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a rustic wooden bench。
〃Am I very indiscreet in asking how old you are； cara Francesca？〃 said
Rodolphe。
〃Nineteen；〃 said she； 〃well past。〃
〃If anything in the world could soothe my sorrow；〃 he went on； 〃it
would be the hope of winning you from your father； whatever your
fortune may be。 So beautiful as you are； you seem to be richer than a
prince's daughter。 And I tremble as I confess to you the feelings with
which you have inspired me； but they are deepthey are eternal。〃
〃/Zitto/！〃 said Francesca； laying a finger of her right hand on her
lips。 〃Say no more； I am not free。 I have been married these three
years。〃
For a few minutes utter silence reigned。 When the Italian girl；
alarmed at Rodolphe's stillness； went close to him； she found that he
had fainted。
〃/Povero/！〃 she said to herself。 〃And I thought him cold。〃
She fetched him some salts； and revived Rodolphe by making him smell
at them。
〃Married！〃 said Rodolphe； looking at Francesca。 And then his tears
flowed freely。
〃Child！〃 said she。 〃But there is still hope。 My husband is〃
〃Eighty？〃 Rodolphe put in。
〃No；〃 said she with a smile； 〃but sixty…five。 He has disguised himself
as much older to mislead the police。〃
〃Dearest；〃 said Rodolphe； 〃a few more shocks of this kind and I shall
die。 Only when you have known me twenty years will you understand the
strength and power of my heart； and the nature of its aspirations for
happiness。 This plant；〃 he went on； pointing to the yellow jasmine
which covered the balustrade； 〃does not climb more eagerly to spread
itself in the sunbeams than I have clung to you for this month past。 I
love you with unique passion。 That love will be the secret fount of my
lifeI may possibly die of it。〃
〃Oh！ Frenchman； Frenchman！〃 said she； emphasizing her exclamation with
a little incredulous grimace。
〃Shall I not be forced to wait； to accept you at the hands of time？〃
said he gravely。 〃But know this： if you are in earnest in what you
have allowed to escape you； I will wait for you faithfully； without
suffering any other attachment to grow up in my heart。〃
She looked at him doubtfully。
〃None；〃 said he； 〃not even a passing fancy。 I have my fortune to make；
you must have a splendid one； nature created you a princess〃
At this word Francesca could not repress a faint smile； which gave her
face the most bewildering expression； something subtle； like what the
great Leonardo has so well depicted in the /Gioconda/。 This smile made
Rodolphe pause。 〃Ah yes！〃 he went on； 〃you must suffer much from the
destitution to which exile has brought you。 Oh； if you would make me
happy above all men； and consecrate my love； you would treat me as a
friend。 Ought I not to be your friend？My poor mother has left sixty
thousand francs of savings； take half。〃
Francesca looked steadily at him。 This piercing gaze went to the
bottom of Rodolphe's soul。
〃We want nothing； my work amply supplies our luxuries；〃 she replied in
a grave voice。
〃And can I endure that a Francesca should work？〃 cried he。 〃One day
you will return to your country and find all you left there。〃 Again
the Italian girl looked at Rodolphe。 〃And you will then repay me what
you may have condescended to borrow；〃 he added； with an expression
full of delicate feeling。
〃Let us drop the subject；〃 said she； with incomparable dignity of
gesture； expression； and attitude。 〃Make a splendid fortune； be one of
the remarkable men of your country； that is my desire。 Fame is a
drawbridge which may serve to cross a deep gulf。 Be ambitious if you
must。 I believe you have great and powerful talents； but use them
rather for the happiness of mankind than to deserve me； you will be
all the greater in my eyes。〃
In the course of this conversation； which lasted two hours； Rodolphe
discovered that Francesca was an enthusiast for Liberal ideas； and for
that worship of liberty which had led to the three revolutions in
Naples； Piemont； and Spain。 On leaving； he was shown to the door by
Gina； the so…called mute。 At eleven o'clock no one was astir in the
village； there was no fear of listeners； Rodolphe took Gina into a
corner； and asked her in a low voice and bad Italian； 〃Who are your
master and mistress； child？ Tell me； I will give you this fine new
gold piece。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said the girl； taking the coin； 〃my master is the famous
bookseller Lamparini of Milan； one of the leaders of the revolution；
and the conspirator of all others whom Austria would most like to have
in the Spielberg。〃
〃A bookseller's wife！ Ah； so much the better；〃 thought he； 〃we are on
an equal footing。And what is her family？〃 he added； 〃for she looks
like a queen。〃
〃All Italian women do；〃 replied Gina proudly。 〃Her father's name is
Colonna。〃
Emboldened by Francesca's modest rank； Rodolphe had an awning fitted
to his boat and cushions in the stern。 When this was done； the lover
came to propose to Francesca to come out on the lake。 The Italian
accepted； no doubt to carry out her part of a young English Miss in
the eyes of the villagers； but she brought Gina with her。 Francesca
Colonna's lightest actions betrayed a superior education and the
highest social rank。 By the way in which she took her place at the end
of the boat Rodolphe felt himself in some sort cut off from her； and；
in the face of a look of pride worthy of an aristocrat； the
familiarity he had intended fell dead。 By a glance Francesca made
herself a princess； with all the prerogatives she might have enjoyed
in the Middle Ages。 She seemed to have read the thoughts of this
vassal who was so audacious as to constitute himself her protector。
Already； in the furniture of the room where Francesca had received
him； in her dress； and in the various trifles she made use of；
Rodolphe had detected indications of a superior character and a fine
fortune。 All these observations now recurred to his mind； he became
thoughtful after having been trampled on； as it were； by Francesca's
dignity。 Gina； her half…grown…up /confidante/； also seemed to have a
mocking expression as she gave a covert or a side glance at Rodolphe。
This obvious disagreement between the Italian lady's rank and her
manners was a fresh puzzle to Rodolphe； who suspected some further
trick like Gina's assumed dumbness。
〃Where would you go； Signora Lamporani？〃 he asked。
〃Towards Lucerne；〃 replied Francesca in French。
〃Good！〃 said Rodolphe to himself； 〃she is not startled by hearing me
speak her name； she had； no doubt； foreseen that I should ask Gina
she is so cunning。What is your quarrel with me？〃 he went on； going
at last to sit down by her side； and asking her by a gesture to give
him her hand； which she withdrew。 〃You are cold and ceremonious； what；
in colloquial language； we should call /short/。〃
〃It is true；〃 she replied with a smile。 〃I am wrong。 It is not good
manners； it is vulgar。 In French you would call it inartistic。 It is
better to be frank than to harbor cold or hostile feelings towards a
friend； and you have already proved yourself my friend。 Perhaps I have
gone too far with you。 You must take me to be a very ordinary woman。〃
Rodolphe made many signs of denial。〃Yes；〃 said the book