I did not expect to see you before to-morrow.""My dear Albert," replied Franz, "I am glad of this opportunity to tell you, once and forever, that you entertain a most erroneous notion concerning Italian women.

I should have thought the continual failures you have met with in all your own love affairs might have taught you better by this time.""Upon my soul, these women would puzzle the very Devil to read them aright.Why, here -- they give you their hand --they press yours in return -- they keep up a whispering conversation -- permit you to accompany them home.Why, if a Parisian were to indulge in a quarter of these marks of flattering attention, her reputation would be gone forever.""And the very reason why the women of this fine country put so little restraint on their words and actions, is because they live so much in public, and have really nothing to conceal.Besides, you must have perceived that the countess was really alarmed.""At what? At the sight of that respectable gentleman sitting opposite to us in the same box with the lovely Greek girl?

Now, for my part, I met them in the lobby after the conclusion of the piece; and hang me, if I can guess where you took your notions of the other world from.I can assure you that this hobgoblin of yours is a deuced fine-looking fellow -- admirably dressed.Indeed, I feel quite sure, from the cut of his clothes, they are made by a first-rate Paris tailor -- probably Blin or Humann.He was rather too pale, certainly; but then, you know, paleness is always looked upon as a strong proof of aristocratic descent and distinguished breeding." Franz smiled; for he well remembered that Albert particularly prided himself on the entire absence of color in his own complexion.

"Well, that tends to confirm my own ideas," said Franz, "that the countess's suspicions were destitute alike of sense and reason.Did he speak in your hearing? and did you catch any of his words?""I did; but they were uttered in the Romaic dialect.I knew that from the mixture of Greek words.I don't know whether Iever told you that when I was at college I was rather --rather strong in Greek."

"He spoke the Romaic language, did he?"

"I think so."

"That settles it," murmured Franz."'Tis he, past all doubt.""What do you say?"

"Nothing, nothing.But tell me, what were you thinking about when I came in?""Oh, I was arranging a little surprise for you.""Indeed.Of what nature?"

"Why, you know it is quite impossible to procure a carriage.""Certainly; and I also know that we have done all that human means afforded to endeavor to get one.""Now, then, in this difficulty a bright idea has flashed across my brain." Franz looked at Albert as though he had not much confidence in the suggestions of his imagination.

"I tell you what, Sir Franz," cried Albert, "you deserve to be called out for such a misgiving and incredulous glance as that you were pleased to bestow on me just now.""And I promise to give you the satisfaction of a gentleman if your scheme turns out as ingenious as you assert.""Well, then, hearken to me."

"I listen."