THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library

there was but one. Was I to kill Palamone in order that I might ruin her myself? Good Heavens! my name was Strelley of
Upcote. There was one course, and I must take that.
I did not love Virginia; I admit it. I knew that she was beautiful, and knew that she was mine for the asking, but a truce to
casuistry! In her safety was involved my own honour, to her defence must go my own life. I admired, I respected, I was
grateful, I wished her well. I determined to marry her, and the sooner the better. Having come to this conclusion, I knew myself
well enough to believe that no power in the world could shake me from it.
When, therefore, the good girl returned to me, white and out of breath, with sausages, bread, and a flask of wine under her
apron, I welcomed her as befitted one in the position in which I now designed her to stand. I took off my hat to her and relieved
her of her burden. She noticed the courtesy; the colour flew back to her cheeks, but I observed that her breath was not thereby
restored.
She became very voluble—to hide her confusion; for by ordinary she was sparing of speech (or did she guess the lover in the
master? Who can tell?). The wine, she told me, was easy got, and the bread. "The sausage," she went on—"ah, it would have
been as easy to give you one of my legs for sausages. I went first to Il Torto's in the Borgo; it was shut for mezzodi. I begin
tapping—the wife opens. 'Chi e?' says she; and I see a sbirro in the shop, eating polenta. 'Niente, niente,' I say, and run. That
told me that the babbo was away, and that his wife had a lover in the constabulary. Remember it, Don Francis, we may have
need of her—who knows? Shall I confess to you that I stole your sausage?"
"Confess what you please, my dear," said I, "I shall shrive you." Her eyes were dewy, but she lowered them too soon.
"It was a sin," she said, "but I do not intend to eat any sausage, so I shall be forgiven. But you see that the spies are all abroad.
Now, I have just thought of something, Don Francis. We cannot remain in this cloister—at least, I cannot. If a canon awoke
before his time—and it needs but a fly to settle on a nose to cause it—and if he poke his head out of his door, the first thing he
will do will be to look at me—"
"Naturally, Virginia," I said. "It is what I am doing."
"I am well aware of it," said Virginia, and showed that she spoke the truth; "but the second thing he will do will be to look at
you. I don't think we can afford ourselves this honour, so let us go. There is a way from here into the library, thence into the
church, and from there to the Sagrestia Nuova, if we could only find it, whither nobody goes but a grand duke—and he only
when he is dead. Let us go by that—will you not come? It is true that I am rather frightened by now."
I got up at once. "Come, then, child, let us hunt out our way." We went upstairs.
The long library was quite empty. We went to the further end on tiptoe. There were three doors at the bottom in three bays,
surmounted by busts. We chose for the right hand and turned the handle. It gave into a narrow passage, lined with bookcases
and dimly lighted. "I think this will be the way," Virginia said, and took the key out of the door and locked it on the inside. We
followed the passage to a flight of stone steps, descended these in their curving course round a pillar, and came upon a little
arched doorway. Virginia opened it. It led directly into the church of San Lorenzo. We saw the hanging lamps before the altars,
and a boy in a short surplice asleep in a confessional.
"Wait here, wait here," says Virginia. "I will make him lead us into the Sagrestia."
I saw her go, lightly as a hare in the grass, towards the boy, and wondered. She stooped over him where he was huddled
anyhow, as children are when they are asleep, and whispered in his ear. "Carino, carino, do you sleep? I am talking to you,
carino, do you hear me? Say yes."
"Si, si," the boy murmured, and sighed and struggled.
"I am speaking to you, carino. I am tired; I want to sleep also. Tell me how to reach the Sagrestia, where the monsters lie
sleeping and waking; whisper it, whisper it, and I will kiss you for it." I heard her soothing "Hush! Hush!" as he stirred. She went
on whispering in his ear. It seemed to me that she was insinuating herself into his dreams. He stirred more than once, turned his
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