A Sicilian Romance

When the Duke de Luovo was informed of this discovery, he entreated

and obtained permission of the marquis to join in the pursuit. He

immediately set out on the expedition, armed, and followed by a number

of his servants. He resolved to encounter all hazards, and to practice

the most desperate extremes, rather than fail in the object of his

enterprize. In a short time he overtook the marquis's people, and they

proceeded together with all possible speed. The forest lay several

leagues distant from the castle of Mazzini, and the day was closing

when they entered upon the borders. The thick foliage of the trees

spread a deeper shade around; and they were obliged to proceed with

caution. Darkness had long fallen upon the earth when they reached

the cottage, to which they were directed by a light that glimmered

from afar among the trees. The duke left his people at some distance;

and dismounted, and accompanied only by one servant, approached the

cottage. When he reached it he stopped, and looking through the

window, observed a man and woman in the habit of peasants seated at

their supper. They were conversing with earnestness, and the duke,

hoping to obtain farther intelligence of Julia, endeavoured to listen

to their discourse. They were praising the beauty of a lady, whom the

duke did not doubt to be Julia, and the woman spoke much in praise of

the cavalier. 'He has a noble heart,' said she; 'and I am sure, by

his look, belongs to some great family.'--'Nay,' replied her

companion, 'the lady is as good as he. I have been at Palermo, and

ought to know what great folks are, and if she is not one of them,

never take my word again. Poor thing, how she does take on! It made my

heart ache to see her.' They were some time silent.

The duke knocked at the door, and enquired

of the man who opened it concerning the lady and cavalier then in his

cottage. He was assured there were no other persons in the cottage

than those he then saw. The duke persisted in affirming that the

persons he enquired for were there concealed; which the man being as

resolute in denying, he gave the signal, and his people approached,

and surrounded the cottage. The peasants, terrified by this

circumstance, confessed that a lady and cavalier, such as the duke

described, had been for some time concealed in the cottage; but that

they were now departed.

Suspicious of the truth of the latter assertion, the duke ordered his

people to search the cottage, and that part of the forest contiguous

to it. The search ended in disappointment. The duke, however,

resolved to obtain all possible information concerning the fugitives;

and assuming, therefore, a stern air, bade the peasant, on pain of

instant death, discover all he knew of them.