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been pre…eminently successful from the earliest ages of the world；
there are in a long chain points of attachment needed where the
cohesion is stronger than in the intermediate loops of rings。 This
recognition between Rodolphe and Francesca； at this party； in the face
of the world； was one of those intense moments which join the future
to the past； and rivet a real attachment more deeply in the heart。 It
was perhaps of these incidental rivets that Bossuet spoke when he
compared to them the rarity of happy moments in our liveshe who had
such a living and secret experience of love。
Next to the pleasure of admiring the woman we love； comes that of
seeing her admired by every one else。 Rodolphe was enjoying both at
once。 Love is a treasury of memories； and though Rodolphe's was
already full； he added to it pearls of great price； smiles shed aside
for him alone； stolen glances； tones in her singing which Francesca
addressed to him alone； but which made Tinti pale with jealousy； they
were so much applauded。 All his strength of desire； the special
expression of his soul； was thrown over the beautiful Roman； who
became unchangeably the beginning and the end of all his thoughts and
actions。 Rodolphe loved as every woman may dream of being loved； with
a force； a constancy； a tenacity； which made Francesca the very
substance of his heart； he felt her mingling with his blood as purer
blood； with his soul as a more perfect soul； she would henceforth
underlie the least efforts of his life as the golden sand of the
Mediterranean lies beneath the waves。 In short； Rodolphe's lightest
aspiration was now a living hope。
At the end of a few days； Francesca understood this boundless love；
but it was so natural； and so perfectly shared by her； that it did not
surprise her。 She was worthy of it。
〃What is there that is strange？〃 said she to Rodolphe； as they walked
on the garden terrace； when he had been betrayed into one of those
outbursts of conceit which come so naturally to Frenchmen in the
expression of their feelings〃what is extraordinary in the fact of
your loving a young and beautiful woman； artist enough to be able to
earn her living like Tinti； and of giving you some of the pleasures of
vanity？ What lout but would then become an Amadis？ This is not in
question between you and me。 What is needed is that we both love
faithfully； persistently； at a distance from each other for years；
with no satisfaction but that of knowing that we are loved。〃
〃Alas！〃 said Rodolphe； 〃will you not consider my fidelity as devoid of
all merit when you see me absorbed in the efforts of devouring
ambition？ Do you imagine that I can wish to see you one day exchange
the fine name of Gandolphini for that of a man who is a nobody？ I want
to become one of the most remarkable men of my country； to be rich；
greatthat you may be as proud of my name as of your own name of
Colonna。〃
〃I should be grieved to see you without such sentiments in your
heart；〃 she replied； with a bewitching smile。 〃But do not wear
yourself out too soon in your ambitious labors。 Remain young。 They say
that politics soon make a man old。〃
One of the rarest gifts in women is a certain gaiety which does not
detract from tenderness。 This combination of deep feeling with the
lightness of youth added an enchanting grace at this moment to
Francesca's charms。 This is the key to her character； she laughs and
she is touched； she becomes enthusiastic； and returns to arch raillery
with a readiness； a facility； which makes her the charming and
exquisite creature she is； and for which her reputation is known
outside Italy。 Under the graces of a woman she conceals vast learning；
thanks to the excessively monotonous and almost monastic life she led
in the castle of the old Colonnas。
This rich heiress was at first intended for the cloister； being the
fourth child of Prince and Princess Colonna； but the death of her two
brothers； and of her elder sister； suddenly brought her out of her
retirement； and made her one of the most brilliant matches in the
Papal States。 Her elder sister had been betrothed to Prince
Gandolphini； one of the richest landowners in Sicily； and Francesca
was married to him instead； so that nothing might be changed in the
position of the family。 The Colonnas and Gandolphinis had always
intermarried。
From the age of nine till she was sixteen； Francesca； under the
direction of a Cardinal of the family； had read all through the
library of the Colonnas； to make weight against her ardent imagination
by studying science； art； and letters。 But in these studies she
acquired the taste for independence and liberal ideas； which threw
her； with her husband； into the ranks of the revolution。 Rodolphe had
not yet learned that； besides five living languages； Francesca knew
Greek； Latin； and Hebrew。 The charming creature perfectly understood
that； for a woman； the first condition of being learned is to keep it
deeply hidden。
Rodolphe spent the whole winter at Geneva。 This winter passed like a
day。 When spring returned； notwithstanding the infinite delights of
the society of a clever woman； wonderfully well informed； young and
lovely； the lover went through cruel sufferings； endured indeed with
courage； but which were sometimes legible in his countenance； and
betrayed themselves in his manners or speech； perhaps because he
believed that Francesca shared them。 Now and again it annoyed him to
admire her calmness。 Like an Englishwoman； she seemed to pride herself
on expressing nothing in her face； its serenity defied love； he longed
to see her agitated； he accused her of having no feeling； for he
believed in the tradition which ascribes to Italian women a feverish
excitability。
〃I am a Roman！〃 Francesca gravely replied one day when she took quite
seriously some banter on this subject from Rodolphe。
There was a depth of tone in her reply which gave it the appearance of
scathing irony； and which set Rodolphe's pulses throbbing。 The month
of May spread before them the treasures of her fresh verdure； the sun
was sometimes as powerful as at midsummer。 The two lovers happened to
be at a part of the terrace where the rock arises abruptly from the
lake； and were leaning over the stone parapet that crowns the wall
above a flight of steps leading down to a landing…stage。 From the
neighboring villa； where there is a similar stairway； a boat presently
shot out like a swan； its flag flaming； its crimson awning spread over
a lovely woman comfortably reclining on red cushions； her hair
wreathed with real flowers； the boatman was a young man dressed like a
sailor； and rowing with all the more grace because he was under the
lady's eye。
〃They are happy！〃 exclaimed Rodolphe； with bitter emphasis。 〃Claire de
Bourgogne； the last survivor of the only house which can ever vie with
the royal family of France〃
〃Oh！ of a bastard branch； and that a female line。〃
〃At any rate； she is Vicomtesse de Beauseant； and she did not〃
〃Did not hesitate； you would say； to bury herself here with Monsieur
Gaston de Nueil； you would say；〃 replied the daughter of the Colonnas。
〃She is only a Frenchwoman； I am an Italian； my dear sir！〃
Francesca turned away from the parapet； leaving Rodolphe； and went to
the further end of the terrace； whence there is a wide prospect of the
lake。 Watching her as she slowly walked away； Rodolphe suspected that
he had wounded her soul； at once so simple and so wise； so proud and
so humble。 It turned him cold； he followed Francesca； who signed to
him to leave her to herself。 But he did not heed the warning； and
detected her wiping away her tears。 Tears！ in so strong a nature。
〃Francesca；〃 said he； taking her hand； 〃is there a single regret in
your heart？〃
She was silent； disengaged her hand which held her embroidered
handkerchief； and again dried her eyes。
〃Forgive me！〃 he said。 And with a rush； he kissed her eyes to wipe
away the tears。
Francesca did not seem aware of his passionate impulse； she was so
violently agitated。 Rodolphe； thinking she consented； grew bolder； he
put his arm round her； clasped her to his heart； and snatched a kiss。
But she freed herself by a dignified movement of offended modesty；
and； standing a yard off； she looked at him without anger； but with
firm determination。
〃Go this evening；〃 she said。 〃We meet no more till we meet at Naples。〃
This order was stern； but it was obeyed； for it was Francesca's will。
On his return to Paris Rodolphe found in his rooms a portrait of
Princess Gandolphini painted by Schinner； as Schinner can paint。 The
artist had passed through Geneva on his way to Italy。 As he had
positively refused to paint the portraits of several women； Rodolphe
did not believe that the Prince； anxious as he was for a portrait of
his wife； would be able to conquer the great painter's objections； but
Francesca； no doubt； had bewitched him； and obtained from himwhich
was almost a miraclean original portrait for Rodolphe； and a
duplicate for Emilio。 She told him this in a charming and delightful
letter； in which the mind indemnified itself for the reserve required
by the worship of the proprieties。 The lover replied。 Thus be