THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library

"You are never going to Siena as you are," he cried; and I asked him how else he would have me go.
"Your honour will take cold in the chest," says he, "that's very plain; but long before that can declare itself your honour will be
lodged in the madhouse. And what is Madam Aurelia to say, by your leave, to an undressed young gentleman which she
declined to say to a dressed one? Let me tell you, young sir," he added with a sneer, "Siena's not the only city in Italy where
there are madmen."
"Man," I said, "what is it to me, do you suppose, whether I am in a madhouse or a prison this night? I intend for Siena, and shall
certainly get there in good time. Now I will ask you to leave me."
"Tis your honour is for leaving, not I," said he, "and though I shall be taking a liberty, it's in a case of bad-is-the-best I do
believe." He took off his jacket and put it on the bed.
"What are you proposing, Beppo?" said I.
"A strait-waistcoat," said he, and came at me with determination.
I was his master in a very few minutes, for I was much stronger than he reckoned for. When I had him at my discretion, I let him
get up and thus addressed him:
"I have every reason to be extremely offended with you," I said, "but I believe that you have acted honestly. Let me, however,
recommend you not to interfere in the private and personal affairs of gentlemen until you have fitted yourself to understand them.
I am going upon a journey in a manner which appears becoming to one who is responsible for these lamentable troubles. I shall
leave my property here in your charge, but will ask you to accept such of those articles as are on the floor as may be of use to
you. When you see me again it will be as your indulgent master; but he who now bids you farewell is unworthy to shake your
hand."
He nevertheless took my hand and kissed it devotedly immediately afterwards he had fallen upon my discarded trifles.
"Excellency! Excellency!" he cried, gasping, "what bounty! what splendour of soul!" He fingered my watch, listened to it. "It
goes yet— it is a famous watch!" He babbled like a happy child. "Mechlin stuff, every thread of it!" He smoothed out the lace
ends of my cravat. So he ran through the silly things one after another—shoes which he could not wear, a sword which he could
not use, a coat which must exhibit him a monkey—he grovelled before me and would have kissed my foot, but that I shrank
from him in disgust. "Horrible, venal Venetian," I said, "thou hast shown me one more degraded than I." He was out of sight
with his bundle of treasures before I could finish my reproof, and I busied myself with my last preparations.
I wrote two letters: the first was to Dr. Lanfranchi, the second to my father. To the doctor I said what was, I think, becoming,
namely, that his wife was as spotless as the snow, and that the very blackness of my guilt did but show her whiteness more
dazzling. I added an expression of my undying sorrow for having brought misfortune upon her whom I must always love, and
him whom I had once respected, and assured him that I did not intend to rest until I had repaired it. This I addressed to the
university.
I explained briefly to my father the reason of my temporary absence from Padua; and upon reconsideration of my plans,
desiring to avoid any affectation of extravagance, added a cloak, a small bundle of clean linen, a staff and a few gold pieces to
my thin equipment. At four o'clock in the afternoon I went out into the street and directed my steps towards the gate of San
Zuan.
Leaving Padua, I turned and looked for the last time upon her domes and towers. "Farewell, once proud city, now brought low
by my deed," I said. "Keep, if thou must, the accursed memory and name of Francis Antony Strelley, gentleman—Poisoner of
Homes, Stabber-in-secret, Traitor in Love. I leave him behind me for the worst thou canst do. He that quits thee now is another
than he: Francesco Ignoto, Pilgrim, in need of Grace."
Then I addressed myself stoutly to the hills; and it is a circumstance worthy of remark that the further I pushed the more
certainly I recovered my spirits. I suppose there never was yet in this world a young man to whom the future did not appeal
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