cool air inexpressibly exhilarating. It was laden, also, with the sound of distant bells, which seemed

shut up in a strong room in the chateau; and as soon as I ascertain by the testimony of my own eyes, you shall have my permission to make your-to say, like the muezzin's voice from the minaret self scarce if you please.'

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This was done; and, late in the same evening, the countess, to my great relief, did, sure enough, arrive. She was too much fatigued for me to think of touching upon the chest that night. But next morning, on my mentioning the subject, she observed with a smile

"You are an English gentleman. That is enough. If I had remained absent seven years, I should have felt no apprehension for my property, had it been ten times as great; and, to convince you of the reality of my confidence, I shall not visit, nor unlock the chest until a full year and a day after you have left this chateau, whenever that may be.'

"I returned her the keys, and have not the slightest doubt that she kept her word. Meanwhile, however, I ought to say I had suffered Signor Mazzio to effect his escape, though I was careful to relate to the countess what happened, that she might not afterwards receive him into her service, which she would, otherwise, have been very apt to do."

CHAPTER XX. BEAUTY AND TRUTH.

"Arise, ye faithful, and pray, prayer is better than sleep!" And this, surely, is the conviction of universal humanity. The oldest of the Greek poets represents prayer as so many daughters of heaven, destined to move over the earth in the wake of crime, obliterating its footsteps as they go. All nations, in all ages, feeling their dependence on some unseen power, have dropped upon their knees instinctively, and turned up their faces towards heaven, in the hope of catching a blessing from thence. And never is human nature so grand or beautiful as in this attitude, which huks, as it were, the two worlds together, brings down heaven to earth, or lifts up earth to heaven, fuses spirit and matter, and makes an imperfect material creature a fit companion for seraphs.

At the door of the breakfast parlor I met Carlotta.

"Do yon go to mass to-day?" inquired she. "I go to church," was my reply.

"And afterwards," exclaimed the captain, who was just then descending the stairs, "I trust we shall all go out into the woods, to enjoy one of the loveliest walks in Christendom."

to the spirit."

"With all my heart," exclaimed Carletta. Wherever the empire of Christianity extends,"I love walking in woods, it is so refreshing there is a peculiar beauty about the Sunday. The bustle of business, the toil of labor, the anxieties I know not how it was, but after breakfast, inof the world, seem to have been withdrawn from stead of accompanying Carlotta to mass, I went the face of the earth, and a calm, sweet, serene out with the Dalmatian and the Milanese for a atmosphere of peace to have been substituted for walk. While the church bells were going busily, them. The very sun in great cities shines more we went up one street and down another, talking, brightly, because its rays are not obstructed by the laughing, and enjoying the cheerful sunshine. smoke of furnaces, factories, and so on. Every- The church-goers in that secluded village were body feels that it is a day of rest; and whoever not numerous, though they probably included all has a spark of religion in him, is deeply conscious the inhabitants, old and young, who proceeded that around him, on all sides, the sweet incense with cheerful and glad faces to offer up the tribute of prayer, from millions of lips, is ascending of their devotion to Heaven. At the bottom of a through the air, and purifying and sanctifying it. street, about half-a-mile from the church, we met Oh! how precious is the repose of that day. The a young lady proceeding thither ward, and leading poor look forward to it as to a renewal of life, as a little girl, about nine years old, by her hand. to a season of special blessing, when they shall When we had approached near enough to see her have leisure to recruit their strength of mind and face distinctly, the words, "Oh, Dio santo," burst body for encountering the toils and difficulties of from the lips of the Milanese. The Dalmatian the ensuing week. Then, too, they will surely and I were silent. We walked on and passed the hear the voice of glad tidings, peace on earth, lady, who moved, like a celestial vision, up the and good-will towards men." There is a solemn hill. Never since or before have I seen beauty so hush in the storm of worldly passions over the perfect. No Madonna ever painted by Raphael, whole Christian world, amid which the still small no Aphrodite ever sculptured by the Hellenic voice of devotion is everywhere heard more or less chisel, could equal it. To enjoy another look we distinctly. Let all those, therefore, who are toil- turned round, walked rapidly up the hill, and worn and oppressed, bless the divine institution of then came leisurely down again. This we rethe Sabbath, which brings to many, if not to all,peated three times; and, as we last went by her, glimpses of a better world, and opens by the way- I thought I saw the lady smile, not with pity, side fountains of hope and gladness to refresh them during their weary pilgrimage towards heaven.

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or contempt, or scorn, but apparently with surprise. Her costume was in itself, to the last On awaking in the morning I experienced all degree, graceful. It consisted of an amber-colthe delicious effects of sleeping on the summits ored satin dress, open in front, with a rich of mountains. On throwing open the casement, lace chemisette over the bosom, and a fine full which the chambermaid, unknown to me, had petticoat of white muslin. On her head was the closed in the evening, I felt the in-rushing of the Genoese veil, supported on the forehead by a

mingled with a roar of bacchanalian songs, intermixed, occasionally, with ornamental oaths.

the panniers were heavy, the ass obstinate, and his halter very weak. What was to be done? We We started on foot, our dinner following us on an were averse to cruelty-yet our appetites informed ass, driven by the son of the master of the inn. us forcibly that we must dine. Our Milanese cut The captain's family consisted of a daughter aged the Gordian knot by snatching the cudgel from the sixteen and her governess, who were severally hands of Giovanni, and dealing the ass so tremenescorted by the Dalmatian and the Milanese. dous a blow on the crupper, that he could no Madame B- graced the captain's side; and, longer hesitate, but plunging down into the stream, as usual, I walked with Carlotta, whose costume made his way to land in the best way he could. on this occasion was so curious, that I shall en- One or two bottles were cracked in the operation, deavor to describe it. Over a robe of purple velvet and shed their rich contents into the stream, to she wore a short pelisse of light blue silk, bor- our inexpressible disappointment. However, there Idered with white fur. Her dress was fastened was no help for it, so on we went till we reached in front with agraffes of pearl, almost close up to the banks of the Tarn, literally a mountain gem; the throat; these terminated with the glittering of so beautiful was its situation, so magnificent the a diamond necklace, which issued on both sides cliffs arising from it on all sides, save the narrow from beneath masses of luxuriant hair. At the gap by which we had entered into the basin. Just wrists, long, full sleeves of lace shaded the fair, figure to yourself a sheet of water about half-agloveless hand, which, in the sun, was covered mile in circumference, with precipices, several with the furred lappet of the pelisse. Her delicate hundred feet high, sloping upwards from its edge, white bonnet, sufficiently large to shelter her face and terminating in crags and pinnacles, in some from the sun, was ornamented in the inside with places pointed as needles. Wherever a scrap of a wreath of oak leaves and silver acorns, which earth would allow vegetation to take root, there produced the most extraordinary effect, especially small trees and shrubs feathered the acclivity, when lighted up by her bright blue eyes. Car- trembling and waving their variegated foliage over lotta's lips were the reddest in the world, and her the abyss. It was, doubtless, an ancient crater; teeth as white as ivory. When she spoke, there- and fiery lava had hissed and boiled where that fore, and smiled, it was impossible to resist look-peaceful lake now spread, glittering in the sun. ing at her. Her chin was dimpled, and though We sat down on large stones close to the water's there was habitually little color in her face, it be-edge, and taking out our solid materials, with the came flushed with walking, and then looked ra- bottles which remained, we set about enjoying diant with joy and health. ourselves after the true English fashion, the captain presiding, as his experience entitled him to do. There were roast fowls, and small birds, delicious cold salmon, preserved fruits, jellies, and pastry, with wines of every hue and flavor. Everybody contributed a good keen appetite; and Carlotta, in particular, made great way with the fowls, for which she entertained a great partiality. Madame B- also, and the other ladies performed their parts well; nor did any of us shrink from the wine, which circulated in profusion, till we were all in the best humor in the world. I should observe that Giovanni was not excluded from our circle; and as, of course, he could not be separated from his companion, he also petitioned for the admission of the ass, which, as Giovanni expressed it, ate bread and drank wine like a Christian.

Our walk through the trees was delicious. There was sufficient light and air to nourish, at the foot of the trees, a delicate turf, half grass, half moss, on which the foot fell almost noiselessly. It was like a Persian carpet. The trunks of the trees, of all forms and dimensions, supporting an impenetrable canopy of leaves, were thinned towards the edge of the glades, and allowed chequered patterns of sunshine to descend upon the green sward. The most solemn stillness prevailed around, till it was broken by our merry laugh, and the dialogues held by Giovanni with his ass, whom he alternately scolded and encouraged, to keep his courage up. In one place we had to cross a dark stream by means of stepping-stones. A little to our left, a patch of sunshine fell upon the water, which danced and glittered as it flowed along, like a liquid mirror rippled by the breeze. On the We all of us noticed a very extraordinary right it plunged beneath umbrageous trees, which ledge of rock, projecting from between two pinbarely allowed us to catch a glimpse of its mean-nacles, above three hundred feet, at least, over our derings, as it flowed silently towards the Mediter- heads. ranean. Giovanni here took it into his head that "That ledge," said Giovanni, was not long the rivulet was too deep for the ass, which he ac- ago the scene of a sad tragedy, which plunged the cordingly wished to coax over the stepping-stones. whole of this neighborhood into grief. There was The animal for a long time resisted. Ultimately, a brigand in the mountains, who often disguised however, yielding to the logic of a stout cudgel, himself, and descended to our village to purchase he undertook the task; but upon reaching a broad provisions. On one of these occasions he saw a stone in mid-channel, stood still, obstinately deter- beautiful girl, the daughter of a vine-grower, who mined neither to advance nor to retreat. We lives close to our house; and, being a lawless pertrembled for our dinner. Giovanni, a boy of about son, he determined to steal her away. fourteen, now saw clearly he had made a false "It was not, however, so easy to put his design move. The stone was of considerable height, into execution; for the young girl seldom went

out after dark, and in the day time it would have towards yonder ledge, and threatened them that, been next to impossible to effect his purpose, there if they did not stand still, he would plunge over were so many persons stirring. But there is an it, with the girl in his arms. They treated this old proverb, which says, Where there is a will as a vain menace intended to arrest their progress; there is a way.' The brigand descended at night but the girl, who had by this time learned the to the village, bringing along with him a small character of her captor, entreated them to desist. ladder, which he had himself constructed. This She shuddered, and shrunk back from the dreadful he placed against one of the windows of our neigh- depth before her. Underneath, there were several bor's house, and, climbing up hastily, forced open hundred feet of rock, and a deep lake. The head, the casement, and entered a bed-room, which was as you must feel, gentlemen, turns giddy even in that of the father and mother. Here he had the looking up; you may easily conceive, therefore, audacity to kindle a lamp, by means of a flint and what it must be to look down from that tremensteel which he had brought with him. He then dous height. But the blood of the villagers was drew a large pistol from his pocket, and, approach- heated. They dashed forward, the brigand still ing the bed, determined to shoot them both should waving them back with his hand, and uttering the they awake. Sound sleep, however, preserved most fearful threats and imprecations. Every their lives. He then proceeded into the next instant, he drew nearer and nearer the edge of the room, where he found the young woman's brother, abyss. His face grew pale with rage. He a stout young man of about five-and-twenty. He seized the girl by the hair of her head; he shook also was asleep, for it was past midnight. In the his clenched fist at his pursuers; he foamed at the room adjoining, the brigand found the girl, over mouth like a mad dog; and then, mustering up all whose mouth he passed a tight bandage, tying it his force and all his fury, plunged with the girl firmly behind the head. By doing this he awak- over the ledge; and, whirling about in the air, ened her, but she could not speak; and, holding and bounding from crag to crag, they were presthe pistol to her head, he swore if she struggled ently dashed upon the slope which sinks yonder he would shoot her on the spot. He then took into the lake. Their bodies were immediately her in his arms, and carried her, struggling, found, indescribably mutilated and disfigured; and through her father and mother's bed-room; and, the brother and sister, the only hopes of their getting out through the window, descended the parents, were buried in one grave. A hole in the ladder, where he placed her on her feet, and, mountain received the corpse of the brigand. The seizing her by the arm, forced her along. A mother lost her senses, and may still every day be neighbor, who happened at this moment to be seen sitting at her door, asking the passers-by if looking out through her window, saw the young they have seen Bianca, and if they can tell her girl struggling hard with the brigand; and, in when she will come back. Her husband lives to the contest, the bandage fell off her mouth. She watch over her; and there is not an individual in then shouted with all her might, waked her father, the whole country round who does not pause to mother, and brother, together with several neigh-cast a pitying blessing upon Bianca's mother, and bors, who all now rushed out to give chase. The on the husband who so tenderly watches over brigand now once more snatched her in his arms, her." and succeeded in effecting his escape into the woods. How he forced her along is not known; but her cries directed the pursuit for some time. At length, however, she became silent, and it was feared that he had killed her. The night passed on and the dawn began to break, when the bri- it in 1746, and thus opened themselves a way to gand and his shivering captive were seen high up Genoa. All this sort of information may be obamong the rocks, making, as it was supposed, to- tained elsewhere. I only undertake to describe wards his cave. The pursuit now recommenced my own movements, with what I saw, felt and with fresh alacrity. Father, brother, and neigh- heard. It belongs to learned travellers to enter bors, climbed the rocks, spreading themselves so minutely into the annals of former generations, as to encompass the brigand on all sides, and to and relate the fortunes of all the cities and counforce him towards yonder precipice, where, it was tries through which they passed. My task is a thought, he must of necessity surrender. Power- much humbler one, and I cheerfully abandon to ful as he was, he gradually became exhausted, by them all the honor and profit to be derived from being forced from time to time to carry his cap- the grandeose style of writing. It will be undertive in his arms. His exertions, therefore, slack-stood that we did not remain all night on the borened; and the villagers approached nearer and ders of the tarn, but returned early to our inn, nearer. In order to intimidate them, he drew one where we enjoyed the luxury of a hot supper. of his pistols, and fired. No one was hurt; but, Some physicians, I believe, condemn this meal as with the second, he shot the brother, who fell, the prolific parent of nightmare, apoplexy, and staggering, into his father's arms. The neigh- what not. But I like it, nevertheless, especially bors, now seeing that blood had been shed, like- when it is eaten in company with pleasant people, wise grew ferocious, and rushing towards the whose voices, looks, and smiles impart to it a brigand, determined to take his life. He retreated better relish than the finest sauce. On the present

CHAPTER XXII.-DIALECTICS IN SMOKE.

The reader will, I trust, excuse me for not entering here into the military history of the Bocchetta, and telling him how the Imperialists forced