to be read at dusk(黄昏之读)-第3章
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'All goes well； Baptista！'
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We kept no company。 I took la bella to the Duomo and Annunciata；
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to the Cafe； to the Opera； to the village Festa； to the Public Garden； to the
Day Theatre； to the Marionetti。 The pretty little one was charmed with
all she saw。 She learnt Italian … heavens！ miraculously！ Was mistress
quite forgetful of that dream？ I asked Carolina sometimes。 Nearly； said
la bella … almost。 It was wearing out。
One day master received a letter； and called me。
'Baptista！'
'Signore！'
'A gentleman who is presented to me will dine here to…day。 He is
called the Signor Dellombra。 Let me dine like a prince。'
It was an odd name。 I did not know that name。 But； there had been
many noblemen and gentlemen pursued by Austria on political suspicions；
lately； and some names had changed。 Perhaps this was one。 Altro！
Dellombra was as good a name to me as another。
When the Signor Dellombra came to dinner （said the Genoese courier
in the low voice； into which he had subsided once before）； I showed him
into the reception…room； the great sala of the old palazzo。 Master received
him with cordiality； and presented him to mistress。 As she rose； her face
changed； she gave a cry； and fell upon the marble floor。
Then； I turned my head to the Signor Dellombra； and saw that he was
dressed in black； and had a reserved and secret air； and was a dark；
remarkable…looking man； with black hair and a grey moustache。
Master raised mistress in his arms； and carried her to her own room；
where I sent la bella Carolina straight。 La bella told me afterwards that
mistress was nearly terrified to death； and that she wandered in her mind
about her dream； all night。
Master was vexed and anxious … almost angry； and yet full of
solicitude。 The Signor Dellombra was a courtly gentleman； and spoke
with great respect and sympathy of mistress's being so ill。 The African
wind had been blowing for some days （they had told him at his hotel of
the Maltese Cross）； and he knew that it was often hurtful。 He hoped the
beautiful lady would recover soon。 He begged permission to retire； and
to renew his visit when he should have the happiness of hearing that she
was better。 Master would not allow of this； and they dined alone。
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He withdrew early。 Next day he called at the gate； on horse…back； to
inquire for mistress。 He did so two or three times in that week。
What I observed myself； and what la bella Carolina told me； united to
explain to me that master had now set his mind on curing mistress of her
fanciful terror。 He was all kindness； but he was sensible and firm。 He
reasoned with her； that to encourage such fancies was to invite melancholy；
if not madness。 That it rested with herself to be herself。 That if she
once resisted her strange weakness； so successfully as to receive the
Signor Dellombra as an English lady would receive any other guest； it was
for ever conquered。 To make an end； the signore came again； and
mistress received him without marked distress （though with constraint and
apprehension still）； and the evening passed serenely。 Master was so
delighted with this change； and so anxious to confirm it； that the Signor
Dellombra became a constant guest。 He was accomplished in pictures；
books； and music； and his society； in any grim palazzo； would have been
welcome。
I used to notice； many times； that mistress was not quite recovered。
She would cast down her eyes and droop her head； before the Signor
Dellombra； or would look at him with a terrified and fascinated glance； as
if his presence had some evil influence or power upon her。 Turning from
her to him； I used to see him in the shaded gardens； or the large half…
lighted sala； looking； as I might say； 'fixedly upon her out of darkness。'
But； truly； I had not forgotten la bella Carolina's words describing the face
in the dream。
After his second visit I heard master say：
'Now； see； my dear Clara； it's over！ Dellombra has come and gone；
and your apprehension is broken like glass。'
'Will he … will he ever come again？' asked mistress。
'Again？ Why； surely； over and over again！ Are you cold？' （she
shivered）。
'No； dear … but … he terrifies me： are you sure that he need come
again？'
'The surer for the question； Clara！' replied master； cheerfully。
But； he was very hopeful of her complete recovery now； and grew
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more and more so every day。 She was beautiful。 He was happy。
'All goes well； Baptista？' he would say to me again。
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We were all （said the Genoese courier； constraining himself to speak a
little louder）； we were all at Rome for the Carnival。 I had been out； all
day； with a Sicilian； a friend of mine； and a courier； who was there with an
English family。 As I returned at night to our hotel； I met the little
Carolina； who never stirred from home alone； running distractedly along
the Corso。
'Carolina！ What's the matter？'
'O Baptista！ O； for the Lord's sake！ where is my mistress？'
'Mistress； Carolina？'
'Gone since morning … told me； when master went out on his day's
journey； not to call her； for she was tired with not resting in the night
（having been in pain）； and would lie in bed until the evening； then get up
refreshed。 She is gone！ … she is gone！ Master has come back； broken
down the door； and she is gone！ My beautiful； my good； my innocent
mistress！'
The pretty little one so cried； and raved； and tore herself that I could
not have held her； but for her swooning on my arm as if she had been shot。
Master came up … in manner； face； or voice； no more the master that I
knew； than I was he。 He took me （I laid the little one upon her bed in the
hotel； and left her with the chamber…women）； in a carriage； furiously
through the darkness； across the desolate Campagna。 When it was day；
and we stopped at a miserable post…house； all the horses had been hired
twelve hours ago； and sent away in different directions。 Mark me！ by the
Signor Dellombra； who had passed there in a carriage； with a frightened
English lady crouching in one corner。
I never heard （said the Genoese courier； drawing a long breath） that
she was ever traced beyond that spot。 All I know is； that she vanished
into infamous oblivion； with the dreaded face beside her that she had seen
in her dream。
'What do you call THAT？' said the German courier； triumphantly。
'Ghosts！ There are no ghosts THERE！ Wh
