Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

scarcely was I left to mysolf than, unfortunately, I made bad
..ml soon abandoned myself to idleness, de-
Miig, unbridled licence-, and all kinds of excess
One of my new companions, whom I'll content myself with
calling Silvio, had then very great influence over me. He wns
rather tall and weakly looking, hi-i lips pale, thin, and close
KT, his nose aquiline, his eyes fnll of fire, and his
glances penetrating. Such was the tempter who was to gradually
lead me to my ruin.
' Bravo Geuuaro ! drink fast and
play on,' he'd cry to me in his strident voice when by chance, I
.lup notes and gold piee H l/eforement the gaming table.
Courage !' he murmured in my ears when fortune had betrayed
'
me. Drown your vesntion in wine, and then confidence and
hope ! You must learn to persevere nud learn to conquer !'
Alas ! I followed tho'-e counsels and persevered. Very soon I
had debts, debts of honor, considerable debts ! I hadn't the
courage to expose my situation to my father, to confess my de-
linquencies to him. My father himself, moreover, coftldn't
have helped me we were ;
very much reduced, and lived straggling
on some of my good mother's savings in prosperous
times.
" I saw the abyss open before me, beneath my feet, and I
didn't hesitate to plunge deep into it every day. Silvio, my
bad genius, wasn't chary of his advice. Despair at last seized
me, and I tried to drown my remorse in debauchery and
drunkenness, when I saw my creditors, irritated by such a long
delay, were going to pursue me,
' ' One evening, sad and silent, I took refuge in the lower
room of a caf6 in the Piazza Navone, when Silvio entered,
and, as soon as he saw me, came up.
" 'Ah, my good Genuaro' he cried 'what has happened to^
you that you look so very sad.'
" '
Alas ! it's not without reason; I'm very unhappy.'
"'
Come, tell me. Let me share your troubles,' he con-
tinued, resting his sharp glance upon me.
" '
Well, Silvio, I've debts.'
'
" '
Really nothing else ?
" ' But listen to me now, Silvio: those debts are consider-
able. '
" ' And you've no other subject to annoy you, I again repeat ?'
" '
But, Silvio, I have no money.'
"
'"Well, some must be found.'
" '
It's easy for you to say that, but I'd like to know how.'
I replied with some bitterness.
" '
Money, I assnre you, my dear friend,
Gennaro, you want some?" he continued after a pause; "well,
come with me, we'll look for it.'
is not so rare. So
" ' Where are you taking me ? '
" ' What need you care, provided you're supplied with funds
enough, not only to provide for to day's expenditure, but also
for future eventualities? '
"I followed him mechanically. Necessity, fatality, drove
me on. Oughtn't I avoid pursuit, prison, shame at any cost ?
"When Silvio had led the way through several' streets for a
good while, he stopped about the middle of the Via Kipetta bef
re a rather flue-looking house. He rapped and a domestic at
once appeared and opened the door.
" ' Oh it's you then ?' he said, seeing Silvio.
" '
!
Yes, you see. But tell me, is he here ?' The lackey nodded
affirmatively. We followed him, silently traversed a rather
large number of passages and corridors, and at last knocked at
a carefully closed door.
" 'Who are !' you was asked from within.
"' Friends -faithful unto death !' responded Silvio. And,
as if those words had exercised a really magical power, the
door turned of its qwn accord on its hinges, and opened before
us.
" In the centre of the apartment into which we entered was
placed a long table covered with papers, at which an old man
was then seated. A heavy grey moustache shaded his upper
lip ; his lofty forehead was almost entirely bald ; the expression
of his face was affable and benevolent, although the
glance of h'H bright black eyes was sharp and piercing.
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