第141章

"The young peasant girl, at first timid and scared, soon recovered herself.We have said that Teresa was handsome, but this is not all; Teresa was endowed with all those wild graces which are so much more potent than our affected and studied elegancies.She had almost all the honors of the quadrille, and if she were envious of the Count of San-Felice's daughter, we will not undertake to say that Carmela was not jealous of her.And with overpowering compliments her handsome cavalier led her back to the place whence he had taken her, and where Luigi awaited her.Twice or thrice during the dance the young girl had glanced at Luigi, and each time she saw that he was pale and that his features were agitated, once even the blade of his knife, half drawn from its sheath, had dazzled her eyes with its sinister glare.Thus, it was almost tremblingly that she resumed her lover's arm.The quadrille had been most perfect, and it was evident there was a great demand for a repetition, Carmela alone objecting to it, but the Count of San-Felice besought his daughter so earnestly, that she acceded.One of the cavaliers then hastened to invite Teresa, without whom it was impossible for the quadrille to be formed, but the young girl had disappeared.The truth was, that Luigi had not felt the strength to support another such trial, and, half by persuasion and half by force, he had removed Teresa toward another part of the garden.Teresa had yielded in spite of herself, but when she looked at the agitated countenance of the young man, she understood by his silence and trembling voice that something strange was passing within him.She herself was not exempt from internal emotion, and without having done anything wrong, yet fully comprehended that Luigi was right in reproaching her.Why, she did not know, but yet she did not the less feel that these reproaches were merited.However, to Teresa's great astonishment, Luigi remained mute, and not a word escaped his lips the rest of the evening.When the chill of the night had driven away the guests from the gardens, and the gates of the villa were closed on them for the festa in-doors, he took Teresa quite away, and as he left her at her home, he said, --"`Teresa, what were you thinking of as you danced opposite the young Countess of San-Felice?' -- `I thought,' replied the young girl, with all the frankness of her nature, `that I would give half my life for a costume such as she wore.'

"`And what said your cavalier to you?' -- `He said it only depended on myself to have it, and I had only one word to say.'

"`He was right,' said Luigi.`Do you desire it as ardently as you say?' -- `Yes.' -- `Well, then, you shall have it!'

"The young girl, much astonished, raised her head to look at him, but his face was so gloomy and terrible that her words froze to her lips.As Luigi spoke thus, he left her.Teresa followed him with her eyes into the darkness as long as she could, and when he had quite disappeared, she went into the house with a sigh.

"That night a memorable event occurred, due, no doubt, to the imprudence of some servant who had neglected to extinguish the lights.The Villa of San-Felice took fire in the rooms adjoining the very apartment of the lovely Carmela.Awakened in the night by the light of the flames, she sprang out of bed, wrapped herself in a dressing-gown, and attempted to escape by the door, but the corridor by which she hoped to fly was already a prey to the flames.She then returned to her room, calling for help as loudly as she could, when suddenly her window, which was twenty feet from the ground, was opened, a young peasant jumped into the chamber, seized her in his arms, and with superhuman skill and strength conveyed her to the turf of the grass-plot, where she fainted.When she recovered, her father was by her side.All the servants surrounded her, offering her assistance.An entire wing of the villa was burnt down; but what of that, as long as Carmela was safe and uninjured? Her preserver was everywhere sought for, but he did not appear;he was inquired after, but no one had seen him.Carmela was greatly troubled that she had not recognized him.As the count was immensely rich, excepting the danger Carmela had run, -- and the marvellous manner in which she had escaped, made that appear to him rather a favor of providence than a real misfortune, -- the loss occasioned by the conflagration was to him but a trifle.

"The next day, at the usual hour, the two young peasants were on the borders of the forest.Luigi arrived first.He came toward Teresa in high spirits, and seemed to have completely forgotten the events of the previous evening.The young girl was very pensive, but seeing Luigi so cheerful, she on her part assumed a smiling air, which was natural to her when she was not excited or in a passion.Luigi took her arm beneath his own, and led her to the door of the grotto.

Then he paused.The young girl, perceiving that there was something extraordinary, looked at him steadfastly.

`Teresa,' said Luigi, `yesterday evening you told me you would give all the world to have a costume similar to that of the count's daughter.' -- `Yes,' replied Teresa with astonishment; `but I was mad to utter such a wish.' -- `And I replied, "Very well, you shall have it."' -- `Yes,'

replied the young girl, whose astonishment increased at every word uttered by Luigi, `but of course your reply was only to please me.'

"`I have promised no more than I have given you, Teresa,'

said Luigi proudly.`Go into the grotto and dress yourself.'

At these words he drew away the stone, and showed Teresa the grotto, lighted up by two wax lights, which burnt on each side of a splendid mirror; on a rustic table, made by Luigi, were spread out the pearl necklace and the diamond pins, and on a chair at the side was laid the rest of the costume.