While she gazed, she almost fancied herself surrounded by banditti;and a vague thought glanced athwart her fancy--that Montoni was the captain of the group before her, and that this castle was to be the place of rendezvous.The strange and horrible supposition was but momentary, though her reason could supply none more probable, and though she discovered, among the band, the strangers she had formerly noticed with so much alarm, who were now distinguished by the black plume.
While she continued gazing, Cavigni, Verezzi, and Bertolini came forth from the hall, habited like the rest, except that they wore hats, with a mixed plume of black and scarlet, and that their arms differed from those of the rest of the party.As they mounted their horses, Emily was struck with the exulting joy, expressed on the visage of Verezzi, while Cavigni was gay, yet with a shade of thought on his countenance; and, as he managed his horse with dexterity, his graceful and commanding figure, which exhibited the majesty of a hero, had never appeared to more advantage.Emily, as she observed him, thought he somewhat resembled Valancourt, in the spirit and dignity of his person; but she looked in vain for the noble, benevolent countenance--the soul's intelligence, which overspread the features of the latter.
As she was hoping, she scarcely knew why, that Montoni would accompany the party, he appeared at the hall door, but un-accoutred.
Having carefully observed the horsemen, conversed awhile with the cavaliers, and bidden them farewel, the band wheeled round the court, and, led by Verezzi, issued forth under the portcullis; Montoni following to the portal, and gazing after them for some time.Emily then retired from the casement, and, now certain of being unmolested, went to walk on the ramparts, from whence she soon after saw the party winding among the mountains to the west, appearing and disappearing between the woods, till distance confused their figures, consolidated their numbers, and only a dingy mass appeared moving along the heights.
Emily observed, that no workmen were on the ramparts, and that the repairs of the fortifications seemed to be completed.While she sauntered thoughtfully on, she heard distant footsteps, and, raising her eyes, saw several men lurking under the castle walls, who were evidently not workmen, but looked as if they would have accorded well with the party, which was gone.Wondering where Annette had hid herself so long, who might have explained some of the late circumstances, and then considering that Madame Montoni was probably risen, she went to her dressing-room, where she mentioned what had occurred; but Madame Montoni either would not, or could not, give any explanation of the event.The Signor's reserve to his wife, on this subject, was probably nothing more than usual; yet, to Emily, it gave an air of mystery to the whole affair, that seemed to hint, there was danger, if not villany, in his schemes.
Annette presently came, and, as usual, was full of alarm; to her lady's eager enquiries of what she had heard among the servants, she replied:
'Ah, madam! nobody knows what it is all about, but old Carlo; he knows well enough, I dare say, but he is as close as his master.
Some say the Signor is going out to frighten the enemy, as they call it: but where is the enemy? Then others say, he is going to take away some body's castle: but I am sure he has room enough in his own, without taking other people's; and I am sure I should like it a great deal better, if there were more people to fill it.'
'Ah! you will soon have your wish, I fear,' replied Madame Montoni.
'No, madam, but such ill-looking fellows are not worth having.Imean such gallant, smart, merry fellows as Ludovico, who is always telling droll stories, to make one laugh.It was but yesterday, he told me such a HUMOURSOME tale! I can't help laughing at it now.--Says he--'
'Well, we can dispense with the story,' said her lady.'Ah!'
continued Annette, 'he sees a great way further than other people!
Now he sees into all the Signor's meaning, without knowing a word about the matter!'
'How is that?' said Madame Montoni.
'Why he says--but he made me promise not to tell, and I would not disoblige him for the world.'
'What is it he made you promise not to tell?' said her lady, sternly.
'I insist upon knowing immediately--what is it he made you promise?'
'O madam,' cried Annette, 'I would not tell for the universe!' 'Iinsist upon your telling this instant,' said Madame Montoni.'O dear madam! I would not tell for a hundred sequins! You would not have me forswear myself madam!' exclaimed Annette.
'I will not wait another moment,' said Madame Montoni.Annette was silent.
'The Signor shall be informed of this directly,' rejoined her mistress: 'he will make you discover all.'
'It is Ludovico, who has discovered,' said Annette: 'but for mercy's sake, madam, don't tell the Signor, and you shall know all directly.'
Madame Montoni said, that she would not.
'Well then, madam, Ludovico says, that the Signor, my master, is--is--that is, he only thinks so, and any body, you know, madam, is free to think--that the Signor, my master, is--is--'
'Is what?' said her lady, impatiently.
'That the Signor, my master, is going to be--a great robber--that is--he is going to rob on his own account;--to be, (but I am sure Idon't understand what he means) to be a--captain of--robbers.'
'Art thou in thy senses, Annette?' said Madame Montoni; 'or is this a trick to deceive me? Tell me, this instant, what Ludovico DID say to thee;--no equivocation;--this instant.'