a stroke of fate； Rodolphe's mother had recourse to a heroic measure。
She sold everything she owed to the munificence of her child's father
for a sum of more than a hundred thousand francs； bought with it a
life annuity for herself at a high rate； and thus acquired an income
of about fifteen thousand francs； resolving to devote the whole of it
to the education of her son； so as to give him all the personal
advantages that might help to make his fortune； while saving； by
strict economy； a small capital to be his when he came of age。 It was
bold； it was counting on her own life； but without this boldness the
good mother would certainly have found it impossible to live and to
bring her child up suitably； and he was her only hope； her future； the
spring of all her joys。
Rodolphe； the son of a most charming Parisian woman； and a man of
mark； a nobleman of Brabant； was cursed with extreme sensitiveness。
From his infancy he had in everything shown a most ardent nature。 In
him mere desire became a guiding force and the motive power of his
whole being； the stimulus to his imagination； the reason of his
actions。 Notwithstanding the pains taken by a clever mother； who was
alarmed when she detected this predisposition； Rodolphe wished for
things as a poet imagines； as a mathematician calculates； as a painter
sketches； as a musician creates melodies。 Tender…hearted； like his
mother； he dashed with inconceivable violence and impetus of thought
after the object of his desires； he annihilated time。 While dreaming
of the fulfilment of his schemes； he always overlooked the means of
attainment。 〃When my son has children；〃 said his other； 〃he will want
them born grown up。〃
This fine frenzy； carefully directed； enabled Rodolphe to achieve his
studies with brilliant results； and to become what the English call an
accomplished gentleman。 His mother was then proud of him； though still
fearing a catastrophe if ever a passion should possess a heart at once
so tender and so susceptible； so vehement and so kind。 Therefore； the
judicious mother had encouraged the friendship which bound Leopold to
Rodolphe and Rodolphe to Leopold； since she saw in the cold and
faithful young notary； a guardian； a comrade； who might to a certain
extent take her place if by some misfortune she should be lost to her
son。 Rodolphe's mother； still handsome at three…and…forty； had
inspired Leopold with an ardent passion。 This circumstance made the
two young men even more intimate。
So Leopold； knowing Rodolphe well； was not surprised to find him
stopping at a village and giving up the projected journey to Saint…
Gothard； on the strength of a single glance at the upper window of a
house。 While breakfast was prepared for them at the Swan Inn； the
friends walked round the hamlet and came to the neighborhood of the
pretty new house； here； while gazing about him and talking to the
inhabitants； Rodolphe discovered the residence of some decent folk；
who were willing to take him as a boarder； a very frequent custom in
Switzerland。 They offered him a bedroom looking over the lake and the
mountains； and from whence he had a view of one of those immense
sweeping reaches which； in this lake； are the admiration of every
traveler。 This house was divided by a roadway and a little creek from
the new house； where Rodolphe had caught sight of the unknown fair
one's face。
For a hundred francs a month Rodolphe was relieved of all thought for
the necessaries of life。 But； in consideration of the outlay the
Stopfer couple expected to make； they bargained for three months'
residence and a month's payment in advance。 Rub a Swiss ever so
little； and you find the usurer。 After breakfast； Rodolphe at once
made himself at home by depositing in his room such property as he had
brought with him for the journey to the Saint…Gothard； and he watched
Leopold as he set out； moved by the spirit of routine； to carry out
the excursion for himself and his friend。 When Rodolphe； sitting on a
fallen rock on the shore； could no longer see Leopold's boat； he
turned to examine the new house with stolen glances； hoping to see the
fair unknown。 Alas！ he went in without its having given a sign of
life。 During dinner； in the company of Monsieur and Madame Stopfer；
retired coopers from Neufchatel； he questioned them as to the
neighborhood； and ended by learning all he wanted to know about the
lady； thanks to his hosts' loquacity； for they were ready to pour out
their budget of gossip without any pressing。
The fair stranger's name was Fanny Lovelace。 This name （pronounced
/Loveless/） is that of an old English family； but Richardson has given
it to a creation whose fame eclipses all others！ Miss Lovelace had
come to settle by the lake for her father's health； the physicians
having recommended him the air of Lucerne。 These two English people
had arrived with no other servant than a little girl of fourteen； a
dumb child； much attached to Miss Fanny； on whom she waited very
intelligently； and had settled； two winters since； with monsieur and
Madame Bergmann； the retired head…gardeners of His Excellency Count
Borromeo of Isola Bella and Isola Madre in the Lago Maggoire。 These
Swiss； who were possessed of an income of about a thousand crowns a
year； had let the top story of their house to the Lovelaces for three
years； at a rent of two hundred francs a year。 Old Lovelace； a man of
ninety； and much broken； was too poor to allow himself any
gratifications； and very rarely went out； his daughter worked to
maintain him； translating English books； and writing some herself； it
was said。 The Lovelaces could not afford to hire boats to row on the
lake； or horses and guides to explore the neighborhood。
Poverty demanding such privation as this excites all the greater
compassion among the Swiss； because it deprives them of a chance of
profit。 The cook of the establishment fed the three English boarders
for a hundred francs a month inclusive。 In Gersau it was generally
believed； however； that the gardener and his wife； in spite of their
pretensions； used the cook's name as a screen to net the little
profits of this bargain。 The Bergmanns had made beautiful gardens
round their house； and had built a hothouse。 The flowers； the fruit；
and the botanical rarities of this spot were what had induced the
young lady to settle on it as she passed through Gersau。 Miss Fanny
was said to be nineteen years old； she was the old man's youngest
child； and the object of his adulation。 About two months ago she had
hired a piano from Lucerne； for she seemed to be crazy about music。
〃She loves flowers and music； and she is unmarried！〃 thought Rodolphe；
〃what good luck！〃
The next day Rodolphe went to ask leave to visit the hothouses and
gardens； which were beginning to be somewhat famous。 The permission
was not immediately granted。 The retired gardeners asked； strangely
enough； to see Rodolphe's passport； it was sent to them at once。 The
paper was not returned to him till next morning； by the hands of the
cook； who expressed her master's pleasure in showing him their place。
Rodolphe went to the Bergmanns'； not without a certain trepidation；
known only to persons of strong feelings； who go through as much
passion in a moment as some men experience in a whole lifetime。
After dressing himself carefully to gratify the old gardeners of the
Borromean Islands； whom he regarded as the warders of his treasure； he
went all over the grounds； looking at the house now and again； but
with much caution； the old couple treated him with evident distrust。
But his attention was soon attracted by the little English deaf…mute；
in whom his discernment； though young as yet； enabled him to recognize
a girl of African； or at least of Sicilian； origin。 The child had the
golden…brown color of a Havana cigar； eyes of fire； Armenian eyelids
with lashes of very un…British length； hair blacker than black； and
under this almost olive skin； sinews of extraordinary strength and
feverish alertness。 She looked at Rodolphe with amazing curiosity and
effrontery； watching his every movement。
〃To whom does that little Moresco belong？〃 he asked worthy Madame
Bergmann。
〃To the English；〃 Monsieur Bergmann replied。
〃But she never was born in England！〃
〃They may have brought her from the Indies；〃 said Madame Bergmann。
〃I have been told that Miss Lovelace is fond of music。 I should be
delighted if； during my residence by the lake to which I am condemned
by my doctor's orders； she would allow me to join her。〃
〃They receive no one； and will not see anybody；〃 said the old
gardener。
Rodolphe bit his lips and went away； without having been invited into
the house； or taken into the part of the garden that lay between the
front of the house and the shore of the little promontory。 On that
side the house had a balcony above the first floor； made of wood； and
covered by the roof； which projected deeply like the roof of a chalet
on all four sides of the building； in the Swiss fashion。 Rodolphe had
loudly praised the elegance of this arrangement； and talked of the
view from that balcony； but all in vain。 When he had taken leave of
the Bergmanns it struck him that he was a simpleton； like any man of
spirit and imagination disappointed of the results of a plan which he
had believed would succeed。
In the evening he； of course； went out in a boat on the lake； round
and about the spit of land； to Brunnen and to Schwytz； and came in at
nightfall。 From afar he saw the window open and brightly lighted； he
heard the sound of a piano and the tones of an exquisite voice。 He
made the boatman stop； and gave himself up to the pleasure of
listening to an Italian air delightfully sung。 When the singing
ceased； Rodolphe landed and sent away the boat and rowers。 At the cost
of wetting his feet； he went to sit down under the water…worn granite
shelf crowned by a thick hedge of thorny acacia； by the side of which
ran a long lime avenue in the Bergmanns' garden。 By the end of an hour
he heard steps and voices just above him； but the words that reached
his ears were all Italian； and spoken by two women。
He took advantage of the moment when the two speakers were at one end