Gerald Fitzgerald, the Chevalier: A Novel

by Charles James Lever

  CHAPTER XVIII. HOW THE TIME PASSED AT ORVIETO

  Orvieto was a true villa palace (which only Italians understand howto build), and the grounds were on a scale of extent that suited themansion. Ornamental terraces and gardens on every side, with tastefulalleys of trellised vines to give noon-day shade, and farther off againa dense pine forest, traversed by long alleys of grass, which even inthe heat of summer were cool and shaded. These narrow roads, barelywide enough for two horsemen abreast, crossed and recrossed in thedark forest, ever leading between walls of the same dusky foliage, withscanty glimpses of a blue sky through the arched branches overhead.

  If Guglia rode there for hours long with Gerald; if they strayed--oftensilently--not even a foot-fall heard on the smooth turf, you perhaps,know why; and if you do not, how am I, unskilled in such descriptions,to make you wiser? Well, it was even as you suspect: the petted child offortune, the lovely niece of the great Cardinal, the beautiful Guglia,whose hand was the greatest prize of Rome, had conceived such aninterest in Gerald, his fortunes and his fate, that she could not leaveOrvieto.

  In vain came pressing invitations from Albano and Terni, where she hadpromised to pass part of her autumn. In vain the lively descriptions offriends full of all the delights of Castellamare or Sorrento: the storyof festivities and pleasures seemed poor and even vulgar with the lifeshe led. Talk of illusions as you will, that of being in love is theonly one that moulds the nature or elevates the heart! Out of itspromptings come the heroism of the least venturesome or the poetry ofthe least romantic! Insensibly stealing into the affections of another,we have to descend into our own hearts for the secrets that win success;and how resolutely we combat all that is mean or unworthy in our nature,simply that we may offer a more pure sacrifice on the altar we kneel to!

  And there and thus she lived, the flattered beauty--the young girl, towhom an atmosphere of homage and admiration seemed indispensable--whosepresence was courted in the society of the great world, and whose verycaprices had grown to become fashions--a sort of strange, half-realexistence, each day so like another that time had no measure how itpassed.

  The library of the villa supplied them with ample material to study thehistory of the Stuarts; and in these pursuits they passed the mornings,carefully noting down the strange eventualities which determined theirfate, and canvassing together in talk the traits which so often hadinvolved them in misfortune. Gerald, now restored to full health, wasa perfect type of the illustrious race he had sprung from: and notonly was the resemblance in face and figure, but all the mannerismsof Charles Edward were reproduced in the son. The same easy, gentle,yielding disposition, dashed by impulses of the wildest daring, anddarkened occasionally by moods of obstinacy; miserable under the thoughtof having offended, and almost more wretched when the notion of beingforgiven imparted a sense of his own inferiority; he was one of thosemen whose minds are so many-sided that they seem to have no fixedcharacter. Even now, though awakened to the thought of the great destinythat might one day befall him--assured as he felt of his birth andlineage--there were intervals in which no sense of ambition stirred him,when he would willingly accept the humblest lot in life should it onlypromise peace and tranquillity.

  Strangely enough it was by these vacillations and changes of temperamentthat Guglia had attached herself so decisively to his fortunes. The verywant which she supplied to his nature made the tie between them. Thetheory in her own heart was, that when called on for effort, wheneverthe occasion should demand the great personal qualities of courage anddaring, Gerald would be pre-eminently distinguished, and show himself tothe world a true Stuart.

  While thus they lived a life of happiness, the Pere Massoni was activelyengaged in maturing plans for the future. For a considerable time backhe had been watching the condition of Ireland with an intense feelingof anxiety. So far from the resistance to England having assumed thecharacter of a struggle in favour of Catholicism, it had grown more andmore to resemble the great convulsion in France which promised to ingulfall religions and all creeds. Though in a measure prepared for thisin the beginning of the conflict, Massoni steadfastly trusted that theinfluence of the priests would as certainly bring the people back to thestandards of the Church, and that eventually the contest would be purelybetween Rome and the Reformation. His last news from Ireland grievouslydamped the ardour of such hopes. The Presbyterians of the North--mencalled enemies of the 'Church '--were now the most trusted leaders ofthe movement; and how was he to expect that such men as these wouldaccept a Stuart for their king?

  For days, and even weeks did the crafty Pere ponder over this difficultproblem, and try to solve it in ways the most opposite. Why might notthese Northerns, who must always be a mere minority, be employed at theoutset of the struggle, and then, as the rebellion declared itself, beabandoned and thrown over? Why not make them the forlorn hope of thecampaign, and so get rid of them entirely? Why should not the Chevalierboldly try his personal influence among them, promise future rewards andfavours, ay, even more still? Why might he not adroitly have it hintedthat he was, at heart, less a Romanist than was generally believed:that French opinions had taken a deep root in his nature, and the earlyteachings of Mirabeau born their true fruit? There was much in Gerald'straining and habit of mind which would favour this supposition, could hebut be induced to play the game as he was directed. There was amongthe Stuart papers in Cardinal York's keeping a curious memorandum ofa project once entertained by the Pretender with respect to CharlesEdward. It was a scheme to marry him to a natural daughter of Sir RobertWalpole, and thus conciliate the favour and even the support of thatMinister--the strongest friend and ally of the Hanoverian cause. TheJesuit father had seen and read this remarkable paper, and deemed ita conception of the finest and most adroit diplomacy. It had evenstimulated his own ardour to rival it in acuteness; to impose Geraldupon the Presbyterian party, as one covertly cherishing views similarto their own; to make them, a minority as they were, imagine that thefuture destinies of the country were in their keeping; to urge them on,in fact, to the van of the battle, that so they might stand between twofires, was his great conception, the only difficulty to which was how toprepare the young Chevalier for the part he was to play, and reconcilehim to its duplicity!

  To this end he addressed himself zealously and vigorously, feedingGerald's mind with ideas of the grandeur of his house, the princelyinheritance that they had possessed, and their high rank in Europe. Allthat could contribute to stimulate the youth's ardour, and gratifyhis pride of birth, was studiously provided. Day by day he advancedstealthily upon the road, gradually enhancing Gerald's own standard tohimself, and giving him, by a sort of fictitious occupation, an amountof importance in his own eyes. Massoni maintained a wide correspondencethroughout Europe; there was not a petty court where he had not sometrusted agent. To impart to this correspondence a peculiar tone andcolouring was easy enough. At a signal from him the hint was sure tobe adopted; and now as letters poured in from Spain, and Portugal, andNaples, and Vienna, they all bore upon the one theme, and seemed filledwith but one thought--that of the young Stuart and his fortunes. Allthese were duly forwarded by Massoni to Gerald by special couriers, whoarrived with a haste and speed that seemed to imply the last importance.With an ingenuity all his own, the Pere invested this correspondencewith all the characteristics of a vast political machinery, and bycalling upon Gerald's personal intervention, he elevated the young manto imagine himself the centre of a great enterprise.

  Well aided and seconded as he was by Guglia Ridolfi, to whom also thislabour was a delightful occupation, the day was often too short for theamount of business before them; and instead of the long rides in thepine forest, or strolling rambles through the garden, a brisk gallopbefore dinner, taken with all the zest of a holiday, was often the onlyrecreation they permitted themselves. There was a fascination in thisexistence that made all their previous life, happy as it had been, seemtame and worthless in comparison. If real power have an irresistiblecharm for those who have once en
joyed its prerogatives, even thesemblance and panoply of it have a marvellous fascination.

  That _egoisme-a-deux_, as a witty French writer has called love, wasalso heightened in its attraction by the notion of an influence andsway wielded in concert. As one of the invariable results of thegreat passion is to elevate people to themselves, so did this seemingimportance they thus acquired minister to their love for each other. Inthe air-built castles of their mind one was a royal palace, surroundedwith all the pomp and splendour of majesty; who shall say that here wasnot a theme for a 'thousand-and-one nights,' of imagination?

  Must we make the ungraceful confession that Gerald was not very much inlove! though he felt that the life he was leading was a very delightfulone. Guglia possessed great--the very greatest--attractions. She wasvery beautiful; her figure the perfection of grace and symmetry; hercarriage, voice and air all that the most fastidious could wish for.She was eminently gifted in many ways, and with an apprehension ofastonishing quickness; and yet, somehow, though he liked and admiredher, was always happy in her society, and charmed by her companionship,she never made the subject of his solitary musings as he strolledby himself; she was not the theme of the sonnets that fell halfunconsciously from his lips as he rambled alone in the pine wood. Wasthe want then in _her_ to inspire a deeper passion, or had the holiestspot in _his_ heart been already occupied, or was it that some idealconception had made all reality unequal and inferior?

  We smile at the simplicity of those poor savages, who having carvedout their own deity, fashioned, and shaped, and clothed, then fall downbefore their own handiwork in an abject devotion and worship. We cannotreconcile to ourselves the mental process by which this self-deceptionis practised, and yet it is happening in another form, and every daytoo, under our own eyes. The most violent passions are very oftenthe result of a certain suggestiveness in an object much admired; thequalities which awaken in ourselves nobler sentiments, higher ambitions,and more delightful dreams of a future soon attach us to the passion,and unconsciously we create an image of which the living type is buta skeleton. Perhaps it was the towering ambition of Guglia's mind thatimpaired, to a great degree, the womanly tenderness of her nature, andnot impossibly too he felt, as men of uncertain purpose often feel, acertain pique at the more determined and resolute character of awoman's mind. Again and again did he wish for some little trait of mereaffection, something that should betoken, if not an indifference, apassing forgetfulness of the great world and all its splendours. But no;all her thoughts soared upward to the high station she had set her hearton. Of what they should be one day was the great dream of her life--forthey were already betrothed by the Cardinal's consent--and of thesplendid path that lay before them.

  The better to carry out his own views Massoni had always kept up aspecial correspondence with Guglia, in which he expressed his hopes ofsuccess far more warmly than he had ever done to Gerald. Her temperamentwas also more sanguine and impassioned, she met difficulties in a moredaring spirit, and could more easily persuade herself to whatever sheardently desired. The Pere had only pointed out to her some of theobstacles to success, and even these he had accompanied by suchexplanations as to how they might be met and combated that they seemedless formidable; and the great question between them was rather whenthan how the grand enterprise was to be begun.

  'Though I am told,' wrote he, 'that the discontent with the House ofHanover grows daily more suspicious in England, and many of its oncestaunch adherents regret the policy which bound them to these usurpers,yet it is essentially to Ireland we must look for, at least, the openingof our enterprise; there is not a mere murmur of dissatisfaction--it isthe deep thunder-roll of rebellion. Two delegates from that country arenow with me--men of note and station--who, having learnt for the firsttime that a Prince of the Stuart family yet survives, are most eager topay their homage to his Royal Highness. Of course, this, if done at all,must be with such secrecy as shall prevent it reaching Florence andthe ears of Sir Horace Mann; and, at the same time, not altogetherso unceremoniously as to deprive the interview of its character ofaudience. It is to the "pregiatissima Contessa Guglia" that I leave thecharge of this negotiation, and the responsibility of saying "yes" or"no" to this request.

  'Of the delegates, one is a baronet, by name Sir Capel Crosbie, a manof old family and good fortune. The other is a Mr. Simon Purcell, whoformerly served in the English army, and was wounded in some action withthe French in Canada. They have not, either of them, much affection forEngland--a very pardonable disloyalty when you hear their story. Theimminent question, however, now is--can you see them; which means--canthey have this audience?

  'You will all the better understand any caution I employ on thisoccasion, when I tell you that, on the only instance of a similar kindhaving occurred, I had great reason to deplore my activity in promotingit. It was at the presentation of the Bishop of Clare to his RoyalHighness, when the Prince took the opportunity of declaring the strongconviction he entertained of the security of the Hanoverian succession;and, worse again, how ineffectual all priestly intrigues must everprove, when the contest lay between armies. I have no need to say whatinjury such indiscretion produces, nor how essential it is that it maynot be repeated. If you assent to my request, I beg to leave to yourown judgment the fitting time, and, what is still more important,the precise character of the reception--that is, as to how far itssignificance as an audience should be blended with the more gracefulfamiliarity of a friendly meeting. The distinguished Contessa has onsuch themes no need of counsel from the humblest of her servants, andmost devoted follower,

  'Paul Massoni.'

  What reply she returned to his note may easily be gathered from thefollowing few words which passed between Gerald and herself a fewmornings afterward.

  They were seated in the library at their daily task, surrounded byletters, maps, and books, when Guglia said hastily, 'Oh, here is a notefrom the Pere Massoni to be replied to. He writes to ask when it maybe the pleasure of his Royal Highness to receive the visit of twodistinguished gentlemen from Ireland, who ardently entreat the honour ofkissing his Royal Highness's hand, and of carrying back with them suchassurances as he might vouchsafe to utter of his feeling for those whohave never ceased to deem themselves his subjects.'

  '_Che seccatura!_' burst he out, as he rose impatiently from the tableand paced the room; 'if there be a mockery which I cannot endure, it isone of these audiences. I can sit here and fool myself all day long byporing over records of a has-been, or even tracing out the limits ofwhat my ancestors possessed; but to play Prince at a mock levee--no, no,Guglia, you must not ask me this.'

  There were days when this humour was strong on him, and she said nomore.