A Sicilian Romance

When Ferdinand entered upon the subject of the southern buildings to

the marquis, he carefully avoided mentioning the hidden door. The

marquis listened for some time to the relation in gloomy silence, but

at length assuming an air of displeasure, reprehended Ferdinand for

yielding his confidence to those idle alarms, which he said were the

suggestions of a timid imagination. 'Alarms,' continued he, 'which

will readily find admittance to the weak mind of a woman, but which

the firmer nature of man should disdain.--Degenerate boy! Is it thus

you reward my care? Do I live to see my son the sport of every idle

tale a woman may repeat? Learn to trust reason and your senses, and

you will then be worthy of my attention.'

The marquis was retiring, and Ferdinand now perceived it necessary to

declare, that he had himself witnessed the sounds he mentioned.

'Pardon me, my lord,' said he, 'in the late instance I have been just

to your command--my senses have been the only evidences I have

trusted. I have heard those sounds which I cannot doubt.' The marquis

appeared shocked. Ferdinand perceived the change, and urged the

subject so vigorously, that the marquis, suddenly assuming a look of

grave importance, commanded him to attend him in the evening in his

closet. Ferdinand in passing from the marquis met Hippolitus. He was pacing

the gallery in much seeming agitation, but observing Ferdinand, he

advanced to him. 'I am ill at heart,' said he, in a melancholy tone,

'assist me with your advice. We will step into this apartment, where

we can converse without interruption.'

'You are not ignorant,' said he, throwing himself into a chair, 'of

the tender sentiments which your sister Julia has inspired. I entreat

you by that sacred friendship which has so long united us, to afford

me an opportunity of pleading my passion. Her heart, which is so

susceptible of other impressions, is, I fear, insensible to love.

Procure me, however, the satisfaction of certainty upon a point where

the tortures of suspence are surely the most intolerable.'

'Your penetration,' replied Ferdinand, 'has for once forsaken you,

else you would now be spared the tortures of which you complain, for

you would have discovered what I have long observed, that Julia

regards you with a partial eye.'

'Do not,' said Hippolitus, 'make disappointment more terrible by

flattery; neither suffer the partiality of friendship to mislead your

judgment. Your perceptions are affected by the warmth of your

feelings, and because you think I deserve her distinction, you believe

I possess it. Alas! you deceive yourself, but not me!'