Rome | Page 4

of Francavilla--The Swimmers
As I fell over the Englishman I had struck my hand against a nail, and
the fourth finger of my left hand was bleeding as if a vein had been
opened. Betty helped me to tie a handkerchief around the wound, while
Sir B---- M---- read the letter with great attention. I was much pleased
with Betty's action, it shewed she was confident, and sure of her lover's
forgiveness.
I took up my coat and carpet-bag, and went into the next room to
change my linen, and dress for dinner. Any distress at the termination
of my intrigue with Betty was amply compensated for by my joy at the
happy ending of a troublesome affair which might have proved fatal for
me.
I dressed myself, and then waited for half an hour, as I heard Betty and
Sir B---- M---- speaking in English calmly enough, and I did not care to
interrupt them. At last the Englishman knocked at my door, and came
in looking humble and mortified. He said he was sure I had not only
saved Betty, but had effectually cured her of her folly.
"You must forgive my conduct, sir," said he, "for I could not guess that
the man I found with her was her saviour and not her betrayer. I thank
Heaven which inspired you with the idea of catching hold of me from
behind, as I should certainly have killed you the moment I set eyes on
you, and at this moment I should be the most wretched of men. You
must forgive me, sir, and become my friend."
I embraced him cordially, telling him that if I had been in his place I
should have acted in a precisely similar manner.
We returned to the room, and found Betty leaning against the bed, and
weeping bitterly.
The blood continuing to flaw from my wound, I sent for a surgeon who
said that a vein had been opened, and that a proper ligature was
necessary.

Betty still wept, so I told Sir B---- M---- that in my opinion she
deserved his forgiveness.
"Forgiveness?" said he, "you may be sure I have already forgiven her,
and she well deserves it. Poor Betty repented directly you shewed her
the path she was treading, and the tears she is shedding now are tears of
sorrow at her mistake. I am sure she recognizes her folly, and will
never be guilty of such a slip again."
Emotion is infectious. Betty wept, Sir B---- M---- wept, and I wept to
keep them company. At last nature called a truce, and by degrees our
sobs and tears ceased and we became calmer.
Sir B---- M----, who was evidently a man of the most generous
character, began to laugh and jest, and his caresses had great effect in
calming Betty. We made a good dinner, and the choice Muscat put us
all in the best of spirits.
Sir B---- M---- said we had better rest for a day or two; he had
journeyed fifteen stages in hot haste, and felt in need of repose.
He told us that on arriving at Leghorn, and finding no Betty there, he
had discovered that her trunk had been booked to Rome, and that the
officer to whom it belonged had hired a horse, leaving a watch as a
pledge for it. Sir B---- M---- recognized Betty's watch, and feeling
certain that she was either on horseback with her seducer or in the
wagon with her trunk, he immediately resolved to pursue.
"I provided myself," he added, "with two good pistols, not with the idea
of using one against her, for my first thought about her was pity, and
my second forgiveness; but I determined to blow out the scoundrel's
brains, and I mean to do it yet. We will start for Rome to-morrow."
Sir B---- M----'s concluding words filled Betty with joy, and I believe
she would have pierced her perfidious lover to the heart if he had been
brought before her at that moment.
"We shall find him at Roland's," said I.

Sir B---- M---- took Betty in his arms, and gazed at me with an air of
content, as if he would have shewn me the greatness of an English
heart-- a greatness which more than atones for its weakness.
"I understand your purpose," I said, "but you shall not execute your
plans without me. Let me have the charge of seeing that justice is done
you. If you will not agree, I shall start for Rome directly, I shall get
there before you, and shall give the wretched actor warning of your
approach. If you had killed him before I should have said nothing, but
at Rome it is different, and you would have reason to repent of having
indulged