CHAPTER XXXIV
EPISODES OF THE REVOLT AND THE WAR THE DEEDS OF BARTO RIZZO--THE MEETINGAT ROVEREDO
At Schio there was no medical attendance to be obtained for Count Karl,and he begged so piteously to be taken on to Roveredo, that, on hispromising to give Leone Rufo a pass, Vittoria decided to work her wayround to Brescia by the Alpine route. She supposed Pericles to have goneoff among the Tyrolese, and wished in her heart that Wilfrid had gonelikewise, for he continued to wear that look of sad stupefaction whichwas the harshest reproach to her. Leone was unconquerably gay in spiteof his wounds. He narrated the doings of the volunteers, with proudeulogies of Carlo Ammiani's gallant leadership; but the devices of BartoRizzo appeared to have struck his imagination most. "He is positively acat--a great cat," Leone said. "He can run a day; he can fast a week;he can climb a house; he can drop from a crag; and he never lets go hishold. If he says a thing to his wife, she goes true as a bullet to themark. The two make a complete piece of artillery. We are all for Barto,though our captain Carlo is often enraged with him. But there's nogetting on without him. We have found that."
Rinaldo and Angelo Guidascarpi and Barto Rizzo had done many daringfeats. They had first, heading about a couple of dozen out of a forceof sixty, endeavoured to surprise the fortress Rocca d'Anfo in LakeIdro--an insane enterprise that touched on success, and would have beenan achievement had all the men who followed them been made of the samedesperate stuff. Beaten off, they escaped up the Val di Ledro, andsecretly entered Trent, where they hoped to spread revolt, but theAustrian commandant knew what a quantity of dry wood was in the city,and stamped his heel on sparks. A revolt was prepared notwithstandingthe proclamation of imprisonment and death. Barto undertook to leada troop against the Buon Consiglio barracks, while Angelo andRinaldo cleared the ramparts. It chanced, whether from treachery orextra-vigilance was unknown, that the troops paid domiciliary visits anhour before the intended outbreak, and the three were left to accomplishtheir task alone. They remained in the city several days, hunted fromhouse to house, and finally they were brought to bay at night on theroof of a palace where the Lenkenstein ladies were residing. Bartotook his dagger between his teeth and dropped to the balcony of Lena'schamber. The brothers soon after found the rooftrap opened to them, andLena and Anna conducted them to the postern-door. There Angelo askedwhom they had to thank. The terrified ladies gave their name; uponhearing which, Rinaldo turned and said that he would pay for acharitable deed to the extent of his power, and would not meanly allowthem to befriend persons who were to continue strangers to them. He gavethe name of Guidascarpi, and relieved his brother, as well as himself,of a load of obligation, for the ladies raised wild screams on theinstant. In falling from the walls to the road, Rinaldo hurt his foot.Barto lifted him on his back, and journeyed with him so till at theappointed place he met his wife, who dressed the foot, and led themout of the line of pursuit, herself bending under the beloved load. Heradoration of Rinaldo was deep as a mother's, pure as a virgin's, fieryas a saint's. Leone Rufo dwelt on it the more fervidly from seeingVittoria's expression of astonishment. The woman led them to a cave inthe rocks, where she had stored provision and sat two days expecting thesignal from Trent. They saw numerous bands of soldiers set out along thevalleys--merry men whom it was Barto's pleasure to beguile by shouts, asa relief for his parched weariness upon the baking rock. Accident madeit an indiscretion. A glass was levelled at them by a mounted officer,and they had quickly to be moving. Angelo knew the voice of Weisspriessin the word of command to the soldiers, and the call to him tosurrender. Weisspriess followed them across the mountain track,keeping at their heels, though they doubled and adopted all possiblecontrivances to shake him off. He was joined by Count Karl Lenkensteinon the day when Carlo Ammiani encountered them, with the rear ofColonel Corte's band marching for Vicenza. In the collision betweenthe Austrians and the volunteers, Rinaldo was taken fighting upon hisknee-cap. Leone cursed the disabled foot which had carried the hero inaction, to cast him at the mercy of his enemies; but recollection ofthat sight of Rinaldo fighting far ahead and alone, half-down-like ascuttled ship, stood like a flower in the lad's memory. The volunteersdevoted themselves to liberate or avenge him. It was then that BartoRizzo sent his wife upon her mission. Leone assured Vittoria that Angelowas aware of its nature, and approved it--hoped that the same mightbe done for himself. He shook his head when she asked if Count Ammianiapproved it likewise.
"Signorina, Count Ammiani has a grudge against Barto, though he can'thelp making use of him. Our captain Carlo is too much of a mere soldier.He would have allowed Rinaldo to be strung up, and Barto does not owehim obedience in those things."
"But why did this Barto Rizzo employ a woman's hand?"
"The woman was capable. No man could have got permission to move freelyamong the rascal Austrians, even in the character of a deserter. Shedid, and she saved him from the shame of execution. And besides, it washer punishment. You are astonished? Barto Rizzo punishes royally. Henever forgives, and he never persecutes; he waits for his opportunity.That woman disobeyed him once--once only; but once was enough.It occurred in Milan, I believe. She released an Austrian, or didsomething--I don't know the story exactly--and Barto said to her, 'Nowyou can wash out your crime and send your boy to heaven unspotted, withone blow.' I saw her set out to do it. She was all teeth and eyes, likea frightened horse; she walked like a Muse in a garden."
Vittoria discovered that her presence among the Austrians had been knownto Carlo. Leone alluded slightly to Barto Rizzo's confirmed suspicionof her, saying that it was his weakness to be suspicious of women. Thevolunteers, however, were all in her favour, and had jeered at Barto onhis declaring that she might, in proof of her willingness to serve thecause, have used her voice for the purpose of subjugating the waveringAustro-Italians, who wanted as much coaxing as women. Count Karl hadbeen struck to earth by Barto Rizzo. "Not with his boasted neatness, Iimagine," Leone said. In fact, the dagger had grazed an ivory portraitof a fair Italian head wreathed with violets in Count Karl's breast.
Vittoria recognized the features of Violetta d'Isorella as the originalof the portrait.
They arrived at Roveredo late in the evening. The wounded man againentreated Vittoria to remain by him till a messenger should bring oneof his sisters from Trent. "See," she said to Leone, "how I give groundsfor suspicion of me; I nurse an enemy."
"Here is a case where Barto is distinctly to blame," the lad replied."The poor fellow must want nursing, for he can't smoke."
Anna von Lenkenstein came from Trent to her brother's summons. Vittoriawas by his bedside, and the sufferer had fallen asleep with his headupon her arm. Anna looked upon this scene with more hateful amazementthan her dull eyelids could express. She beckoned imperiously for herto come away, but Vittoria would not allow him to be disturbed, and Annasat and faced her. The sleep was long. The eyes of the two women metfrom time to time, and Vittoria thought that Barto Rizzo's wife, thoughmore terrible, was pleasanter to behold, and less brutal, than Anna.The moment her brother stirred, Anna repeated her imperious gesture,murmuring, "Away! out of my sight!" With great delicacy of touch shedrew the arm from the pillow and thrust it back, and then motioning inan undisguised horror, said, "Go." Vittoria rose to go.
"Is it my Lena?" came from Karl's faint lips.
"It is your Anna."
"I should have known," he moaned.
Vittoria left them.
Some hours later, Countess Lena appeared, bringing a Trentino doctor.She said when she beheld Vittoria, "Are you our evil genius, then?"Vittoria felt that she must necessarily wear that aspect to them.
Still greater was Lena's amazement when she looked on Wilfrid. Shepassed him without a sign.
Vittoria had to submit to an interview with both sisters before herdeparture. Apart from her distress on their behalf, they had alwaysseemed as very weak, flippant young women to her, and she could havesmiled in her heart when Anna pointed to a day of retribution in thefuture.
"I s
hall not seek to have you assassinated," Anna said; "do not supposethat I mean the knife or the pistol. But your day will come, and I canwait for it. You murdered my brother Paul: you have tried to murdermy brother Karl. I wish you to leave this place convinced of onething:--you shall be repaid for it."
There was no direct allusion either to Weisspriess or to Wilfrid.
Lena spoke of the army. "You think our cause is ruined because we haveinsurrection on all sides of us: you do not know our army. We can fightthe Hungarians with one hand, and you Italians with the other--with alittle finger. On what spot have we given way? We have to weep, it istrue; but tears do not testify to defeat; and already I am inclined topity those fools who have taken part against us. Some have experiencedthe fruits of their folly."
This was the nearest approach to a hint at Wilfrid's misconduct.
Lena handed Leone's pass to Vittoria, and drawing out a little pocketalmanac, said, "You proceed to Milan, I presume. I do not love yoursociety; mademoiselle Belloni or Campa: yet I do not mind making anappointment--the doctor says a month will set my brother on his feetagain,--I will make an appointment to meet you in Milan or Como, oranywhere in your present territories, during the month of August. Thataffords time for a short siege and two pitched battles."
She appeared to be expecting a retort.
Vittoria replied, "I could beg one thing on my knees of you, CountessLena."
"And that is--?" Lena threw her head up superbly.
"Pardon my old friend the service he did me through friendship."
The sisters interchanged looks. Lena flushed angrily.
Anna said, "The person to whom you allude is here."
"He is attending on your brother."
"Did he help this last assassin to escape, perchance?"
Vittoria sickened at the cruel irony, and felt that she had perhaps doneill in beginning to plead for Wilfrid.
"He is here; let him speak for himself: but listen to him, CountessLena."
"A dishonourable man had better be dumb," interposed Anna.
"Ah! it is I who have offended you."
"Is that his excuse?"
Vittoria kept her eyes on the fiercer sister, who now declined to speak.
"I will not excuse my own deeds; perhaps I cannot. We Italians are in ahurricane; I cannot reflect. It may be that I do not act more thinkinglythan a wild beast."
"You have spoken it," Anna exclaimed.
"Countess Lena, he fights in your ranks as a common soldier. Heencounters more than a common soldier's risks."
"The man is brave,--we knew that," said Anna.
"He is more than brave, he is devoted. He fights against us, withouthope of reward from you. Have I utterly ruined him?"
"I imagine that you may regard it as a fact that you have utterly ruinedhim," said Anna, moving to break up the parting interview. Lena turnedto follow her.
"Ladies, if it is I who have hardened your hearts, I am more guilty thanI thought." Vittoria said no more. She knew that she had been speakingbadly, or ineffectually, by a haunting flatness of sound, as ofan unstrung instrument, in her ears: she was herself unstrung anddispirited, while the recollection of Anna's voice was like a sombreconquering monotony on a low chord, with which she felt insufficient tocompete.
Leone was waiting in the carriage to drive to the ferry across theAdige. There was news in Roveredo of the king's advance upon Rivoli;and Leone sat trying to lift and straighten out his wounded arm, withgrimaces of laughter at the pain of the effort, which resolutely refusedto acknowledge him to be an able combatant. At the carriage-door Wilfridbowed once over Vittoria's hand.
"You see that," Anna remarked to her sister.
"I should have despised him if he had acted indifference," replied Lena.
She would have suspected him--that was what her heart meant; the artfulshow of indifference had deceived her once. The anger within herdrew its springs much more fully from his refusal to respond to heraffection, when she had in a fit of feminine weakness abased herselfbefore him on the night of the Milanese revolt, than from therecollection of their days together in Meran. She had nothing of hersister's unforgivingness. And she was besides keenly curious to discoverthe nature of the charm Vittoria threw on him, and not on him solely.Vittoria left Wilfrid to better chances than she supposed. "Continuefighting with your army," she said, when they parted. The deeper shadewhich traversed his features told her that, if she pleased, her swaymight still be active; but she had no emotion to spare for sentimentalregrets. She asked herself whether a woman who has cast her lot inscenes of strife does not lose much of her womanhood and something ofher truth; and while her imagination remained depressed, her answerwas sad. In that mood she pitied Wilfrid with a reckless sense of herinability to repay him for the harm she had done him. The tragedieswritten in fresh blood all about her, together with that ever-presentimage of the fate of Italy hanging in the balance, drew her away frompersonal reflections. She felt as one in a war-chariot, who has not timeto cast more than a glance on the fallen. At the place where the ferryis, she was rejoiced by hearing positive news of the proximity of theRoyal army. There were none to tell her that Charles Albert had heremade his worst move by leaving Vicenza to the operations of the enemy,that he might become master of a point worthless when Vicenza fell intothe enemy's hands. The old Austrian Field-Marshal had eluded him atMantua on that very night when Vittoria had seen his troops in motion.The daring Austrian flank-march on Vicenza, behind the fortresses of theQuadrilateral, was the capital stroke of the campaign. But the presenceof a Piedmontese vanguard at Rivoli flushed the Adige with confidence,and Vittoria went on her way sharing the people's delight. She reachedBrescia to hear that Vicenza had fallen. The city was like a landscapesmitten black by the thunder-cloud. Vittoria found Countess Ammiani ather husband's tomb, stiff, colourless, lifeless as a monument attachedto the tomb.
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