The Argosy — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

116 The Perplexities of Captain Fieramosca. the pretty Clelia and her mother, and that dreadful old Biagio, I should so much like to help you if you would only allow me.” Allow her! at first Fieramosca was speechless with delight. But he speedily refound his tongue and poured forth his gratitude. And as Mrs. Walford revelled in kind acts and took an amiable pleasure in being thanked for them, she grew every moment more cordial, sympathetic and delightful. ‘My brother-in-law is just now at —-— with my sister, who has not been well, you know,” she said. ‘‘ Otherwise I should have had you introduced to me some days ago. I was only waiting for his re-urn, and now chance has supplied his place. ‘The fact seems to me of good omen. You will call to-morrow morning and talk your troubles cver. No thanks, at least yet. Good night!” And with a warm hand- clasp, which the old ab duly witnessed, they parted. ITT, THE next morning needless to say, saw Fieramosca in Mrs, Walford’s drawing-room. She received him with the charming kindness which seemed habitual to her, and told him that she had spent a part of the night in musing over the means of helping him. ‘‘T have thought of an excuse for introducing myself to the Signora Maria,” she said, ‘‘and I think that with a little patience I might induce her to let me have Clelia here sometimes. ‘Thus you would see one another, and she would be inspired with fresh courage for resisting. It all sounds rather Jesuitical, I am afraid,” added the young widow, laughing, “but we are told that everything is fair in love; and it would be too bad if the poor child were bullied into marrying that indescribable old man after all.” Poor Fieramosca groaned. ‘The plan would be ae cara Szenora. But alas! time presses. The marriage is fixed for next week.” Mrs. Walford clasped her white hands in despair. She had no idea that matters had gone so far. ‘‘ And is there zobody to prevent such infamy ? ” ‘Nobody, now that Enrico is away.” ‘And will he not come?” asked Mrs. Walford, apparently not needing to ask who Enrico might be. Fieramosca explained the state of the case. ‘The brigand country !” echoed his hearer, with a strange catch of her breath. ‘‘ Is—is that not a service of great danger just now?” ‘“ Well—it is what a soldier wants,” answered the officer, rather wondering at the question. She made no immediate reply, and he added gloomily, “‘I wish J, too, were in the brigand country.” ‘You and Signor Enrico Renier though in the same branch of the service are in different corps. How is it you are such dear friends ?” inquired Mrs. Walford. ECORNIE OOO KS (E(0)