his ears were all Italian； and spoken by two women。
He took advantage of the moment when the two speakers were at one end
of the walk to slip noiselessly to the other。 After half an hour of
struggling he got to the end of the avenue； and there took up a
position whence； without being seen or heard； he could watch the two
women without being observed by them as they came towards him。 What
was Rodolphe's amazement on recognizing the deaf…mute as one of them；
she was talking to Miss Lovelace in Italian。
It was now eleven o'clock at night。 The stillness was so perfect on
the lake and around the dwelling； that the two women must have thought
themselves safe； in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs。
Rodolphe supposed that the girl's dumbness must be a necessary
deception。 From the way in which they both spoke Italian； Rodolphe
suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls； and concluded
that the name of English also hid some disguise。
〃They are Italian refugees；〃 said he to himself； 〃outlaws in fear of
the Austrian or Sardinian police。 The young lady waits till it is dark
to walk and talk in security。〃
He lay down by the side of the hedge； and crawled like a snake to find
a way between two acacia shrubs。 At the risk of leaving his coat
behind him； or tearing deep scratches in his back； he got through the
hedge when the so…called Miss Fanny and her pretended deaf…and…dumb
maid were at the other end of the path； then； when they had come
within twenty yards of him without seeing him； for he was in the
shadow of the hedge； and the moon was shining brightly； he suddenly
rose。
〃Fear nothing；〃 said he in French to the Italian girl； 〃I am not a
spy。 You are refugees； I have guessed that。 I am a Frenchman whom one
look from you has fixed at Gersau。〃
Rodolphe； startled by the acute pain caused by some steel instrument
piercing his side； fell like a log。
〃/Nel lago con pietra/！〃 said the terrible dumb girl。
〃Oh； Gina！〃 exclaimed the Italian。
〃She has missed me；〃 said Rodolphe； pulling from his wound a stiletto；
which had been turned by one of the false ribs。 〃But a little higher
up it would have been deep in my heart。I was wrong； Francesca；〃 he
went on； remembering the name he had heard little Gina repeat several
times； 〃I owe her no grudge； do not scold her。 The happiness of
speaking to you is well worth the prick of a stiletto。 Only show me
the way out； I must get back to the Stopfer's house。 Be easy； I shall
tell nothing。〃
Francesca； recovering from her astonishment； helped Rodolphe to rise；
and said a few words to Gina； whose eyes filled with tears。 The two
girls made him sit down on a bench and take off his coat； his
waistcoat and cravat。 Then Gina opened his shirt and sucked the wound
strongly。 Francesca； who had left them； returned with a large piece of
sticking…plaster； which she applied to the wound。
〃You can now walk as far as your house；〃 she said。
Each took an arm； and Rodolphe was conducted to a side gate； of which
the key was in Francesca's apron pocket。
〃Does Gina speak French？〃 said Rodolphe to Francesca。
〃No。 But do not excite yourself；〃 replied Francesca with some
impatience。
〃Let me look at you；〃 said Rodolphe pathetically； 〃for it may be long
before I am able to come again…〃
He leaned against one of the gate…posts contemplating the beautiful
Italian； who allowed him to gaze at her for a moment under the
sweetest silence and the sweetest night which ever； perhaps； shone on
this lake； the king of Swiss lakes。
Francesca was quite of the Italian type； and such as imagination
supposes or pictures； or； if you will； dreams； that Italian women are。
What first struck Rodolphe was the grace and elegance of a figure
evidently powerful； though so slender as to appear fragile。 An amber
paleness overspread her face； betraying sudden interest； but it did
not dim the voluptuous glance of her liquid eyes of velvety blackness。
A pair of hands as beautiful as ever a Greek sculptor added to the
polished arms of a statue grasped Rodolphe's arm； and their whiteness
gleamed against his black coat。 The rash Frenchman could but just
discern the long； oval shape of her face； and a melancholy mouth
showing brilliant teeth between the parted lips； full； fresh； and
brightly red。 The exquisite lines of this face guaranteed to Francesca
permanent beauty； but what most struck Rodolphe was the adorable
freedom； the Italian frankness of this woman； wholly absorbed as she
was in her pity for him。
Francesca said a word to Gina； who gave Rodolphe her arm as far as the
Stopfers' door； and fled like a swallow as soon as she had rung。
〃These patriots do not play at killing！〃 said Rodolphe to himself as
he felt his sufferings when he found himself in his bed。 〃 '/Nel
lago！' Gina would have pitched me into the lake with a stone tied to
my neck。〃
Next day he sent to Lucerne for the best surgeon there； and when he
came； enjoined on him absolute secrecy； giving him to understand that
his honor depended on it。
Leopold returned from his excursion on the day when his friend first
got out of bed。 Rodolphe made up a story； and begged him to go to
Lucerne to fetch their luggage and letters。 Leopold brought back the
most fatal； the most dreadful news： Rodolphe's mother was dead。 While
the two friends were on their way from Bale to Lucerne； the fatal
letter； written by Leopold's father； had reached Lucerne the day they
left for Fluelen。
In spite of Leopold's utmost precautions； Rodolphe fell ill of a
nervous fever。 As soon as Leopold saw his friend out of danger； he set
out for France with a power of attorney； and Rodolphe could thus
remain at Gersau； the only place in the world where his grief could
grow calmer。 The young Frenchman's position； his despair； the
circumstances which made such a loss worse for him than for any other
man； were known； and secured him the pity and interest of every one in
Gersau。 Every morning the pretended dumb girl came to see him and
bring him news of her mistress。
As soon as Rodolphe could go out he went to the Bergmanns' house； to
thank Miss Fanny Lovelace and her father for the interest they had
taken in his sorrow and his illness。 For the first time since he had
lodged with the Bergmanns the old Italian admitted a stranger to his
room； where Rodolphe was received with the cordiality due to his
misfortunes and to his being a Frenchman； which excluded all distrust
of him。 Francesca looked so lovely by candle…light that first evening
that she shed a ray of brightness on his grieving heart。 Her smiles
flung the roses of hope on his woe。 She sang； not indeed gay songs；
but grave and solemn melodies suited to the state of Rodolphe's heart；
and he observed this touching care。
At about eight o'clock the old man left the young people without any
sign of uneasiness； and went to his room。 When Francesca was tired of
singing； she led Rodolphe on to the balcony； whence they perceived the
sublime scenery of the lake； and signed to him to be seated by her on
a rustic wooden bench。
〃Am I very indiscreet in asking how old you are； cara Francesca？〃 said
Rodolphe。
〃Nineteen；〃 said she； 〃well past。〃
〃If anything in the world could soothe my sorrow；〃 he went on； 〃it
would be the hope of winning you from your father； whatever your
fortune may be。 So beautiful as you are； you seem to be richer than a
prince's daughter。 And I tremble as I confess to you the feelings with
which you have inspired me； but they are deepthey are eternal。〃
〃/Zitto/！〃 said Francesca； laying a finger of her right hand on her
lips。 〃Say no more； I am not free。 I have been married these three
years。〃
For a few minutes utter silence reigned。 When the Italian girl；
alarmed at Rodolphe's stillness； went close to him； she found that he
had fainted。
〃/Povero/！〃 she said to herself。 〃And I thought him cold。〃
She fetched him some salts； and revived Rodolphe by making him smell
at them。
〃Married！〃 said Rodolphe； looking at Francesca。 And then his tears
flowed freely。
〃Child！〃 said she。 〃But there is still hope。 My husband is〃
〃Eighty？〃 Rodolphe put in。
〃No；〃 said she with a smile； 〃but sixty…five。 He has disguised himself
as much older to mislead the police。〃
〃Dearest；〃 said Rodolphe； 〃a few more shocks of this kind and I shall
die。 Only when you have known me twenty years will you understand the
strength and power of my heart； and the nature of its aspirations for
happiness。 This plant；〃 he went on； pointing to the yellow jasmine
which covered the balustrade； 〃does not climb more eagerly to spread
itself in the sunbeams than I have clung to you for this month past。 I
love you with unique passion。 That love will be the secret fount of my
lifeI may possibly die of it。〃
〃Oh！ Frenchman； Frenchman！〃 said she； emphasizing her exclamation with
a little incredulous grimace。
〃Shall I not be forced to wait； to accept you at the hands of time？〃
said he gravely。 〃But know this： if you are in earnest in what you
have allowed to escape you； I will wait for you faithfully； without
suffering any other attachment to grow up in my heart。〃
She looked at him doubtfully。
〃None；〃 said he； 〃not even a passing fancy。 I have my fortune to make；
you must have a splendid one； nature created you a princess〃
At this word Francesca could not repress a faint smile； which gave her
face the most bewildering expression； something subtle； like what the
great Leonardo has so well depicted in the /Gioconda/。 This smile made
Rodolphe pause。 〃Ah yes！〃 he went on； 〃you must suffer much from the
destitution to which exile has brought you。 Oh； if you would make me
happy above all men； and consecrate my love； you would treat me as a
friend。 Ought I not to be your friend？My poor mother has left sixty
thousand francs of savings； take half。〃
Francesca looked steadily at him。 This piercing gaze went to the
bottom of Rodolphe's soul。
〃We want nothing； my work amply supplies our luxuries；〃 she replied in
a grave voice。
〃And can I endure that a Francesca should work？〃 cried he。 〃One day
you will return to your country and find all you left there。〃 Again
the Italian girl looked at Rodolphe。