Delphi Collected Works of W. Somerset Maugham (Illustrated)

by William Somerset Maugham

  ‘But I am not now,’ she replied, smiling.

  ‘The moment I saw you free I came to you.’

  ‘To say good-bye.’

  ‘It is very late.’

  ‘No, surely; sit down and talk to me.’

  Checco did as he was bid, and I, seeing he meant to stay longer, sauntered off again in search of friends. The conversation between Checco and the Countess was rather hindered by the continual leave-takings, as the people began to go away rapidly, in groups. I sat myself down in a window with Matteo, and we began comparing notes of our evening; he told me of a new love to whom he had discovered his passion for the first time.

  ‘Fair wind, foul wind?’ I asked, laughing.

  ‘She pretended to be very angry,’ he said, ‘but she allowed me to see that if the worst came to the worst she would not permit me to break my heart.’

  I looked out into the room and found that everyone had gone, except Ercole Piacentini, who was talking to the Count in undertones.

  ‘I am getting so sleepy,’ said Matteo. We went forward to the Countess, who said, as she saw us come, —

  ‘Go away, Matteo! I will not have you drag Checco away yet; we have been trying to talk to one another for the last half-hour, and now that we have the chance at last I refuse to be disturbed.’

  ‘I would not for worlds rob Checco of such pleasure,’ said Matteo; adding to me, as we retired to our window, ‘What a nuisance having to wait for one’s cousin while a pretty woman is flirting with him!’

  ‘You have me to talk to — what more can you want!’

  ‘I don’t want to talk to you at all,’ he answered, laughing.

  Girolamo was still with Ercole. His mobile eyes were moving over the room, hardly ever resting on Ercole’s face, but sometimes on us, more often on Checco. I wondered whether he was jealous.

  At last Checco got up and said Good-night. Then Girolamo came forward.

  ‘You are not going yet,’ he said. ‘I want to speak with you on the subject of those taxes.’

  It was the first time he had mentioned them.

  ‘It is getting so late,’ said Checco, ‘and these good gentlemen are tired.’

  ‘They can go home. Really, it is very urgent.’

  Checco hesitated, and looked at us.

  ‘We will wait for you,’ said Matteo.

  Girolamo’s eyes moved about here and there, never resting a moment, from Checco to me, from me to Matteo, and on to his wife, and then on again, with extraordinary rapidity — it was quite terrifying.

  ‘One would think you were afraid of leaving Checco in our hands,’ said the Countess, smiling.

  ‘No,’ returned Matteo; ‘but I look forward to having some of your attention now that Checco is otherwise occupied. Will you let me languish?’

  She laughed, and a rapid glance passed between her and the Count.

  ‘I shall be only too pleased,’ she said, ‘come and sit by me, one on each side.’

  The Count turned to Ercole.

  ‘Well, good-night, my friend,’ he said. ‘Good-night!’

  Ercole left us, and Girolamo, taking Checco’s arm, walked up and down the room, speaking. The Countess and Matteo commenced a gay conversation. Although I was close to them I was left alone, and I watched the Count. His eyes fascinated me, moving ceaselessly. What could be behind them? What could be the man’s thoughts that his eyes should never rest? They enveloped the person they looked at — his head, every feature of his face, his body, his clothes; one imagined there was no detail they had not caught; it was as if they ate into the very soul of the man.

  The two men tramped up and down, talking earnestly; I wondered what they were saying. At last Girolamo stopped.

  ‘Ah, well, I must have mercy on you; I shall tire you to death. And you know I do not wish to do anything to harm you.’

  Checco smiled.

  ‘Whatever difficulty there has been between us, Checco, you know that there has never on my part been any ill-feeling towards you. I have always had for you a very sincere and affectionate friendship.’

  And as he said the words an extraordinary change came over him. The eyes, the mobile eyes, stopped still at last; for the first time I saw them perfectly steady, motionless, like glass; they looked fixedly into Checco’s eyes, without winking, and their immobility was as strange as their perpetual movement, and to me it was more terrifying. It was as if Girolamo was trying to see his own image in Checco’s soul.

  We bade them farewell, and together issued out into the silence of the night; and I felt that behind us the motionless eyes, like glass, were following us into the darkness.

  XIX

  WE issued out into the silence of the night. There had been a little rain during the day, and the air in consequence was fresh and sweet; the light breeze of the spring made one expand one’s lungs and draw in long breaths. One felt the trees bursting out into green leaves, and the buds on the plants opening their downy mantles and discovering the flower within. Light clouds were wandering lazily along the sky, and between them shone out a few dim stars. Checco and Matteo walked in front, while I lingered enjoying the spring night; it filled me with a sweet sadness, a reaction from the boisterous joy of the evening, and pleasant by the contrast.

  When Matteo fell behind and joined me, I received him a little unwillingly, disappointed at the interruption of my reverie.

  ‘I asked Checco what the Count had said to him of the taxes, but he would not tell me; he said he wanted to think about the conversation.’

  I made no answer, and we walked on in silence. We had left the piazza, and were going through the narrow streets bordered by the tall black houses. It was very late, and there was not a soul about; there was no sound but that of our own footsteps, and of Checco walking a few yards in front. Between the roofs of the houses only a little strip of sky could be seen, a single star, and the clouds floating lazily. The warm air blew in my face, and filled me with an intoxication of melancholy. I thought how sweet it would be to fall asleep this night, and never again to wake. I was tired, and I wanted the rest of an endless sleep....

  Suddenly I was startled by a cry.

  I saw from the shadow of the houses black forms spring out on Checco. An arm was raised, and a glittering instrument flashed in the darkness. He staggered forward.

  ‘Matteo,’ he cried. ‘Help! Help!’

  We rushed forward, drawing our swords. There was a scuffle, three of us against four of them, a flash of swords, a cry from one of the men as he reeled and fell with a wound from Matteo’s sword. Then another rush, a little band of men suddenly appeared round the corner, and Ercole Piacentini’s voice, crying, —

  ‘What is it? What is it?’

  And Matteo’s answer, —

  ‘Help us, Ercole! I have killed one. Checco is stabbed.’

  ‘Ah!’ a cry from Ercole, and with his men he rushed into the fray.

  A few more cries, still the flash of swords, the fall of heavy bodies on the stones.

  ‘They are done for!’ said Matteo.

  The shouts, the clang of metal woke up the neighbours; lights were seen at the windows, and night-capped women appeared shrieking; doors were thrown open, and men came out in their shirts, sword in hand.

  ‘What is it? What is it?’

  ‘Checco, are you hurt?’ asked Matteo.

  ‘No; my coat of mail!’

  ‘Thank God you had it on! I saw you stagger.’

  ‘It was the blow. At first I did not know whether I was hurt or not.’

  ‘What is it? What is it?’

  The neighbours surrounded us.

  ‘They have tried to murder Checco! Checco d’Orsi!’

  ‘My God! Is he safe?’

  ‘Who has done it?’

  All eyes were turned to the four men, each one lying heaped up on the ground, with the blood streaming from his wounds.

  ‘They are dead!’

  ‘Footpads!’ said Ercole; ‘they wanted to rob you, and did not k
now you were accompanied.’

  ‘Footpads! Why should footpads rob me this night?’ said Checco. ‘I wish they were not dead.’

  ‘Look, look!’ said a bystander, ‘there is one moving.’

  The words were hardly out of the man’s mouth before one of Ercole’s soldiers snatched up his dagger and plunged it in the man’s neck, shouting, —

  ‘Bestia!’

  A tremor went through the prostrate body, and then it was quite still.

  ‘You fool!’ said Matteo, angrily. ‘Why did you do that?’

  ‘He is a murderer,’ said the soldier.

  ‘You fool, we wanted him alive, not dead. We could have found out who hired him.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Ercole. ‘They are common robbers.’

  ‘Here is the guard,’ cried someone.

  The guard came, and immediately there was a babel of explanation. The captain stepped forward, and examined the men lying on the ground.

  ‘They are all dead,’ he said.

  ‘Take them away,’ said Ercole. ‘Let them be put in a church till morning.’

  ‘Stop!’ cried Checco. ‘Bring a light, and let us see if we can recognise them.’

  ‘Not now, it is late. To-morrow you can do what you like.’

  ‘To-morrow it will be later, Ercole,’ answered Checco. ‘Bring a light.’

  Torches were brought, and thrust into the face of each dead man. Everyone eagerly scrutinised the features, drawn up in their last agony.

  ‘I don’t know him.’

  Then to another.

  ‘No.’

  And the other two also were unknown. Checco examined the face of the last, and shook his head. But a man broke out excitedly, —

  ‘Ah! I know him.’

  A cry from us all.

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘I know him. It is a soldier, one of the Count’s guard.’

  ‘Ah!’ said Matteo and Checco, looking at one another. ‘One of the Count’s guard!’

  ‘That is a lie,’ said Ercole. ‘I know them all, and I have never seen that face before. It is a footpad, I tell you.’

  ‘It is not. I know him well. He is a member of the guard.’

  ‘It is a lie, I tell you.’

  ‘Ercole is doubtless right,’ said Checco. ‘They are common thieves. Let them be taken away. They have paid a heavy price for their attempt. Good-night, my friends. Good-night, Ercole, and thanks.’

  The guard took hold of the dead men by the head and by the feet, and one after another, in single file, they bore them off down the dark street. We three moved on, the crowd gradually melted away, and everything again became dark and silent.

  We walked home side by side without speaking. We came to the Palazzo Orsi, entered, walked upstairs, one after the other, into Checco’s study, lights were brought, the door closed carefully, and Checco turned round to us.

  ‘Well?’

  Neither I nor Matteo spoke. Checco clenched his fist, and his eyes flashed as he hissed out, —

  ‘The cur!’

  We all knew the attempt was the Count’s....

  ‘By God! I am glad you are safe,’ said Matteo.

  ‘What a fool I was to be taken in by his protestations! I ought to have known that he would never forget the injury I had done him.’

  ‘He planned it well,’ said Matteo.

  ‘Except for the soldier,’ I remarked. ‘He should not have chosen anyone who could be recognised.’

  ‘Probably he was the leader. But how well he managed everything, keeping us after the others, and nearly persuading Filippo and me to go home before you. Caterina was in the plot.’

  ‘I wonder he did not defer the attempt when he found you would not be alone,’ I said to Checco.

  ‘He knows I am never alone, and such an opportunity would not easily occur again. Perhaps he thought they could avoid you two, or even murder you as well.’

  ‘But Ercole and his men?’ I said.

  ‘Yes, I have been thinking about them. The only explanation I have is that he placed them there to cover their flight if they succeeded, and if they failed or could not escape, to kill them.’

  ‘As, in fact, they did. I thought I saw Ercole make a sign to the soldier who stabbed the only living one.’

  ‘Possibly. The idea was evidently to destroy all witnesses and all opportunity for inquiry.’

  ‘Well,’ said Matteo, ‘it will show others that it is dangerous to do dirty work for the Riario.’

  ‘It will indeed!’

  ‘And now, what is to happen?’ said Matteo.

  Checco looked at him, but did not reply.

  ‘Do you still refuse to do to Girolamo as he has tried to do to you?’

  Checco answered quietly, —

  ‘No!’

  ‘Ah!’ we both cried. ‘Then you consent?’

  ‘I see no reason now for not taking the law into my own hands.’

  ‘Assassination?’ whispered Matteo.

  And Checco answered boldly, —

  ‘Assassination!’ Then, after a pause, ‘It is the only way open to me. Do you remember Lorenzo’s words? They have been with me every day, and I have considered them very, very deeply: “Let Checco know that it is only the fool who proposes to himself an end, when he cannot or will not attain it; but the man who deserves the name of man marches straight to the goal with clearness of mind and strength of will. He looks at things as they are, putting aside all vain appearances, and when his intelligence has shown him the means to his end, he is a fool if he refuses them, and he is a wise man if he uses them steadily and unhesitatingly.” I know the end, and I will attain it. I know the means, and I will use them steadily, without hesitation.’

  ‘I am glad to hear you speak like that at last!’ said Matteo. ‘We shall have plenty to help us. The Moratini will join at once. Jacopo Ronchi and Lodovico Pansecchi are so bitter against the Count they will come with us as soon as they hear you have decided to kill the enemy of us all.’

  ‘You are blind, Matteo. Do you not see what we must do? You mistake the means for the end.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘The death of Girolamo is only a means. The end is further and higher.’

  Matteo did not speak.

  ‘I must keep my hands clean from any base motive. It must not seem that I am influenced by any personal incentive. Nothing must come from me. The idea of assassination must come from outside.’

  ‘Whom do you—’

  ‘I think Bartolomeo Moratini must propose it, and I will yield to his instances.’

  ‘Good! then I will go to him.’

  ‘That will not do either. Neither you nor I must be concerned in it. Afterwards it must be clear to all minds that the Orsi were influenced solely by the public welfare. Do you see? I will tell you how it must be. Filippo must help us. He must go to Bartolomeo, and from his great affection for us talk of our danger and intreat Bartolomeo to persuade me to the assassination. Do you understand, Filippo?’

  ‘Perfectly!’

  ‘Will you do it?’

  ‘I will go to him to-morrow.’

  ‘Wait till the news of the attempt has spread.’

  I smiled at the completeness with which Checco had arranged everything; he had evidently thought it all out. How had his scruples disappeared?

  The blackness of the night was sinking before the dawn when we bade one another good-night.

  XX

  I SEEMED to have slept a bare half-hour when I was awakened by a great noise downstairs. I got up, and looking out of the window saw a crowd gathered in the street below; they were talking and gesticulating furiously. Then I remembered the occurrence of the night, and I saw that the news had spread and these were citizens come to gather details. I went downstairs and found the courtyard thronged. Immediately I was surrounded by anxious people asking for news. Very contrary reports had circulated; some said that Checco had been killed outright, others that he had escaped, while most asserted th
at he was wounded. All asked for Checco.

  ‘If he is unhurt, why does he not show himself?’ they asked.

  A servant assured them that he was dressing, and would be with them at once.... Suddenly there was a shout. Checco had appeared at the top of the stairs. They rushed towards him, surrounding him with cries of joy; they seized his hand, they clung to his legs, some of them touched him all over to see that he was indeed unwounded, others kissed the lappets of his coat.... Bartolomeo Moratini entered the court with his sons, and the people shrunk back as he came forward and embraced Checco.

  ‘Thank God you are saved!’ he said. ‘It will be an evil day for Forli when anything happens to you.’

  The people answered in shouts. But at that moment another sound was heard without — a long and heavy murmur. The people surrounding the doorway looked out and turned in astonishment to their neighbours, pointing to the street; the murmur spread. What was it?

  ‘Make way! Make way!’

  A strident voice called out the words, and ushers pushed the people aside. A little troop of men appeared in the entrance, and as they sank back there stepped forward the Count. The Count! Checco started, but immediately recovering himself advanced to meet his visitor. Girolamo walked up to him, and taking him in his arms kissed him on the cheeks, and said, —

  ‘My Checco! My Checco!’

  We who knew and the others who suspected looked on with astonishment.

  ‘As soon as I heard the terrible news I rushed to find you,’ said the Count. ‘Are you safe — quite safe?’

  He embraced him again.

  ‘You cannot think what agony I suffered when I heard you were wounded. How glad I am it was not true. Oh, God in Heaven, I thank Thee for my Checco!’

  ‘You are very kind, my lord,’ answered our friend.

  ‘But it is some consolation that the miscreants have met the end which they deserved. We must take steps to free the town of all such dangerous persons. What will men say of my rule when it is known that the peaceful citizen cannot walk home at night without danger to his life? Oh, Checco, I blame myself bitterly.’

  ‘You have no cause, my lord, but — would it not be well to examine the men to see if they are known in Forli? Perhaps they have associates.’