Rule of the Monk; Or, Rome in the Nineteenth Century
Page 17
CHAPTER XVI. ENGLISH JULIA
In Siccio's little room was that same evening gathered a group of threepersons who would have gladdened the heart and eyes of any judge ofmanly and womanly beauty.
Is it a mere caprice of chance to be born beautiful? The spirit is notalways reflected in the form. I have known many a noble heart enshrinedin an unpleasing body. Nevertheless, man is drawn naturally to thebeautiful. A fine figure and noble features instinctively call forthnot only admiration, but confidence; and every one rejoices in havinga handsome father, a beautiful mother, fine children, or a leaderresembling Achilles rather than Thersites. On the other hand, how muchinjustice and mortification are often borne on account of deformity, andhow many are the wounds inflicted by thoughtless persons on those thusafflicted by their undisguised contempt or more cruel pity.
Julia, for she it is who forms the loveliest of our triad, had justreturned from her visit to the palace, and related to her auditors,Attilio and Muzio, what had transpired.
"Yes!" she exclaims, "he told me they were gone; but you see howpowerful is gold to obtain the truth, even in that den of vice! Theladies are there detained. I bought the truth of one of his people."
Attilio, much disturbed, passed his hand over his brow as he paced andrepaced the floor.
Julia, seeing how perturbed in spirit he was by her discovery, went tohim, and, placing her hand with a gentle pressure upon his shoulder,besought him to be calm, saying that he needed all possible self-controland presence of mind to procure his betrothed's release.
"You are right, Signora," said Muzio, who until now had remained silent,but watchful; "you are ever right."
The triad had already discussed a plan of rescue; and Muzio proposedto let Silvio know, and to engage him to meet them with some of hiscompanions at ten o'clock.
Muzio was noble-minded, and though he loved the beautiful stranger withall the force of his passionate southern nature, he felt no thoughtof jealousy as he thus prepared to leave her alone with his attractivefriend.
Nor did Julia run any danger from her warm feeling of compassion forAttilio, for her love for Muzio, though as yet unspoken, was pure andinalienable. A love that no change of fortune, time, or even death,could destroy. She had but lately learned the story of his birth andmisfortunes, and this, be sure, had not served to lessen it.
"No," she replied; "I will bid you both adieu for the present. Atten o'clock I shall await you in a carriage near the Piazza, and willreceive the ladies, and cany them, when you have liberated them, to aplace of safety."
So saying, she beckoned to her nurse to follow, and departed to make thenecessary arrangements for the flight of the sculptor's family, whosecause she had magnanimously espoused, ignoring completely the personaldanger she was incurring.