CHAPTER XXII.
ADVICE REJECTED.
During dinner the ladies conversed freely about "that horrid man,"
wondering what plan he would adopt to try to effect an entrance among them. They were convinced that some such attempt would be made, and the servants of the inn who waited on them were strictly charged to see that no one disturbed them. However, their dinner was not interrupted and after it was over they began to think of retiring, so as to leave at an early hour on the following morning. Minnie had already taken her departure, and the others were thinking of following her example, when a knock came at the door.
All started. One of the maids went to the door, and found a servant there who brought a message from the Baron Atramonte. He wished to speak to the ladies on business of the most urgent importance. At this confirmation of their expectations the ladies looked at one another with a smile mingled with vexation, and Lady Dalrymple at once sent word that they could not possibly see him.
But the Baron was not to be put off. In a few moments the servant came back again, and brought another message, of a still more urgent character, in which the Baron entreated them to grant him this interview, and a.s.sured them that it was a matter of life and death.
"He"s beginning to be more and more violent," said Lady Dalrymple.
"Well, dears," she added, resignedly, "in my opinion it will be better to see him, and have done with him. If we do not, I"m afraid he will pester us further. I will see him. You had better retire to your own apartments."
Upon this she sent down an invitation to the Baron to come up, and the ladies retreated to their rooms.
The Baron entered, and, as usual, offered to shake hands--an offer which, as usual, Lady Dalrymple did not accept. He then looked earnestly all round the room, and gave a sigh. He evidently had expected to see Minnie, and was disappointed. Lady Dalrymple marked the glance, and the expression which followed.
"Well, ma"am," said he, as he seated himself near to Lady Dalrymple, "I said that the business I wanted to speak about was important, and that it was a matter of life and death. I a.s.sure you that it is. But before I tell it I want to say something about the row in Rome. I have reason to understand that I caused a little annoyance to you all. If I did, I"m sure I didn"t intend it. I"m sorry. There! Let"s say no more about it. "Tain"t often that I say I"m sorry, but I say so now.
Conditionally, though--that is, if I really _did_ annoy any body."
"Well, Sir?"
"Well, ma"am--about the business I came for. You have made a sudden decision to take this journey. I want to know, ma"am, if you made any inquiries about this road before starting?"
"This road? No, certainly not."
"I thought so," said the Baron. "Well, ma"am, I"ve reason to believe that it"s somewhat unsafe."
"Unsafe?"
"Yes; particularly for ladies."
"And why?"
"Why, ma"am, the country is in a disordered state, and near the boundary line it swarms with brigands. They call themselves Garibaldians, but between you and me, ma"am, they"re neither more nor less than robbers. You see, along the boundary it is convenient for them to dodge to one side or the other, and where the road runs there are often crowds of them. Now our papal government means well, but it ain"t got power to keep down these brigands. It would like to, but it can"t. You see, the sc.u.m of all Italy gather along the borders, because they know we _are_ weak; and so there it is."
"And you think there is danger on this road?" said Lady Dalrymple, looking keenly at him.
"I do, ma"am."
"Pray have you heard of any recent acts of violence along the road?"
"No, ma"am."
"Then what reason have you for supposing that there is any particular danger now?"
"A friend of mine told me so, ma"am."
"But do not people use the road? Are not carriages constantly pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing? Is it likely that if it were unsafe there would be no acts of violence? Yet you say there have been none."
"Not of late, ma"am."
"But it is of late, and of the present time, that we are speaking."
"I can only say, ma"am, that the road is considered very dangerous."
"Who considers it so?"
"If you had made inquiries at Rome, ma"am, you would have found this out, and never would have thought of this road."
"And you advise us not to travel it?"
"I do, ma"am."
"What would you advise us to do?"
"I would advise you, ma"am, most earnestly, to turn and go back to Rome, and leave by another route."
Lady Dalrymple looked at him, and a slight smile quivered on her lips.
"I see, ma"am, that for some reason or other you doubt my word. Would you put confidence in it if another person were to confirm what I have said?"
"That depends entirely upon who the other person may be."
"The person I mean is Lord Hawbury."
"Lord Hawbury? Indeed!" said Lady Dalrymple, in some surprise. "But he"s in Rome."
"No, ma"am, he"s not. He"s here--in this hotel."
"In this hotel? Here?"
"Yes, ma"am."
"I"m sure I should like to see him very much, and hear what he says about it."
"I"ll go and get him, then," said the Baron, and, rising briskly, he left the room.
In a short time he returned with Hawbury. Lady Dalrymple expressed surprise to see him, and Hawbury explained that he was traveling with a friend. Lady Dalrymple, of course, thought this a fresh proof of his infatuation about Minnie, and wondered how he could be a friend to a man whom she considered as Minnie"s persecutor and tormentor.
The Baron at once proceeded to explain how the matter stood, and to ask Hawbury"s opinion.
"Yes," said Lady Dalrymple, "I should really like to know what you think about it."
"Well, really," said Hawbury, "I have no acquaintance with the thing, you know. Never been on this road in my life. But, at the same time, I can a.s.sure you that this gentleman is a particular friend of mine, and one of the best fellows I know. I"d stake my life on his perfect truth and honor. If he says any thing, you may believe it because he says it. If he says there are brigands on the road, they must be there."
"Oh, of course," said Lady Dalrymple. "You are right to believe your friend, and I should trust his word also. But do you not see that perhaps he may believe what he says, and yet be mistaken?"