The Sicilian Bandit / From the Volume Captain Paul""

e topographical situation of the first, and the social position of the latt

ion even of a few humble cottages on the mountain on which their foundations rested: their domi

f a brook, and, protected by the hills that sheltered them from heat and cold, have passed an almost unknown and tranquil life, like that of men wi

grees, have seen sailing vessels succeed the simple boat, and noble ships the tiny barque-whose modest huts have

y belong to man's nobility alone. Thus we say, Messina the noble, Syracuse the fa

ess sky, on a luxuriously fertile plain, and sheltered by a belt of mountains, in the centre of a

, in which the murmur of the sea, the rustling of the breeze, and the busy hum of the town seem like a universal concert o

of Libya and carried to Europe by the southerly gales: immediately everything animate droops and becomes oppressed and suffering, and the whole island feels as when Etna threatens. Animals and men alike seek shelter, and when they have found it, they crouch in breathle

and a few blasts of cool air blew over the Liparian Archipelago. This atmospheric change had such an influence on all animated beings, that they gradually revived from their s

on of our readers to her, and to the place in which she dwelt, let them leave Palermo by the San-Georgio gate along with us, leaving the castle of St Mark on the right, and, reaching the Mole, they will follow the c

rms hung listlessly, her head was thrown back, and her hair dishevelled; for an instant she might have been taken for a marble statue, but a gentle tremor ran through her frame, colour gradually came to her cheeks, her eyes began to

retty waiting-maid, whose disordered toilet declared that she, as well as her

guidly, and turning her head. "It is enough

ite passed over, and we

fruit, and let me

ains of her languor would allow; she placed the refreshments o

nt day to-morrow; and the air is so clear that you can plainly s

me your arm, Teresa; I will try if I

ble the refreshment her lips had scarcely touched, and, resti

the evening air; "bring me my chair, and open the other window that loo

y lady," re

him see me in this wretched state, so

t, and I am certain that in the whole city we see from this window

chioness of Rudini and

one," replied

has been bribing you t

dame, I only tell

Palermo is!" said the countes

enty years of age, and rich and be

e about me cheerful and happy. When is your marriage to take place, Teresa?" Te

nswered her atten

? Have you not m

s, cert

dislike to t

me happy. Besides, this marriage will enable me to remain

y did yo

dy, but I was thinking

untry!" echoed

er sister at the village of which her father was the signor; and when she wrote f

he prince, at my recommendation, wo

servant," said Teresa; "h

said the

fused the situation of shep

leman, then, t

but a simple mountaineer," sai

was hi

ur ladyship would recollect

then regre

o's, I should be obliged to work for my living; and that would be a laborious t

that people accuse me of pride

o me, that is all I ca

Rogero: but that is not the reason the women hate me; they conceal their hatred under the cloak of disdain, and they neglect me because Rodolpho loves me, and they are jealous of the v

rer than either his excellency

t?" asked t

ntess's

t the tapers of the Psyche." The attendant obeyed her mistress's orders. "Now

eive that she was gone, than she seated herself before the Psych

slight and pliant form, you might recognise an Ionian origin; in her black and expressive eyes, a descendant of the Arabs; and in her fair and vermilion skin, a daughter of Gaul. She could equally boast of her descent from an Athenian archon, a Saracen emir, and a Norman chieftain; she was one of

out intention or thought, wrapt herself up in a vague and delicious pleasure, counting in the glass the images of

d herself quickly round and beheld a man standing at the window. Gemma rose and opened her mouth with the intention of sc

, madame! for on my honour, you have n

succeeded by a moment's silence, during which she had time to cast a rapid glance

houlders, a velvet vest with silver buttons, breeches of the same material, and ornamented in a similar manner; round his waist he wore a red silk belt with green fringe; shoes and leather gaiters completed his costume,

ination, for the stranger, when he saw her stretch out her hand

ian dialect. "I wish you no harm-far from it. If you will grant me the request I am about to ma

r voice still trembling; "and why did you co

almost a king, is it probable that you would have granted it to me, so poor and unknown? Tell me, madame.

r you?" said Gemma, reco

d in your hands my despair or my

u; explain yourself," f

anger, "a young woman fr

asked th

"Now, this young woman is to be married to a valet de cha

u, then?" sai

d if you refused her request, she pledged her word to return to me. I continued to expect her; but three years passed by, and yet I saw her not; and as she has

do not wish her to leave me. Gaetano is the prince's valet d

enter the prince's service," said the youn

e you would not en

I will make any sacrifice for her; only, if it were possible,

"I will speak of it to the

adame," interrupted the young man. "You

e I for your good condu

tude, madame," sa

w who you are," s

"whom you can make miserable or

sk me your name,"

s he acquainted with it? Has the name of a poor

ountess; "my father was Count of Castel Nuovo, and lived i

said the young man, i

aid the countess. "Tell me, then, an

emain ignorant of it. What does my name signify? I am an honest man. I would make Ter

ur name than ever, for when I asked Teresa what it was, she, like you, refused to tell me. I

o know it t

on it!" said

e stranger, "I beg, I implor

he countess, in an imper

hat you might have imagined every emotion had passed away if the pal

r in terror. "Pascal Bruno! You, the son of Antonio Bruno, w

coolly replied

placed there? Speak!" Pascal remained silent. "Well," continued the

a child, was taken into the village, your attendants showed you that head, and told you it

ssionately excla

sisted all his importunities, all his promises, and all his threats; but one day, when my father had gone to Taormina, the count caused her to be car

, proudly. "Both the property and the persons of its inhabitants be

Stilla, on the lands of the Prince de Moncada Paterno; and on that account he struck the count. The wound was not mo

"not only was your father put to death as murd

t him: they were, therefore, looked upon as accomplices, and sent, my uncle Placido, to Favignana; my uncle Pietro, to Lipari;

e of your mothe

said Pascal,

" asked

een Pizzo di Goto and

ve Bauso?" inqui

my family-of whom I, alone, remain-upon you, the only survivor of the family of the count. But I became enamoured of Teresa, and I left the mountains that I might not see my mother's grave, towards which I felt myself perjured. I came down to the plain, and went to Bauso. I did more than that, for when I knew that Teresa had lef

not take into his service the son of a man who w

hat man consents to forget that those

d?" said th

n my oath. You also know the vengeance of a Sicilian. Well, I will renounce my vengeance and forg

said the countess,

to think upon

r measures accordingl

I am doing all that I can to remain an honest man. Once engaged by the prince-once

as you desire," said t

w what jealousy is-you must know its sufferings, its maddening tortures. Well, I love Teresa-I

aid Gemma, in a

s head is placed, and the grave where my mother sleeps!" At this instant a strange cry, which see

," said Gemma, regai

yonder door, you have time to say 'yes.' I implore you, madame, to

instead of obeying this order, Bruno sprang to the door and bolted it. "Wou

, still mastering his feelings, "for

ing the first, was he

e count has arrived; I hear him in the corridor. Madame, madame! an instant longe

ho! Help!" sc

yourself or others," cried Bruno plunging his hands in his h

ge from the assistance which had arrived; "fastened in with

emma, no doubt with the intention of strangling her, for (as we have said) he had no arms. At the same instant a small door, concealed at the extremity of the

she cried, in a terrified ac

ed, he leaped out of the window; and, as I saw you insensible, I did not trouble myself about him-I thought o

mercy, no pity, to that man, my lord, for he

night, the gardens, and the shore, but wi

which began at the foot of the window from whi