frederick the great and his family-第102节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ht　shedding　a　rosy　tint　over　Frederick's　noble　countenance。

〃Ah！　I　understand　it　now；〃　whispered　the　host。　〃Cicernachi　has　done　this　to　enrage　the　Teresiani。　To　show　his　boundless　reverence　for　the　king；　he　has　placed　a　burning　lamp　beneath　his　picture；　an　honor　due　only　in　our　country　to　the　saints。　Let　us　hear　what　the　people　have　to　say　of　it。〃

Just　then　a　Teresiano　commenced　a　speech；　accompanied　by　violent　gesticulations；　against　this　insult　to　the　Church。　〃How　can　you　suffer　this　heretic　to　be　represented　by　you　as　a　saint？〃　cried　he；　in　a　voice　of　rage。　〃Do　you　not　know　that　the　Pope　has　excommunicated　the　King　of　Prussia？　Do　you　not　know　that　he　is　an　enemy　to　God；　to　the　Church；　and　to　our　holy　Catholic　religion？　Away；　then；　with　this　lamp！　The　fires　of　hell　will　devour　him；　but　no　holy　lamp　shall　enlighten　his　darkened　soul。〃

〃He　is　right；　he　is　right；〃　cried　some　among　the　crowd。　〃Away　with　the　lamp！　Break　Cicernachi's　windows；　for　he　is　a　Prussiano。　He　makes　a　saint　of　a　heretic！　Put　out　the　lamp！〃

〃Do　not　venture　to　touch　the　lamp；〃　cried　others。　〃Back！　back！　or　our　fists　shall　close　your　eyes　until　neither　the　lamp　nor　the　great　Frederick　is　visible　to　you。〃

〃Put　out　the　lamp；　in　God's　name！〃　cried　the　infuriated　Teresiani。　And　the　cry　was　repeated　by　many　of　his　party；　as　they　pressed　forward。　But　the　Prussiani；　amongst　whom　were　our　host　and　the　stranger；　had　already　formed　a　wall　of　defence　before　the　store；　and　were　energetically　beating　back　the　approaching　Teresiani。　And　then　there　occurred　a　tumult；　such　as　can　only　occur　among　passionate　Italians。　Wild　shouts；　curses；　and　threats　were　heardeyes　sparkling　with　rage；　doubled　fists；　and　here　and　there　a　dagger　or　a　knife　was　seen。

But　the　noise　suddenly　ceased；　and　a　deep　stillness　prevailed。　No　sound　was　heard　but　the　quiet　even　tread　of　the　solemn　silent　forms　that　stood　suddenly；　as　if　they　had　risen　from　the　earth　in　their　midst。　No　one　had　seen　them　comeno　word　was　spoken　by　them；　and　still　many　retreated　timidly；　fearfully　from　them；　their　presence　was　enough　to　quiet　these　enraged　masses；　to　silence　their　anger。　Even　Signor　Montardo　deserted　his　prominent　position　before　the　lamp；　and　was　gazing　anxiously　at　the　dark　forms　passing　slowly　through　the　crowd。

〃The　sbirri！〃　whispered　he　to　the　stranger。　〃The　servants　of　the　Council　of　Ten！　Whom　will　they　take　with　them？〃

But　it　seemed　as　if　these　much…feared　men　only　desired　to　cause　the　people　to　remember　them　only；　to　threatennot　to　punish。　They　wished　to　remind　the　people　that　the　law　was　watching　over　them。　Completely　hid　by　their　long　mantles；　they　passed　with　bowed　heads　through　the　crowd。　Thus　without　addressing　or　noticing　any　one；　they　passed　into　one　of　the　small　by…streets　leading　from　the　Rialto。

As　the　last　one　disappeared；　life　once　more　animated　the　crowd。　All　breathed　more　freely　when　relieved　from　their　much…feared　presence；　and　soon　they　commenced　talking　again　of　Cicernachi's　new　saint。

〃You　see；〃　whispered　Montardo　to　the　stranger；　〃that　our　government　is　neutral。　It　will　not　punish　neither　the　Prussiani　nor　the　Teresiani；　only　warns　us　not　to　carry　our　zeal　too　far；　and　reminds　us　that　it　is　against　the　law　to　carry　a　dagger　or　a　knife　in　the　streets。　But　now　let　us　enter　the　shop；　and　I　will　introduce　you　to　Cicernachi。〃

He　took　the　stranger's　arm；　and　entered　the　shop；　where　a　tall；　slim　man　met　him。　His　long　black　hair　hung　in　wild　disorder　on　both　sides　of　his　expressive　countenance；　his　eyes　sparkled　with　fire；　and　on　his　full　red　lip　there　was　a　proud；　triumphant　smile。

〃Well；　Montardo；〃　said　he；　〃you　come　undoubtedly　to　congratulate　me　on　this　victory　over　these　miserable　Teresiani。〃

〃Certainly；　sir。〃　cried　Montardo；　laughingly；　〃it　was　a　most　original　idea。〃

〃Do　you　know　why　I　have　done　it？〃　said　Cicernachi；　〃yesterday　the　Teresiani　placed　before　their　restaurants　the　bull　of　Pope　Clement　XI。；　which　has　just　been　confirmed　and　renewed　by　Clement　XIII。　It　was　printed　on　white　satin；　and　enclosed　in　a　beautiful　gilt　frame；　and　underneath　it　burnt　a　sacred　lamp。〃

〃What　are　the　contents　of　this　bull？〃　said　Montardo。

〃I　will　tell　you　the　beginning。〃　said　Cicernachi；　〃I　do　not　recollect　all。　It　sounded　thus：　'You　have　long　known　that　Frederick；　margrave　of　Brandenburg；　in　contempt　for　the　authority　of　the　Church；　took　to　himself　the　name　and　insignia　of　king；　a　profane　and　unheard　of　act　among　Christians。　He　has　thus　unwisely　enough　become　one　of　those　of　whom　it　is　said　in　the　Bible；　'They　reigned；　but　not　through　Me；　they　were　princes；　but　I　did　not　know　them。'　Do　you　conceive　now　why　I　placed　the　king's　picture　before　my　store？　why　I　burnt　a　lamp　beneath　it？　I　think　this　glorious　portrait　is　more　deserving　of　a　sacred　lamp　than　the　Pope's　nonsensical　bull。〃

〃You　are　right；　signor；〃　said　the　stranger；　advancing　to　Cicernachi　and　shaking　hands　with　him。　〃Permit　me　to　thank　you　in　the　name　of　my　great　and　noble　king　whom　you　have　this　day　defended　in　so　original　a　manner　from　the　malicious　charges　of　his　enemies。　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　that　the　king　shall　hear　of　it　through　me；　I　know　it　will　rejoice　him。〃

〃Ah；　signor；〃　said　Montardo；　laughing；　〃you　forget　that　you　are　an　honest　merchant　who　does　not　concern　himself　about　politics。〃

〃I　can　never　forget　I　am　a　Prussian；〃　said　the　traveller；　〃and　how　could　I　forget　it？〃　continued　he；　laughing。　〃My　whole　business　consists　of　Prussian　wares。〃

〃Truly　you　have　some　very　beautiful　articles；〃　said　Montardo。　〃You　will　be　charmed　with　them；　Cicernachi；　it　will　be　another　opportunity　to　annoy　the　Teresiani。　Look　at　this　merchant's　fans。〃

The　stranger　opened　several　fans。　Cicernachi's　eyes　sparkled　with　delight　at　the　sight　of　the　painting。　〃How　many　have　you；　signor？〃　said　he。

〃Twelve。〃

〃I　take　them　all；　and　regret　you　have　not　more。〃

〃But　Cicernachi；　where　has　all　your　wisdom　gone　to？〃　cried　Montardo。　〃You　have　not　even　asked　the　price；　or　do　you；　perhaps；　think　the　stranger　gives　them　to　you　for　nothing？〃

〃No；　no；　I　forgot　it；〃　said　Cicernachi；　gazing　with　delight　at　the　fans　which　the　stranger　was　spreading　out　before　him。　〃What　is　their　price；　signor？〃

The　stranger　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　in　a　hesitating　manner：　〃I　paid　ten　francs　for　each　fan　in　Geneva。〃

〃I　give　twice　that；〃　said　Cicernachi；　quickly。

The　stranger　started　up　hastily；　blushing　with　annoyance。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　take　from　no　one　a　higher　price　than　I　gave。〃

〃Ah；　signor；　signor；〃　cried　Montardo；　〃you　have　again　forgotten　that　you　are　but　a　merchant。　No　merchant　sells　his　goods　for　what　he　gave　for　them。　Remember　that。〃

〃I　will　make　a　good　business　with　these　fans；〃　said　Cicernachi。　〃I　give　you　twenty…four　francs；　and　will　ask　fifty　for　them。　The　ladies　of　our　nobility；　many　of　whom　are　Prussiani；　will　be　delighted　to　annoy　their　opponents　in　so　elegant　a　manner。　Are　you　content；　sir？〃

〃I　am　satisfied；〃　said　the　stranger；　blushing　with　embarrassment。

〃Is　this　all　you　have　for　sale？〃

〃No；　I　have　something　else；〃　said　the　stranger；　opening　another　package。　〃As　you　are　Prussiano；　these　neat　little　coins　and　medals；　with　pretty　caricatures　of　the　enemies　of　the　king　on　them；　will　no　doubt　please　you。〃

〃Ah；　let　us　see　them；〃　cried　both　Italians。　They　examined　with　eagerness　the　medals　upon　which　the　enemies　of　Frederick　were　represented　in　various　laughable　situations　and　positions。

〃I　take　them　all！〃　cried　Cicernachi；　enraptured。

The　stranger　laughed。　〃I　cannot　sell　you　my　whole　business；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　retain　something。　I　will　give　you　one　of　each。　You　must　accept　them　as　a　token　of　my　esteem；　and　must　not　pay　me　for　them。〃

〃Signor！〃　cried　Montardo；　in　an　imploring　tone；　〃remain　at　my　hotel　as　long　as　you　please；　and　when　I　bring　you　your　bill　lay　some　of　these　coins　upon　it；　and　I　shall　be　richly　paid。〃

The　stranger　promised：　then　having　received；　with　visible　annoyance；　the　money　for　the　fans；　left　the　store　with　Montardo　to　pay　his　visit　to　the　Convent　Giovanni　e　Paolo。




CHAPTER　III。

THE　CLOISTER　BROTHERS　OF　SAN　GIOVANNI　E　PAOLO。


The　Prior　of　San　Giovanni　e　Paolo　had　just　returned　from　the　second　mass　celebrated　in　the　beautiful　church　of　his　cloister；　the　burial…　place　of　the　great　Titiano　Vicelli。　With　his　arms　folded　across　his　back；　he　walked　slowly　and　thoughtfully　backward　and　forward；　then　stood　before　a　large　table　at　which　a　monk　was　occupied　in　unfolding　letters　and　maps。

〃This；　your　worship；〃　said　the　monk；　opening　a　new　paper；　〃is　an　exact　plan　of　the　region　around　Mayen；　we　have　just　received　it；　and　the　positions　of　the　two　armies　are　plainly　marked　down。　If　agreeable　to　your　worship；　I　will　read　the　bulletins　aloud；　and　you　can　follow　the　movements　of　the　troops　upon　the　map。〃

The　prior　shook　his　head　softly。　〃No；　Brother　Anselmo；　do　not　read　again　the　triumphant　bulletins　of　the　Austrians　and　Russians；　they　pain　my　ears　and　my　heart。　Let　us　rather　look　at　the　map　to　see　if　the　present　position　of　the　army　offers　any　ground　of　hope。〃

〃I　have　marked　it　all　out　with　pins；〃　said　Father　Anselmo；　〃the　black　pins　signify　the　army　of　the　allies；　the　white　pins　the　army　of　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

The　prior　bowed　over　the