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！
and we strolled for an hour beside the river and through the shady
alleys of that lovely wilderness。 We had a great deal of talk： it's
not only myself； it's my whole situation over again。
〃Are you very fond of Italy？〃 I asked。
He hesitated a moment。 〃One can't express that。〃
〃Just so； I couldn't express it。 I used to tryI used to write
verses。 On the subject of Italy I was very ridiculous。〃
〃So am I ridiculous；〃 said my companion。
〃No； my dear boy；〃 I answered； 〃we are not ridiculous； we are two
very reasonable； superior people。〃
〃The first time one comesas I have doneit's a revelation。〃
〃Oh； I remember well； one never forgets it。 It's an introduction to
beauty。〃
〃And it must be a great pleasure；〃 said my young friend； 〃to come
back。〃
〃Yes； fortunately the beauty is always here。 What form of it；〃 I
asked； 〃do you prefer？〃
My companion looked a little mystified； and at last he said； 〃I am
very fond of the pictures。〃
〃So was I。 And among the pictures； which do you like best？〃
〃Oh； a great many。〃
〃So did I； but I had certain favourites。〃
Again the young man hesitated a little； and then he confessed that
the group of painters he preferred； on the whole； to all others； was
that of the early Florentines。
I was so struck with this that I stopped short。 〃That was exactly my
taste！〃 And then I passed my hand into his arm and we went our way
again。
We sat down on an old stone bench in the Cascine； and a solemn blank…
eyed Hermes； with wrinkles accentuated by the dust of ages； stood
above us and listened to our talk。
〃The Countess Salvi died ten years ago；〃 I said。
My companion admitted that he had heard her daughter say so。
〃After I knew her she married again；〃 I added。 〃The Count Salvi died
before I knew hera couple of years after their marriage。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that。〃
〃And what else have you heard？〃
My companion stared at me； he had evidently heard nothing。
〃She was a very interesting womanthere are a great many things to
be said about her。 Later； perhaps； I will tell you。 Has the
daughter the same charm？〃
〃You forget；〃 said my young man； smiling； 〃that I have never seen the
mother。〃
〃Very true。 I keep confounding。 But the daughterhow long have you
known her？〃
〃Only since I have been here。 A very short time。〃
〃A week？〃
For a moment he said nothing。 〃A month。〃
〃That's just the answer I should have made。 A week； a monthit was
all the same to me。〃
〃I think it is more than a month；〃 said the young man。
〃It's probably six。 How did you make her acquaintance？〃
〃By a letteran introduction given me by a friend in England。〃
〃The analogy is complete；〃 I said。 〃But the friend who gave me my
letter to Madame de Salvi died many years ago。 He； too； admired her
greatly。 I don't know why it never came into my mind that her
daughter might be living in Florence。 Somehow I took for granted it
was all over。 I never thought of the little girl； I never heard what
had become of her。 I walked past the palace yesterday and saw that
it was occupied； but I took for granted it had changed hands。〃
〃The Countess Scarabelli；〃 said my friend； 〃brought it to her husband
as her marriage…portion。〃
〃I hope he appreciated it！ There is a fountain in the court； and
there is a charming old garden beyond it。 The Countess's sitting…
room looks into that garden。 The staircase is of white marble； and
there is a medallion by Luca della Robbia set into the wall at the
place where it makes a bend。 Before you come into the drawing…room
you stand a moment in a great vaulted place hung round with faded
tapestry； paved with bare tiles； and furnished only with three
chairs。 In the drawing…room； above the fireplace； is a superb Andrea
del Sarto。 The furniture is covered with pale sea…green。〃
My companion listened to all this。
〃The Andrea del Sarto is there； it's magnificent。 But the furniture
is in pale red。〃
〃Ah； they have changed it； thenin twenty…seven years。〃
〃And there's a portrait of Madame de Salvi；〃 continued my friend。
I was silent a moment。 〃I should like to see that。〃
He too was silent。 Then he asked； 〃Why don't you go and see it？ If
you knew the mother so well； why don't you call upon the daughter？〃
〃From what you tell me I am afraid。〃
〃What have I told you to make you afraid？〃
I looked a little at his ingenuous countenance。 〃The mother was a
very dangerous woman。〃
The young Englishman began to blush again。 〃The daughter is not；〃 he
said。
〃Are you very sure？〃
He didn't say he was sure； but he presently inquired in what way the
Countess Salvi had been dangerous。
〃You must not ask me that；〃 I answered 〃for after all； I desire to
remember only what was good in her。〃 And as we walked back I begged
him to render me the service of mentioning my name to his friend； and
of saying that I had known her mother well； and that I asked
permission to come and see her。
9th。I have seen that poor boy half a dozen times again； and a most
amiable young fellow he is。 He continues to represent to me； in the
most extraordinary manner； my own young identity； the correspondence
is perfect at all points； save that he is a better boy than I。 He is
evidently acutely interested in his Countess； and leads quite the
same life with her that I led with Madame de Salvi。 He goes to see
her every evening and stays half the night； these Florentines keep
the most extraordinary hours。 I remember； towards 3 A。M。； Madame de
Salvi used to turn me out。〃Come； come；〃 she would say； 〃it's time
to go。 If you were to stay later people might talk。〃 I don't know
at what time he comes home； but I suppose his evening seems as short
as mine did。 Today he brought me a message from his Contessaa very
gracious little speech。 She remembered often to have heard her
mother speak of meshe called me her English friend。 All her
mother's friends were dear to her； and she begged I would do her the
honour to come and see her。 She is always at home of an evening。
Poor young Stanmer （he is of the Devonshire Stanmersa great
property） reported this speech verbatim； and of course it can't in
the least signify to him that a poor grizzled； battered soldier； old
enough to be his father； should come to call upon his inammorata。
But I remember how it used to matter to me when other men came；
that's a point of difference。 However； it's only because I'm so old。
At twenty…five I shouldn't have been afraid of myself at fifty…two。
Camerino was thirty…fourand then the others！ She was always at
home in the evening； and they all used to come。 They were old
Florentine names。 But she used to let me stay after them all； she
thought an old English name as good。 What a transcendent coquette！ 。