A Siren Read online

  Produced by Tapio Riikonen, [email protected]

  A SIREN

  By Thomas Adolphus Trollope

  CONTENTS

  BOOK I Ash Wednesday Morning CHAPTER I The Last Night of Carnival II Apollo Vindex III St. Apollinare in Classe IV Father Fabiano V "The Hours passed, and still she came not" VI Gigia's Opinion VII An Attorney-at-Law in the Papal States VIII Lost in the Forest IX "Passa la bella Donna e par che dorma"

  BOOK II Four Months Before That Ash Wednesday Morning CHAPTER I How the Good News came to Ravenna II The Marchese Lamberto di Castelmare III The Impresario's Report IV Paolina Foscarelli V Rivalry VI The Beginning of Trouble VII The Teaching of a Great Love VIII A Change in the Situation IX Uncle and Nephew X The Coutessa Violante XI The Cardinal's Reception, and the Marchese's Ball XII The Arrival of the "Diva"

  BOOK III "Sirenum Pocula" CHAPTER I "Diva Potens" II An Adopted Father and an Adopted Daughter III "Armed at All Points" IV Throwing the Line V After-thoughts VI At the Circolo VII Extremes Meet VIII The Diva shows her Cards IX One Struggle more

  BOOK IV The Last Days of the Carnival

  CHAPTER I In the Cardinal's Chapel II The Corso III "La Sonnambula" IV The Marchese Lamberto's Correspondence V Bianca at Home VI Paolina at Home VII Two Interviews VIII A Carnival Reception IX Paolina's Return to the City

  BOOK V Who Did The Deed? CHAPTER I At the City Gate II Suspicion III Guilty or Not Guilty? IV The Marchese hears the Ill News V Doubts and Possibilities VI At the Circolo again VII A Prison Visit VIII Signor Giovacchino Fortini at Home IX The Post-Mortem Examination X Public Opinion XI In Father Fabiano's Cell XII The Case against Paolina

  BOOK VI Poena Pede Claudo CHAPTER I Signor Fortini receives the Signora Steno in his Studio II Was it Paolina after all? III Could it have been the Aged Friar? IV What Ravenna thought of it V "Miserrimus" VI The Trial VII The Friar's Testimony VIII The Truth! IX Conclusion

  A SIREN

  By Thomas Adolphus Trollope

  BOOK I

  Ash Wednesday Morning

  CHAPTER I

  The Last Night of Carnival

  It was Carnival time in the ancient and once imperial, but nowprovincial and remote, city of Ravenna. It was Carnival time, and thevery acme and high-tide of that season of mirth and revel. For thetheory of Carnival observance is, that the life of it, unlike that ofmost other things and beings, is intensified with a constantly crescendomovement up to the last minutes of its existence. And there now remainedbut an hour before midnight on the Tuesday preceding the first day ofLent, Ash Wednesday--Dies Cinerum!--that sad and sober morrow which hasbrought with it "sermons and soda-water" to so many generations ofrevellers.

  Of course Carnival, according to the Calendar and Time's hour-glass, isover at twelve o'clock on the night of Shrove Tuesday. Generally,however, in the pleasure-loving cities of Italy, a few hours' law areallowed or winked at. The revellers are not supposed to become awarethat it is past midnight till about three or four in the morning.

  Very generally the wind-up of the season of fun and frolic consists ofwhat is called a "Veglione," or "great making a night of it," whichmeans a masked ball at the theatre. And the great central chandelierdoes not begin to descend into the body of the house, to have its lightsflapped out by the handkerchiefs of the revellers amid a last franticrondo, till some four hours after midnight. But in provincial Ravenna, aPope's city under the rule of a Cardinal Legate, there is--or was in thedays when the Pope held sway there--no Veglione. Its place was supplied,as far as "the society" of the city was concerned, by a ball at the"Circolo dei Nobili."

  It was not, therefore, till four o'clock in the morning, or perhaps evena little later, that the lights would be extinguished on the night inquestion at the "Circolo dei Nobili," and Carnival would, in truth, beover, and the tired holiday-makers would go home to their beds.

  A few hours more remained, and the revelry was at its height, and thedancers danced as knowing that their minutes were numbered.

  There had been a ball on the previous night at the Palazzo of theMarchese Lamberto di Castelmare. But the scene at the Circolo was a muchmore brilliant, animated, and varied one than that of the night beforeat the Castelmare palace. The Marchese Lamberto was the wealthiest noblein Ravenna, and--putting aside his friend the Cardinal Legate--was, inmany other respects, the first and foremost man of the city. He was abachelor of some fifty years old. And bachelors' houses and bachelors'balls have the reputation of enjoying the privilege of a somewhat freerand more unreserved gaiety and jollity than those of their neighboursmore heavily weighted with the cares and responsibilities of life. Butsuch was not the case at the Palazzo Castelmare. Presided over on suchoccasions as that of the great annual Carnival ball by a widowedsister-in-law of the Marchese, the Castelmare palace was the mostdecorous and respectable house, as its master was the most decorous andrespectable man, in Ravenna.

  Not that it was a dull house. The Marchese Lamberto, though a grave anddignified personage in the eyes of the "jeunesse doree" of Ravenna, waslooked up to as one of the best loved, as well as most respected, men inthe city. And there was not a member of the "society" who would not havebeen sadly hurt at not being invited to the great annual Carnival ballat the Castelmare palace. But the same degree of laissez aller jollitywould not have been "de mise" there as was permissible at the Circolo.The fun was not so fast and furious as it was wont to be at the club ofthe nobles on the last night of Carnival.

  The whole society were at the latter gathering. All the nobles ofRavenna were the hosts, and everybody was there solely and entirely toamuse and enjoy themselves. Host and guests, indeed, were almostidentical. There were but few persons present, and those strangers tothe town, who did not belong to their own class.

  To the Marchese, on the previous night, most of the company hadcontented themselves with going in "domino." At the Circolo ball a verylarge proportion of the dancers were in costume. The Conte LeandroLombardoni,--lady-killer, Don Juan, and poet, whose fortunes andmisfortunes in these characters had made him the butt of the entiresociety, and had perhaps contributed, together with his well-knownextraordinarily pronounced propensity for cramming himself with pastry,to give him the pale, puffed, pasty face, swelling around a pair of palefish-like eyes, that distinguished him,--the Conte Leandro Lombardoni;indeed, had gone to the Castelmare palace as "Apollo," in a costumewhich young Ludovico Castelmare, the Marchese Lamberto's nephew, wouldinsist on mistaking for that of Aesop; and had now, according to aprogramme perfectly well known previously throughout the city, come tothe Circolo as "Dante." The Tuscan "lucco," or long flowing gown, had atleast the advantage of concealing from the public eye much that theApollo costume had injudiciously exhibited.

  Ludovico Castelmare had adopted the costume of a Venetian noble of thesixteenth century; and very strikingly handsome he looked in that mostpicturesque of all dresses. The Marchese Lamberto was at the ball, ofcourse, but not in costume. Perhaps the most striking figure in therooms, however, was one of those few persons who have been mentioned aspresent, but not belonging to Ravenna, or to the class of its nobles.This was a lady, well known at that day throughout Italy as BiancaLalli--"La Lalli," or "La Bianca," in theatrical parlance--for she wasone of the first singers of the day. Special circumstances--to beexplained at a future page--had rendered it possible for remote littleRavenna to secure the celebrated artist for the Carnival, which was nowexpiring. The Marchese Lamberto, who, among
many other avocations andoccupations, all of them contributing in some way or other to thewelfare and advantage of his native city, was a great lover andconnoisseur of music, and patron of the theatre, had been mainlyinstrumental in bringing La Lalli to Ravenna. The engagement had been amost successful one. The "Diva Bianca" had sung through the Carnival,charming all ears and hearts in Ravenna with her voice, and all eyeswith her very remarkable and fascinating beauty. And now, on this lastnight of the festive season, she was the cynosure of all eyes at theball.

  Bianca had, as it so happened, also chosen a Venetian costume of thesame period as that of Ludovico--about the middle of the sixteenthcentury. In truth, it was mere chance that had led to this similarity.And neither of them, as it happened, had mentioned to the other thedress they intended to wear. Bianca, in fact, used as she was to wearcostumes of all sorts, and to outshine all beauties near her in all orany of them, had thought nothing about her dress, till the eveningbefore; and then had consulted the Marchese Lamberto on the subject: buthad been so much occupied with him during nearly the whole of thatevening at his ball, that she had not said a word about it to any oneelse.

  It could not but seem, however, to everybody that the Marchese Ludovicoand La Lalli had agreed together to represent a pair belonging to themost gorgeous and picturesque days of Venetian history. And a mostmagnificently handsome pair they made. Bianca's dress, or at least thegeneral appearance and effect of it, will readily be imagined by thoseacquainted with the full-length portraits of Titian or Tintoretto. Amore strictly "proper" costume no lady could wish to wear. And thejeunesse doree of Ravenna, who had thought it likely that the Diva wouldappear as some light-skirted Flora, or high-kirtled Diana, werealtogether disappointed.

  But there was much joking and raillery about the evident and notablepair-ship of Ludovico and Bianca; and it came to pass that, almostwithout any special intention on their own part, they were thrown muchtogether, and danced together frequently. And this, under thecircumstances, was still more the case than it would have otherwisebeen, in consequence of the Marchese Lamberto not dancing. It was a longtime since he had done so. There were many men dancing less fitted thanhe, as far as appearance and capability, and even as far as years went,to join in such amusements. Nevertheless, all Ravenna would have beenalmost as much surprised to see the Marchese Lamberto dressed in mummingcostume, and making one among Carnival revellers, as to see the Cardinalhimself doing the same things. He had made for himself a socialposition, and a life so much apart from any such levities, that hisparticipation in them would have seemed a monstrosity.

  It may be doubted, however, whether on this occasion, at least, thedignified Marchese was satisfied with the position he had thus made forhimself. It would have been too absurd and remarkable for La Bianca tohave abstained from dancing and attached herself to him in theball-room, instead of consorting with the younger folks. Of course thatwas entirely out of the question. But none the less for that was theevening a time of cruel suffering and martyrdom to the Marchese. Ofcourse he believed that the adoption of so singularly similar a costumeby Bianca and his nephew was the result of pre-arranged agreement. Andthe thought, and all that his embittered fancy built upon the thought,were making everything around him, and all the prospect of his lifebefore him, utterly intolerable to him.

  Ludovico and Bianca had been dancing together for the third time--awaltz fast and furious, which they had kept up almost incessantly tillthe music had ceased. Heated and breathless, he led her out of theball-room to get some refreshment. There was a large supper-room which,on the cessation of the waltz, immediately became crowded by othercouples bent on a similar errand. But there had also been established alittle subsidiary buffet in a small cabinet at the furthest end of thesuite of rooms, for the purpose of drawing off some of the crowd fromthe main supper-room. And thither Ludovico led Bianca, thinking to avoidthe crush of people rushing in to the larger room.

  The young Marchese--the "Marchesino," as he was often called, todistinguish him from his uncle, the Marchese Lamberto--was one of thesmall committee of the Circolo, who had had the management of all thearrangements for the ball; and was, accordingly, well aware of thewhereabouts of this little "succursale" to the supper-room. But it isprobable that the existence of it was unknown to the great majority ofthe company. At all events, so it happened, that when Ludovico andBianca reached it, it was wholly untenanted, save by Dante, in his longred gown, solitarily occupied in cramming himself with pastry.

  "What, Dante in exile!" cried Ludovico. "Pray, Sir Poet, which bolgiawas set apart for those who are lost by the 'peccato della gola?' or isa bilious fit in the more immediate future bolgia fearful enough?"

  "It is not so bad a bolgia as that appointed some other sins," said theConte Leandro, with mouth stuffed with cake, as he moved out of room.

  "What an animal it is!" said Ludovico, laughing, as he gave Bianca aglass of champagne, and filled another for himself.

  "Take some of this woodcock pie, Signora Bianca? You must be starved bythis time; and I can recommend it."

  "How so? You have not tasted it yourself yet."

  "No; but I am going to do so. And my recommendation is based on myknowledge of the qualities of our woodcocks. They are the finest in theworld. The marshes in the neighbourhood of the Pineta breed them inimmense quantities."

  "Oh, I have heard so much of the Pineta. They say it is so lovely."

  "The most beautiful forest in the world. And this is just the time whenit is in its greatest beauty,--the early spring, when the wild flowersare all beginning to blossom, and the birds are all singing. There isnothing like our Pineta!"

  "I should so like to see it. It does seem really a shame to leaveRavenna without ever having seen the Pineta."

  "Oh, you must not dream of doing so. You must make a little excursionone of these fine spring days. It is just the time for it. Some morning,the earlier the better. But I dare say your habits are not verymatutinal, Signora?"

  "Well, not very, for the most part. But I would willingly make themmatutinal for such a purpose at any time. How far is it?"

  "Oh, a mere nothing--at the city gates almost a couple of miles,perhaps. You may go out by the Porta Nuova, at the end of the Corso, andso to that part of the forest which lies to the southward of the city;or by the northern road, which very soon enters the wood on that side.Perhaps the finest part of the Pineta is that to the southwards. Of allplaces in the world it is the spot for a colazione al fresco."

  "I should so like it. I have heard of the Pineta di Ravenna all mylife."

  "What do you say to going this very morning?" said Ludovico, afterthinking for a minute. "There is no time like the present. It will be acharming finish to our Carnival--new and original, too! Do you feel asif you had go enough left for it?"

  "Oh, as for that," said Bianca, laughing with lips and eyes, "I am up toanything. I should like it of all things. But--"

  "Ah! what a terrible word that 'but' is. But what?" said Ludovico, whohad no sooner conceived the idea than he became eager to put it intoexecution. "But what?"

  "But--a great many things. Unhappily, there is no word comes oftenerinto one's life than that odious 'but.' But who is to go with me? Icannot go all alone by myself?"

  "Oh, that's no but at all. Of course, Signora, I did not propose such anexpedition to you without proposing to myself the honour of accompanyingyou," said Ludovico with a profound bow.

  "What a scappata! I should like it of all things. But--there it comesagain! 'But' the second; will not the good people say all sorts ofill-natured and absurd things?"

  "Not a bit of it--in my case, Signora. Everybody knows that we have beenvery good friends; and that I have not been coxcomb enough to have everhoped to be aught more to you, having been protected, as they all know,from such danger in the only way in which a man could possibly beprotected from it," said Ludovico, bowing again.

  "Dear me! What way is that? It might be so useful to know. Would it beequally applicable to a lady, I wo
nder?" said Bianca, looking at himhalf laughingly, half-poutingly, with her head on one side. "Oh yes!perfectly applicable in all cases, Signora. It is only to have no heartto lose, having lost it already," returned he.

  "Oh, come! This is a confidence dans les regles! And in return for it,Signor Ludovico, do you know--speaking in all seriousness--that--if wereally do put this wild scheme into execution--I have a confidence togive you, and may take that opportunity of making it--a confidence, notwhich may or may not be made, like yours, but which I ought to make toyou, the necessity of making which furnishes, to say the truth, a veryplausible reason for our projected tete-a-tete."

  "Davvero, Signora! Better and better; I shall be charmed to receive sucha mark of your friendship," said Ludovico, thinking and caring little onwhat subject it might be that the Diva purposed speaking to him: "andthen, the fact is," he continued, "that to-morrow morning will be thebest morning for the purpose of all the days of the year. For we shallbe quite sure that every soul here will be in bed and asleep. On thefirst morning in Lent one is tolerably safe not to fall in with earlyrisers. Our little trip, you may be very sure, will never be heard of byanybody, unless we choose to tell of it ourselves."

  "And I am sure that I do not see why we should not," said Bianca.

  "I see no reason against telling all the town, for my part," rejoinedLudovico; "afterwards though--you understand; and not beforehand, or ourlittle escapade would be spoilt by some blockhead or other insisting onjoining us. Our friend Leandro there, for instance; think of it!"

  "The idea is a nightmare! No; we will not say a word till afterwards.'Tis the most charming notion for a finale to a Carnival that ever wasconceived. I make you my compliments on it, Signor Ludovico."

  "So, then, all the 'buts' have been butted and rebutted?" said he.

  "Well, I suppose so,"--by the help of a strong desire to yield to thetemptation of so pleasant a scheme, the way 'buts' generally areanswered. "But we cannot go on the expedition as we are, I suppose?"said she.

  "I don't see why not. I dare say the old pines have seen similar figuresbeneath them before now. But you would not be comfortable withoutchanging your dress, and the mornings are still sharp. This is how itmust be. I will slip away before long, and make all preparationnecessary. I will get a bagarino and a pony--not from the Castelmarestables, you understand, but from a man I know and can trust--and I willcome with it to the door of your lodging at six o'clock. You will stayat the ball till the end. Everybody will go by four o'clock, or soonafter. That will give you plenty of time to change your dress. By sixo'clock every soul in Ravenna will be fast asleep. We shall drive to alittle farm-house I know on the border of the forest, leave our bagarinothere, and have our stroll under the trees just as long and as far as isagreeable to you. Won't that do?"

  "Perfect! I shall enjoy it amazingly. I will be sure to be ready whenyou come at six o'clock."

  "I will be there at six or thereabouts. Now we will go back to theball-room; but don't dance till you have not a leg left to stand on. Wemust have a good long stroll in the Pineta."

  "Lascia fare a me! I dare say I shan't dance another dance--unless,indeed, we have one more turn together before you go. Is there time?"

  "Oh yes, for that plenty of time. If you are not afraid of tiringyourself, one more last dance by all means."

  So giving her his arm, the Marchesino led his beautiful and fascinatingcompanion back to the ballroom, where the music was again making themost of the time with another waltz.