The Corsican Brothers | Page 3

us go to the house of Madame Savilia de Franchi."
We then continued our journey.
In ten minutes we entered the village. I then observed a circumstance, which I had not been able to discover at a distance from the top of the hill. Every house was fortified like that of Madame Savilia, not exactly with machicoulis, the poverty of their proprietors no doubt not permitting this luxury in their fortifications; but the lower part of the windows were simply guarded by thick planks, provided with openings large enough to pass a gun through. Other windows were furnished with bricks. I inquired from my guide what these loopholes were called here; he said they were called "aretiere," and this answer proved to me that the Corsican "vendetta" is of older date than the use of firearms.
As we advanced in the streets, the village took a more profound aspect of solitude and sadness. Several houses appeared to have sustained a siege, and bore numerous marks of bullets.
From time to time we saw through the loopholes the glance of an eye, which observed us in passing with curiosity; but it was impossible to discover whether those eyes belonged to a male or female.
We at length reached the house, which I had pointed out to my guide, and which, indeed, was the most respectable looking in the village. One thing only struck me with surprise--the house apparently fortified by machicoulis, which had first attracted my attention, was in reality not protected; that is, its windows had neither planks, nor bricks, nor loop-holes, but only common sashes, guarded at night by wooden shutters.
It is true that these shutters bore traces in which the eye of an observer could not fail to recognize bullet-holes. But they were evidently of long standing, and had probably been there some ten years or more.
My guide had hardly knocked at the door, when it was opened, not timidly, with hesitation and only half way, but promptly, and in all its width, and a footman made his appearance.
When I say a footman, I am mistaken, I should have said a man. It is the livery that makes the footman; but the man who opened the door for us, was simply dressed in a velvet vest and pantaloons of the same material, and leather spatterdashes. His pantaloons were tied at the waist by a sash of spotted silk, outside of which appeared the handle of a knife of Spanish fashion.
"My friend," said I to him, "it is surely an indiscretion in a stranger who knows not a single soul in Sullacaro, to request the hospitality of your mistress?"
"No, certainly not, eccellenza," said he, "the stranger confers a favor on the house where he stops. Maria," continued he, speaking to a servant girl who came up behind him, "go and inform Madame Savilia that a French traveler calls upon her to receive hospitality."
At the same time he descended the eight steps, stiff and upright, like the degrees of a ladder, which led from the entry door, and took my horse by the bridle.
I took advantage of this kind invitation to ease and indulgence, one of the most agreeable that can he made to a traveler. I then undertook to ascend with as little difficulty as possible the aforesaid ladder, and advanced some steps into the interior.
At a turn of the corridor, I suddenly found myself before a tall lady, dressed in black, apparently between thirty-eight and forty years of age, yet still beautiful. I immediately concluded that this was the mistress of the house, and I stopped.
"Madame," said I, with a bow, "you will find me very indiscreet; but the custom of the country excuses me, and the invitation of your servant has authorized me to enter."
"You are welcome to the mother," answered Madame de Franchi, "and you will soon be welcomed by the son. From this moment, sir, the house belongs to you--dispose of it as your own."
"I ask your hospitality for one night only, madame. To-morrow morning, at daybreak, I shall have to take my leave."
"You are at liberty to do as you please, sir; but I hope you will abandon that plan, and favor us with a longer stay."
I bowed a second time.
"Maria," continued Madame de Franchi, "show the gentleman to Louis' room. Make a fire immediately, and bring up some warm water. Excuse me," continued she, addressing me again, while in the mean time the girl prepared to execute her orders, "I know that the first want of the traveler is fire and water. Please to follow the girl, and ask her for the things you may be in need of. We take supper in an hour, and my son, who will be in before that time, will have the pleasure, with your permission, of introducing himself to your presence."
"You