Chamberss Edinburgh Journal, No. 445 | Page 6

to Marie and her father
with cold gratitude--that seemed afterwards to them, and to him when
reflection came, sheer ingratitude.
When he had completely recovered his strength, he recovered also to, a
certain extent his serenity of mind. Bartuccio was often with him, and
never mentioned the subject of Marie. One day, therefore, in a state of
mingled hope and love, he resolved to pay a visit to his kind host; and
set out on foot. The day was sunny; the landscape, though rugged,
beautiful with light; a balmy breeze played gently on his cheek. The
intoxication of returning strength filled him with confidence and joy.
He met the old doctor herborising a little way from his house, and
saluted him so cordially, that a hearty shake of the hand was added to
the cold bow with which he was at first received. Giustiniani
understood a little of botany, and pleased the old man by his questions

and remarks. They walked slowly towards the house together. When
they reached it, M. Brivard quietly remarked: 'You will find my
daughter in the garden,' and went in with the treasures he had collected.
The young man's heart bounded with joy. Now was the time. He would
throw himself at once at Marie's feet, confess the turbulent passion she
had excited, and receive from her lips his sentence of happiness, or----
No, he would not consider the alternative; and with bounding step and
eager eye, he ran over the garden, beneath the orange and the myrtle
trees, until he reached a little arbour at the other extremity.
What he saw might well plunge him at once into despair. Marie had
just heard and approved the love of Bartuccio, who had clasped her, not
unwilling, to his breast. Their moment of joy was brief, for in another
instant Bartuccio was on the ground, with Giustiniani's knee upon his
breast, and a bright poniard glittered in the air. 'Spare him--spare him!'
cried the unfortunate girl, sinking on her knees. The accepted lover
struggled in vain in the grasp of his frenzied rival, who, however,
forbore to strike. 'Swear, Marie,' he said, 'by your mother's memory,
that you will not marry him for five years, and I will give him a respite
for so long.' She swore with earnestness; and the next moment,
Giustiniani had broken through the hedge, and was rushing franticly
towards Santa Maddalena.
When he recovered from his confusion, Bartuccio, who, from his
physical inferiority, had been reduced to a passive part in this scene,
endeavoured to persuade Marie that she had taken an absurd oath,
which she was not bound to abide by; but M. Brivard, though he had
approved his daughter's choice, knew well the Corsican character, and
decreed that for the present at least all talk of marriage should be set
aside. In vain Bartuccio pleaded the rights of an accepted lover. The old
man became more obstinate, and not only insisted that his daughter
should abide by her promise, but hinted that if any attempt were made
to oppose his decision, he would at once leave the country.
As may well be imagined, Bartuccio returned to the city with feelings
of bitter hatred against his former friend; and it is probable that
wounded pride worked upon him as violently as disappointed passion.

He was heard by several persons to utter vows of vengeance--rarely
meaningless in that uncivilised island--and few were surprised when
next day the news spread that Giustiniani had disappeared. Public
opinion at once pointed to Bartuccio as the murderer. He was arrested,
and a careful investigation was instituted; but nothing either to
exculpate or inculpate him transpired, and after some months of
imprisonment, he was liberated.
Five years elapsed. During the first half of the period, Bartuccio was
coldly received by both M. Brivard and his daughter, although he
strenuously protested his innocence. Time, however, worked in his
favour, and he at length assumed the position of a betrothed lover, so
that no one was surprised when, at the expiration of the appointed time,
the marriage took place. Many wondered indeed why, since Giustiniani
had disappeared, and was probably dead, any regard was paid to the
extorted promise; whilst all augured well of the union which was
preceded by so signal an instance of good faith. The observant, indeed,
noticed that throughout the ceremony Bartuccio was absent and
uneasy--looking round anxiously over the crowd assembled from time
to time. 'He is afraid to see the ghost of Giustiniani,' whispered an
imprudent bystander. The bridegroom caught the last word, and starting
as if he had received a stab, cried: 'Where, where?' No one answered;
and the ceremony proceeded in ominous gloom.
Next day, Bartuccio and his young wife, accompanied by M. Brivard,
left Santa Maddalena without saying whither they were