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！
on my delivering him a card； he bade me inform my master and the
ladies that in the course of the day he would do himself the honour
of waiting upon them。 He then arose and opened the door for me to
depart。 The man was perfectly civil and courteous； but I did not
like that strange laugh of his after having read the letter。 He
was as good as his word； and that same day paid us a visit。 It was
now arranged that we should pass the winter in Rome … to my great
annoyance； for I wished to return to my native land； being heartily
tired of everything connected with Italy。 I was not； however；
without hope that our young master would shortly arrive； when I
trusted that matters； as far as the family were concerned； would be
put on a better footing。 In a few days our new acquaintance； who；
it seems； was a mongrel Englishman； had procured a house for our
accommodation； it was large enough； but not near so pleasant as
that we had at Naples； which was light and airy； with a large
garden。 This was a dark gloomy structure in a narrow street； with
a frowning church beside it； it was not far from the place where
our new friend lived； and its being so was probably the reason why
he selected it。 It was furnished partly with articles which we
bought； and partly with those which we hired。 We lived something
in the same way as at Naples； but though I did not much like
Naples； I yet liked it better than this place； which was so gloomy。
Our new acquaintance made himself as agreeable as he could；
conducting the ladies to churches and convents； and frequently
passing the afternoon drinking with the governor； who was fond of a
glass of brandy and water and a cigar； as the new acquaintance also
was … no； I remember； he was fond of gin and water； and did not
smoke。 I don't think he had so much influence over the young
ladies as the other priest； which was； perhaps； owing to his not
being so good…looking； but I am sure he had more influence with the
governor； owing； doubtless； to his bearing him company in drinking
mixed liquors； which the other priest did not do。
'He was a strange fellow； that same new acquaintance of ours； and
unlike all the priests I saw in that country； and I saw plenty of
various nations； they were always upon their guard； and had their
features and voice modulated； but this man was subject to fits of
absence； during which he would frequently mutter to himself； then；
though he was perfectly civil to everybody； as far as words went； I
observed that he entertained a thorough contempt for most people；
especially for those whom he was making dupes。 I have observed him
whilst drinking with our governor； when the old man's head was
turned； look at him with an air which seemed to say； 〃What a
thundering old fool you are〃； and at our young ladies； when their
backs were turned； with a glance which said distinctly enough； 〃You
precious pair of ninnyhammers〃； and then his laugh … he had two
kinds of laughs … one which you could hear； and another which you
could only see。 I have seen him laugh at our governor and the
young ladies； when their heads were turned away； but I heard no
sound。 My mother had a sandy cat； which sometimes used to open its
mouth wide with a mew which nobody could hear； and the silent laugh
of that red…haired priest used to put me wonderfully in mind of the
silent mew of my mother's sandy…red cat。 And then the other laugh；
which you could hear； what a strange laugh that was； never loud；
yes； I have heard it tolerably loud。 He once passed near me； after
having taken leave of a silly English fellow … a limping parson of
the name of Platitude； who； they said； was thinking of turning
Papist； and was much in his company； I was standing behind the
pillar of a piazza； and as he passed he was laughing heartily。 O
he was a strange fellow； that same red…haired acquaintance of ours！
'After we had been at Rome about six weeks our old friend the
priest of Naples arrived； but without his subordinate； for whose
services he now perhaps thought that he had no occasion。 I believe
he found matters in our family wearing almost as favourable an
aspect as he could desire： with what he had previously taught them
and shown them at Naples and elsewhere； and with what the red…
haired confederate had taught them and shown them at Rome； the poor
young ladies had become quite handmaids of superstition； so that
they； especially the youngest； were prepared to bow down to
anything； and kiss anything； however vile and ugly； provided a
priest commanded them； and as for the old governor； what with the
influence which his daughters exerted； and what with the ascendency
which the red…haired man had obtained over him； he dared not say
his purse； far less his soul； was his own。 Only think of an
Englishman not being master of his own purse！ My acquaintance； the
lady's maid； assured me that； to her certain knowledge； he had
disbursed to the red…haired man； for purposes of charity； as it was
said； at least one thousand pounds during the five weeks we had
been at Rome。 She also told me that things would shortly be
brought to a conclusion … and so indeed they were； though in a
different manner from what she and I and some other people
imagined； that there was to be a grand festival； and a mass； at
which we were to be present； after which the family were to be
presented to the Holy Father； for so those two priestly sharks had
managed it； and then 。 。 。 she said she was certain that the two
ladies； and perhaps the old governor； would forsake the religion of
their native land； taking up with that of these foreign regions；
for so my fellow…servant expressed it； and that perhaps attempts
might be made to induce us poor English servants to take up with
the foreign religion； that is herself and me； for as for our
fellow…servant； the other maid； she wanted no inducing； being
disposed body and soul to go over to it。 Whereupon I swore with an
oath that nothing should induce me to take up with the foreign
religion； and the poor maid； my fellow…servant； bursting into
tears； said that for her part she would die sooner than have
anything to do with it； thereupon we shook hands and agreed to
stand by and countenance one another： and moreover； provided our
governors were fools enough to go over to the religion of these
here foreigners； we would not wait to be asked to do the like； but
leave them at once； and make the best of our way home； even if we
were forced to beg on the road。
'At last the day of the grand festival came； and we were all to go
to the big church to hear the mass。 Now it happened that for some
time past I had been much afflicted with melancholy； especially
when I got up of a morning； produced by the strange manner in which
I saw things going on in our family； and to dispel it in some
degree； I had been in the habit of taking a dram before breakfast。
On the morning in question； feeling particularly low spirited when
I thought of the foolish step our governor would probably take
before evening； I took two drams before breakfast； and after
breakfast； feeling my melancholy still continuing； I took another；
which produced a slight effect upon my head； though I am convinced
nobody observed it。
'Away we drove to the big church； it was a dark misty day； I
remember； and very cold； so that if anybody had noticed my being
slightly in liquor； I could have excused myself by saying that I
had merely taken a glass to fortify my constitution against the
weather； and of one thing I am certain； which is； that such an
excuse would have stood me in stead with our governor； who looked；
I thought； as if he had taken one too； but I may be mistaken； and
why should I notice him； seeing that he took no notice of me？ so
away we drove to the big church； to which all the population of the
place appeared to be moving。
'On arriving there we dismounted； and the two priests； who were
with us； led the family in； whilst I followed at a little distance；
but quickly lost them amidst the throng of people。 I made my way；
however； though in what direction I knew not； except it was one in
which everybody seemed striving； and by dint of elbowing and
pushing I at last got to a place which looked like the aisle of a
cathedral； where the people stood in two rows； a space between
being kept open by certain strangely…dressed men who moved up and
down with rods in their hands； all were looking to the upper end of
this place or aisle； and at the upper end； separated from the
people by palings like those of an altar； sat in magnificent…
looking stalls； on the right and the left； various wonderful…
looking individuals in scarlet dresses。 At the farther end was
what appeared to be an altar； on the left hand was a pulpit； and on
the right a stall higher tha