TALES & SKETCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 915, 13 September 1889, Page 7

TALES & SKETCHES.

A Visit From A Corpse,

CHAPTER 1. ‘Ahil La bella signorina ! e pallidetta ! e stanoa 1 poverina 1’ These words were addressed to me years ago by the padrona of a hotel which my mother and 1 had just reached, alter a long and fatiguing night journey, and, trivial as they may appear, I remember them distinctly, a? well as every other circumstance that oocurred daring the eventful four-ana-twenty . hours which succeeded our arrival at tile H6tel d’Oro, Florence, on the 17 th of September, 184—.

My lately widowed mother and myself (a girl of seventeen), had been travelling in Italy for months, after an aimless, erratic fashion ; for she, poor soul, was endeavouring through change of scene and fatigue of body, to deaden the memory of her grief, and we had started the night before from A to avoid the heat of a day journey, arriving in the early morning at the Hdtel 'd’Oro, an imposing building situated on the banks of the Arno, and formerly a palace of the Este and Borgia families,, whose quaint- monograms and devices ornamented its iwalls, both within and without. We ware conducted to our apartments by the pretty padrona, and, as we wearily passed through the magnificent vestibule and ascended the broad marble staircase, I was curiously reminded (my nerves being probably in an irritated condition) of a picture I had seen in a child’s story-book, of a pretty little girl with long hair, who is mounting a stair leading to a hanging gallery, so exactly like the one before us that as we came to au abrupt turn I positively stopped and shuddered, expecting to be met (as in the picture) by a cruel-faced, velvet-footed panther, which was waiting round the corner with open mouth and glaring eye to spring upon its unsuspecting victim ! A silly childish story, no doubt, but just one of those which would cling to .one’s memory. The visitors’ apartments on the first piano of the H 6 tel d’Oro opened upon the hanging gallery, and we were conducted to ours through a door cone 3aled by a heavy piece of tapestry. 1 la the signora satisfied ?’ asked the padroaa, as with pardonable pride she threw open the door of a spacious and beautiful salone, which owned French windows, opening upon a delightful, roomy balcony. • Oh, yes !’ answered my mother, wearily ; ‘but pray take us at once to our sleeping rooms, for we are very tired.’ The padrona took the hint and led ns to two rooms leading out of the salone and into each other, which were beautifully furnished, but ons was so small that i. indignantly exclaimed. / Mamma, I really can’t sleep in a box ! anli in this heat, too !’ ‘ Have you any other room you could give Lady Muriel?’ my mother aßked the padrona, who reflected for a moment -and then said : * I have, signora. It belongs to a suite of rooms piepared for the Russian Princess Lipetsk a, and her sick son and attendants, whom we expect in a few hours ; but the doctor, who engaged them, desired me to shut up three or four of the bed-rooms, as there were too many ; so Lady Muriel’s maid could sleep there also —close to her - just acros3 the gallary.’ My mother said : ‘ If you ore sure you have a right to give her these rooms, that will do perfectly.’ So all being satisfactorily arranged, I betook myself to my apartment, accompanied by the padrona; but when I first entered it, my spirits (generally daring to a fault) went down to zero. The room was so large ! so gloomy 1 The walls were hung with dingy tapestry, which trembled and Sapped eacn time a door was shut, or that one ' walked across the room ; making the grotesque and hideous figures represented upon it,’ soemingly extract with life and with an agony of eageints3 to leap from the walls and proffer me a dreadful welcome 1 Tho bed, too, , was far from reassuring in its ghost-like grandeur. It was a carved oak ’ four-po3ter ’ ; an ivory and ebony oracifix was nailed at its head, the curtains were dark-green velvet, and plumes of feathers waved at each corner of the canopy, being constantly stirred by mysterious gusts of air, and emitting a rustling sound suggestive of dead leaves—melancholy in the extreme. Added to all this I counted five doors i« the

room, and the padrona, noticing my uneasy glances towards them, assured me they were locked, proving her words by pushing and pulling them violently while turning the handles, at the same time talking' volubly in Italian. 1 was, of course, obliged after thegood lady’s exertions, to profess myself satisfied, and she was just leaving the room when the bell which hung in the court yard began to ring, and the padrona, running with apologies to my balcony, which overhung the grand entrance, called out hastily : ‘Lady Muriela ! Vede 1 Ecco la princi* pessa ed il principe! guarda 1’ and then hurried downstairs. I ran and looked out, and sure enough, the Russians had arrived, hours before they were expected, and with much curiosity I watched them as they alighted. There 'j were several clumsy vehicles, each drawn by three horses, the Princess and her lady occupying the first. The Princess was helped out of her carriage by two footmen (the exact counterpart of each other), having greasy Kalmnc faces, flat noses, and eyes ala Chinoise, and she Boomed tall and finely formed, with a dear, pale complextion, tawny coloured hair and eyelashes (the latter being unusually thick and long), and she walked with singular dignity as she entered the hotel. The occupants of the second vehicle (a sort of invalid carriage) greatly interested mu. First a priest, with lowering face and shovel hat, and who had seemingly descended from one of the carriages at the rear, entered the bed-carriage, and proceeded to hang out a bag, some pillows, and a fur rng ; then giving a sign to the footmen, they scrambled up the carriage steps like performing monkeys and slowly and carefully drew forth the long, lanky legs of a boy of about sixteen, whose shoulders and head wero supported by a serious-looking young man, who, I subsequently learned was an English doctor. The young Prince seemed very ill, for he neither spoke nor moved, and took no notice of any one. I was eager to see his face, but both doctor and priest were deter* mined he should not be exposed to the vulgar gaze, for his cap, was pulled over his eyes, and his figure was enveloped in a large shawl; but as he was being disengaged from the carriage his head fell backwards and his cap slipped off, and in his anxiety to catch it, one of the servants entangled his foot in the shawl, dragging it completely off ; and although the priest hastily replaced it and the cap (casting meanwhile a withering look at the terrified menial), he did not prevent my having a momentary view of the thin face and emaciated figure of the sick boy. He was deadly pale, his eyes were closed and he appeared unconscious of all around ; till, strangely, and for an instant (during the excitement caused by loss of his cap), I fancied he slightly opened his eyes—and looked at me 1 but' he was carried so‘ quickly into the hotel that I could not be certain of the fact.

I felt no further interest in the occupants of the other carriages, but I longed to see all 1 could of the Prince and his strange entourage, so I crept into the gallery overlooking the marble hall, and waited ; knowing that as his apartments were next to mine, the Prince must pass that way. As I leaned over the gallery balustrade, watching, I fancied there seemed some excitement, some consternation, in the hall among the attendants, bub I was too far off to make out the cause ; at last, however, I saw them coming, carrying the Prince up the stairs on a stretcher. As soon as they had nearly reached the landing, I ran back and hid myself behind my own door to see them go by. It was quite aprooession. First came the Princess (how beautiful she was, and how arrogant she looked !), and by'her side was the priest, talking in low, agitated whispers, while she appeared to listen in proud, sullen silence. Then;the seemingly inanimate body was carried by, by the doctor (whose face waa deadly pale) and some servants. As the Prince andvhis bearers passed I involuntarily moved out of my hiding-place, and the doctor perceiving me, started slightly, and again I thought the sick boy’s heavy eyelids quivered and slightly unclosed. He was followed by a troop of dirty, savagelooking servants, who chattered noisily in some gutteral tongue as they walked, until the priest,,turned and frowned them into silence.

All excitement being now over, I lay down and endeavoured to sleep, but my mind would not rest; so, after tossing about for an hour or so, I rose and ran in to my mother, and as I was relating to her ali I had seen, the padrona knocked and anxiously craved an interview, and began a long story, speaking so rapidly in Italian that I could not understand her ; but my mother, being a good linguist, did, and was evidently deeply interested in what she heard ; gradually, however, a look of horror overspread her face, and fiually, pointing at me, she put her finger upon her lip, ' a gesture which apprised me, of course, that something was going forward which I w»3 not to know, and which equally, of course, decided me upon discovering what that ‘ something ’ was : so, losing no time, I ran to my maid Susette, who was arranging my room, and asked her what had happened. At firat she refused to tell me, increasing my curiosity a hundredfold by adding, * Tho padrona had begged her to bo silent.’ Eventually the Frenchwoman’s love of gossip got the upper hand, and with many nods and winks and ‘ hushes ’ she confided to me that the young Prinoe was dead !

4 Dosd !’ I gasped. ‘ Yes, dead !’ reiterated Su3ette. She then proceeded to say that the young man had been so ill during the journey that the doctor doubted his arriving alive, but the Prices had such a longing to get to Florence that they hurried ou. The doctor insisted upon travelling alone with his patient, great care and quiet being indispensable ; but when they airived within a iew miles of Florence, the Prime was taken so suddenly worse that the carriages were stopped, and the doctor called in the priest, considering death imminent ; the invalid lived, however, to be lifted into the hotel, but as he was being carried through the marble hall, the doctor called out to the bearers to stop, and before the poor fellow could be placed upon a couch —he expired. I was too awessfcruak to speak ; but when

my astonishment had in a measure subsided, I began to reason, and I said to Susetfce. * Who told you this ? ‘The padrona,’ answered the maid. * Did she see it happen ?’ * No,’ said Susette, ‘ the Princess begged the padrone and his wife to stay behind and superintend the unloading of the. so that the Prince’s luggage might be brought up at once. The dame de compagme told the padrona how it all occurred, and she told m6 ‘ Well ’ I exclaimed excitedly, ‘it ie a very odd story, for I saw the young Prince s facetwice, and he looked exactly the same both times, very pale and quiet, but not Hußh Lady Muriel,’ whispered Susette ; ‘do not speak so loud, for the padrona »n the hurry and distress of the arrival, did not mention to the Princess that you were m Sis room ; she told the doctor--’ . ‘ And what did he say ?. I asked quickly. « He seemed put out at first, and. said he fpared U>e Princess would be displeased, but when the padrona told him that you were « only a signorina ’ he seemed satisfied. * And you allowed me to stay all this time in a room to which 1 had no right, I exclaimed hotly, (my dignity being hurt also, at being considered a nonentity). How could you do so ? I shall goat one* to mamma, Lady Muriel,’ interrupted Susette • ‘ I will see the padrona, when she can attend to us ; at present they are all in such trouble about the Prince s death. ‘ I do not believe he is dead, for as he passed me I am almost sure ha opened his eves and looked at me 1 • , * t people’s eyes are often half open when they are dead,’ said Susette. , , ‘Maybe,’ I. argued ; ‘ but people don t open their eyes after they are dead. ? Ah * bah </ said Susette, irritably, annoyed at her story being doubted, ‘ the Prince is dead now, at all events, for 1 stood by while wero lying down, and saw crosses, tapers pictures and all kinds of things being carried into his room, and the doctor saw me and came up hastily to me, and said he had not vet told the Princess that you slept in th t room and that I had bette* keep it quiet at present. Then he asked who you were ? How old? Whether you slept alone and then he asked me to do him a favour, tor he could not, he said, leave the room for a moment himself, so would I fetch one of the footmen, Ivan by name, as lie must tell him to go out and buy flowers for th.. death chamber ; so I fetched him and on my return the doctor put a gold piece m my hand and said, as he could not speak Italian he might want my help again I would not answer Susette, and I told her to leave me as I was annoyed at getting mixed, up with the Russians, angry, too, with the doctor for offerin'* money to my maid, and still more an<*ry with her for _ taking itij then-what could he mean, saying he might want Susette’s help again? Surely there were Russians enough to do their own behests. > ‘ There is something strange about it ail, . T Roliloauised, ‘ and I hate these Russians— St.' why—nd I Wil, not r<™»m among them ; I will move into “the box ’ at once ’ Having thus lashed myself into a state of high wrath, I burst out of my room into the passage, and to my unspeakable annoyance, ran up against the priest, who (with the Princess) was standing at my dooi. I murmured, ‘Pardon!' -and would have passed on, but the Princess, looking amazed It my appearance, came forward and said civillv • ‘ Ah ! pretty Lady Muriel, I heard you were in the hotel ; have you lost your wav 9 the galleriea are all so alike. Shall I conduct you back to your room? W^He e r? 0 Ja o d a me7i said rather defiantly, pointing to my room, determined to show that I had nothing to hide. The lady looked surprised, but quickly recovering herself, said; . . ~ , * Ah ! so near us ! You are m the midst of much sorrow/ ~ ‘ The young Prince, I said awkwardly 8 how is he ?’ . . . , _, * ; you do not know ; he is dead, time to reply, for the priest, who had been watching me intently, came forward and whispered in the Princess s ear, upon which she said to me : Would you like to see my poor son—y°l hesitated—for I had never seen death—but I was curious, very curious, and the Princess, seeing my hesitation, took me firmly by the hand, and opening the door of he por 1 ! was perfectly dazed at what met my sight.. The room was large and in utter darkness, except immediately round the couch upon which the dead Prince lav and there innumerable candles of all sizes were blazing like a fiery barrier defecding him from-the outer world. The doctor was standing close to the body, burning some condiment which he held m a dish ; he looked steadily at me and gently drew down the white coverlet, which shrouded the whole figure, from off the head and upper portion of the body, so that I might see the sad but beautiful face, which was as white as the roses and camillias which surrounded it. The hair eyebrows, and evelashes were very black, and the pale, slender fingers were lightly crossed over a crucifix which rested on the breast. I eazed tearfully at the pathetic young face, which seemed hardly, if at all, changed. ‘ How exquisite !’ I sighed, and how quickly everything has been arranged . May 1 the Princess, ‘but not Within the lights ; but—how pale you are . You had better stay no longer. '•There is such a strange, sweet smell, which rather overcomes me.’ . . * Ah » from the violets and Cape jasmins . we can none of us stay in the room ; but you vou are so pale ! You must come away. Then putting her handkerchief up to her eyes she added; - ‘ He will.-be buried tomorrow ; they bury so quickly here. ‘Poor boyV I ejaculated, and burst into will tell Madame ; la %omtesse,’ said the Princess, ‘ how calm how happy he looks, and that we had had a devoted Engfish doctor all through ; he is here now, you

see, and he will not leave Michael’s room, even to eat.’- _ \ , I looked at the doigbr as she spo&e ; and fancied I saw the ghost of a smile flit over his face, and not feeling kindly' disposeu towards him, I said to myself, ‘ Heartless, like all the rest,' then turning to the princess, i said coldly: _ , ‘I will tell mv mother that I have seen you, Madame, ‘and your poor son, but, I added, hesitatingly, ‘ does he look calm and happy ? Is there not—rather —a look ol tear upon his face ?’ , The Princess answered shortl -, Perhaps you have never seen death before? ‘ No madame,’ I returned, ‘ but if all dead faces look as beautiful, as full of pathos as this one, why should people ever dread seeing them ?’ With this I courtesied ceremoniously to the Princess and left her, and, after hastily dressing for a drive, I joined my mother and related to her all I had seen and heard. My mother was rather startled when she heard my account ; but seeing I aad sustained no nerve shock, she only said: f I hope darling, the young man died ol nothing infectious?’ • Oh, no. mamma ;he has been tor a long time ; the Princess told me so.’ ‘ I wish she had not spoken to you, Muriel; I begged the padrona to tell you nothing about it, for fear of alarming you. I hope the room you sleep in is not next the Prince’s, or you will be frightened. <Xt takes a great deal to alarm me, mamma,’ I said evasively, and with a con. temotuous laugh ; so, after this conversation, I resolved to say nothing about my wish to move, for I was foolishly vain of my reputation for coolness and courage, and I felt sure, were I now to express a wish to change my room, it would be endangered ; so, setting aside my dignity, I deemed it best to leave the distribution of the rooms as it was, A short time afterward we started on a sight-seeing expedition, and, after a cozy little dinner and a short rest on the bileouy, we retired for the night. I was quickly undressed, and after Susetfce had left me, as I thought for good, she returned, saying her room was so small, might she hang her. bonnet and cloak, etc., in the recess within mine, which had been devoted to the car-riage-boxes. I was still too put out with her either to object or agree to anything she might propose ; in fact, I felt that as long as she left me personally in peace, she might han<* herself up .there on a peg till the morning any let or hindrance from me. So "she did as she wished, and after replacin'* the porti<sre over the recess, she once more left me, this time looking my door on the outside and carrying off the key, as my mother (rather against my will) had desired.. her to do, for fear I should forget to look my door myself. Susetfce had also received orders to come to me once or twice during the night, in case I should require anything. So I now settled myself in bed, and tried to sleep, but in vain, for either from over fatigue, or excitement, or both, I was restless, uneasy and tossed wearily from side to side. After a while, however, I gradually calmed down, becoming drowsy and confused ; and all the sights and sounds I had passed through during the day revisited me, but in a miaty, indistinct way, as though I saw and heard them ', through a veil ; half-waking half-dreaming, strange fanoies, interwoven with the impressions of the last few hours, haunted ray pillow. These pictures were all in a moment rudely dispersed. I started violently, and sat up in my bed, for I thought—nay, 1 was convinced—l heard one of the many doors in the room shake gently, but decidedly, as though some one were endeavouring to enter. I listened attentively, and for a while all seemed quiet; but—again ! the same sound ! and this time from another door, which, like the former one, [{opened into the Russian apartments. I watched, and distinctly saw the handle turn and the door shake, I was now thoroughly alarmed and would have rushed into Susette, but toVqy distress I remembered that my door was locked on the OU fi d hV I gasped, ‘if Susette would only come ! What <?an it be ? What shall Ido ?’ I waited, listening painfully, but fora few moments (which Beamed ages to me) I heard no sounds, and almost persuaded niyself that it must have been my imagination, o>’, perhaps, ' Someone may have “mistaken the door,’ I thought 5 I began to be ashamed of my cowardice; I determined to be brave, and ignore the whole thing—-to lie down again but i had hardly done so before I distinctly heard footsteps creeping along the balcony and stopping at my window — which was only lightly hooked together, for it was very warm* and it had never struck me till now that, as my room belonged to the Russian suite, so did the balcony, and was, therefore, not divided from theirs. Breathlessly I listened, and tremblingly leaping out of bed, I threw on my dressing-gown, stole to the window and gently pushing aside the blind looked out—and never to my dying day shall I forget my horror when I became aware of a man’s face, within an inch of my owd, peering in at me. Terror nearly paralyzed me, but aid not prevent me recognizing, in the coarse Kalmuc type of the intruder, the face of one of the Russian men servants. (To be concluded.)