The Argosy — page 303: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

286 A Freak of Fortune. room. It was, however, like Signora Giulia herself, rich in experiences, which its homely exterior would not have led one to expect. I reseated myself and she continued:) The Arciprete, good man, swallowing his mortification and dis- comfiture, preached on the following Sunday a somewhat startling sermon ; to me, at least; inasmuch as he spoke of the surprise which his Holiness and himself had prepared for the people of Monte del? Caccia, dilating largely on the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, He said, likewise, that a marble tablet, commemorative of the great event, must be let into the external wall of Villa Zuccone, so that it might be read by all, and known to all future generations. This was a hint to Zuccone, on whom nothing which could contribute to his greatness was lost. He, however, without regard either to the public or posterity, at once ordered this marble tablet at his own ex- pense. It was inserted in the wall of the saloon which I occupied, where his Holiness was entertained, and announced to all posterity that ‘‘Il1 sommo Pontefice Pius IX., when visiting the monks of Sopra Monte, on Sept. 13th, 1852, attended by many illustrious Eminences, deigned to repose himself twice in this room, blessing and permitting the family of Cavaliere Tomaso Zuccone, the founder of this house, to kiss his sacred foot ; and that in perpetual remembrance of this, he has had this marble placed in the wall.” But now observe: this Zuccone, only on the very day of this illus- trious visit, was an ignorant vine-striper. Poor he was born, but, partly by industry, and partly, it was said, by accident, he had made money and built this house. His children were ignorant, and bred to toil;his wife, a contadina, washed her own linen; and Zuccone himself had not apparently an idea beyond his vineyard and olive-grounds. Now, how- ever, he is a Cavaliere and a nobleman, and in this it is that consists the Freak of Fortune. The very morning after the eventful 13th of September the half witted hermit-priest of Maria della Rocca, meeting Zuccone, addressed him as il Signor Cavaliere. ‘‘ What is the meaning of that?” asked Zuccone, speaking grufily, as was his custom. The poor old hermit, thinking that he had some way unwittingly done wrong, apologised ; saying he thought he must be so, because he knew, when he was a boy, a mercante di campagna who, owing to a passing visit of Pius VII. to his house, became ennobled, both him and his family. This was enough for Zuccone. He at once set off to an avocato, or lawyer, in Rome; who, scarcely investigating the matter, assured him that he, the sinuple vine-dresser, was ennobled by the Papal visit, and raised to the rank of Cavaliere. © - Never was there a more complete Freak of Fortune ; but, as Fortune’s Eomiecbooks €om