A Sicilian Romance

He found Madame de Menon and his sisters awaiting his return in the

most painful anxiety; and, thus disappointed in all his endeavours to

penetrate the secret of these buildings, and fatigued with fruitless

search, he resolved to suspend farther enquiry.

When he related the circumstances of his late adventure, the terror of

Emilia and Julia was heightened to a degree that overcame every

prudent consideration. Their apprehension of the marquis's displeasure

was lost in a stronger feeling, and they resolved no longer to remain

in apartments which offered only terrific images to their fancy.

Madame de Menon almost equally alarmed, and more perplexed, by this

combination of strange and unaccountable circumstances, ceased to

oppose their design. It was resolved, therefore, that on the following

day madame should acquaint the marchioness with such particulars of

the late occurrence as their purpose made it necessary she should

know, concealing their knowledge of the hidden door, and the incidents

immediately dependant on it; and that madame should entreat a change

of apartments. Madame accordingly waited on the marchioness.

The marchioness having

listened to the account at first with surprise, and afterwards with

indifference, condescended to reprove madame for encouraging

superstitious belief in the minds of her young charge. She concluded

with ridiculing as fanciful the circumstances related, and with

refusing, on account of the numerous visitants at the castle, the

request preferred to her.

It is true the castle was crowded with visitors; the former apartments

of Madame de Menon were the only ones unoccupied, and these were in

magnificent preparation for the pleasure of the marchioness, who was

unaccustomed to sacrifice her own wishes to the comfort of those

around her. She therefore treated lightly the subject, which,

seriously attended to, would have endangered her new plan of delight.

But Emilia and Julia were too seriously terrified to obey the scruples

of delicacy, or to be easily repulsed. They prevailed on Ferdinand to

represent their situation to the marquis.

Meanwhile Hippolitus, who had passed the night in a state of sleepless

anxiety, watched, with busy impatience, an opportunity of more fully

disclosing to Julia the passion which glowed in his heart. The first

moment in which he beheld her, had awakened in him an admiration which

had since ripened into a sentiment more tender. He had been prevented

formally declaring his passion by the circumstance which so suddenly

called him to Naples.

This was the dangerous illness of the Marquis de

Lomelli, his near and much-valued relation. But it was a task too

painful to depart in silence, and he contrived to inform Julia of his

sentiments in the air which she heard so sweetly sung beneath her

window. When Hippolitus reached Naples, the marquis was yet living, but

expired a few days after his arrival, leaving the count heir to the

small possessions which remained from the extravagance of their

ancestors. The business of adjusting his rights had till now detained him from

Sicily, whither he came for the sole purpose of declaring his love.

Here unexpected obstacles awaited him. The jealous vigilance of the

marchioness conspired with the delicacy of Julia, to withhold from him

the opportunity he so anxiously sought.