第5章
"Letusdropthesubject，"saidshe，withincomparabledignityofgesture，expression，andattitude。"Makeasplendidfortune，beoneoftheremarkablemenofyourcountry；thatismydesire。Fameisadrawbridgewhichmayservetocrossadeepgulf。Beambitiousifyoumust。Ibelieveyouhavegreatandpowerfultalents，butusethemratherforthehappinessofmankindthantodeserveme；youwillbeallthegreaterinmyeyes。"
Inthecourseofthisconversation，whichlastedtwohours，RodolphediscoveredthatFrancescawasanenthusiastforLiberalideas，andforthatworshipoflibertywhichhadledtothethreerevolutionsinNaples，Piemont，andSpain。Onleaving，hewasshowntothedoorbyGina，theso-calledmute。Ateleveno"clocknoonewasastirinthevillage，therewasnofearoflisteners；RodolphetookGinaintoacorner，andaskedherinalowvoiceandbadItalian，"Whoareyourmasterandmistress，child？Tellme，Iwillgiveyouthisfinenewgoldpiece。"
"Monsieur，"saidthegirl，takingthecoin，"mymasteristhefamousbooksellerLampariniofMilan，oneoftheleadersoftherevolution，andtheconspiratorofallotherswhomAustriawouldmostliketohaveintheSpielberg。"
"Abookseller"swife!Ah，somuchthebetter，"thoughthe；"weareonanequalfooting——Andwhatisherfamily？"headded，"forshelookslikeaqueen。"
"AllItalianwomendo，"repliedGinaproudly。"Herfather"snameisColonna。"
EmboldenedbyFrancesca"smodestrank，Rodolphehadanawningfittedtohisboatandcushionsinthestern。Whenthiswasdone，thelovercametoproposetoFrancescatocomeoutonthelake。TheItalianaccepted，nodoubttocarryoutherpartofayoungEnglishMissintheeyesofthevillagers，butshebroughtGinawithher。FrancescaColonna"slightestactionsbetrayedasuperioreducationandthehighestsocialrank。BythewayinwhichshetookherplaceattheendoftheboatRodolphefelthimselfinsomesortcutofffromher，and，inthefaceofalookofprideworthyofanaristocrat，thefamiliarityhehadintendedfelldead。ByaglanceFrancescamadeherselfaprincess，withalltheprerogativesshemighthaveenjoyedintheMiddleAges。Sheseemedtohavereadthethoughtsofthisvassalwhowassoaudaciousastoconstitutehimselfherprotector。
Already，inthefurnitureoftheroomwhereFrancescahadreceivedhim，inherdress，andinthevarioustriflesshemadeuseof，Rodolphehaddetectedindicationsofasuperiorcharacterandafinefortune。Alltheseobservationsnowrecurredtohismind；hebecamethoughtfulafterhavingbeentrampledon，asitwere，byFrancesca"sdignity。Gina，herhalf-grown-up/confidante/，alsoseemedtohaveamockingexpressionasshegaveacovertorasideglanceatRodolphe。
ThisobviousdisagreementbetweentheItalianlady"srankandhermannerswasafreshpuzzletoRodolphe，whosuspectedsomefurthertricklikeGina"sassumeddumbness。
"Wherewouldyougo，SignoraLamporani？"heasked。
"TowardsLucerne，"repliedFrancescainFrench。
"Good!"saidRodolphetohimself，"sheisnotstartledbyhearingmespeakhername；shehad，nodoubt，foreseenthatIshouldaskGina——
sheissocunning——Whatisyourquarrelwithme？"hewenton，goingatlasttositdownbyherside，andaskingherbyagesturetogivehimherhand，whichshewithdrew。"Youarecoldandceremonious；what，incolloquiallanguage，weshouldcall/short/。"
"Itistrue，"sherepliedwithasmile。"Iamwrong。Itisnotgoodmanners；itisvulgar。InFrenchyouwouldcallitinartistic。Itisbettertobefrankthantoharborcoldorhostilefeelingstowardsafriend，andyouhavealreadyprovedyourselfmyfriend。PerhapsIhavegonetoofarwithyou。Youmusttakemetobeaveryordinarywoman。"——
Rodolphemademanysignsofdenial——"Yes，"saidthebookseller"swife，goingonwithoutnoticingthispantomime，which，however，sheplainlysaw。"Ihavedetectedthat，andnaturallyIhavereconsideredmyconduct。Well!Iwillputanendtoeverythingbyafewwordsofdeeptruth。Understandthis，Rodolphe:Ifeelinmyselfthestrengthtostifleafeelingifitwerenotinharmonywithmyideasoranticipationofwhattrueloveis。Icouldlove——aswecanloveinItaly，butIknowmyduty。Nointoxicationcanmakemeforgetit。
Marriedwithoutmyconsenttothatpooroldman，Imighttakeadvantageofthelibertyhesogenerouslygivesme；butthreeyearsofmarriedlifeimplyacceptanceofitslaws。Hencethemostvehementpassionwouldnevermakemeutter，eveninvoluntarily，awishtofindmyselffree。
"Emilioknowsmycharacter。Heknowsthatwithoutmyheart，whichismyown，andwhichImightgiveaway，Ishouldneverallowanyonetotakemyhand。ThatiswhyIhavejustrefusedittoyou。Idesiretobelovedandwaitedforwithfidelity，nobleness，ardor，whileallI
cangiveisinfinitetendernessofwhichtheexpressionmaynotoversteptheboundaryoftheheart，thepermittedneutralground。Allthisbeingthoroughlyunderstood——Oh!"shewentonwithagirlishgesture，"Iwillbeascoquettish，asgay，asglad，asachildwhichknowsnothingofthedangersoffamiliarity。"
Thisplainandfrankdeclarationwasmadeinatone，anaccent，andsupportedbyalookwhichgaveitthedeepeststampoftruth。
"APrincessColonnacouldnothavespokenbetter，"saidRodolphe，smiling。
"Isthat，"sheansweredwithsomehaughtiness，"areflectiononthehumblenessofmybirth？Mustyourloveflauntacoat-of-arms？AtMilanthenoblestnamesarewrittenovershop-doors:Sforza，Canova，Visconti，Trivulzio，Ursini；thereareArchintosapothecaries；but，believeme，thoughIkeepashop，Ihavethefeelingsofaduchess。"
"Areflection？Nay，madame，Imeantitforpraise。"
"Byacomparison？"shesaidarchly。
"Ah，onceforall，"saidhe，"nottotorturemeifmywordsshouldillexpressmyfeelings，understandthatmyloveisperfect；itcarrieswithitabsoluteobedienceandrespect。"
Shebowedasawomansatisfied，andsaid，"Thenmonsieuracceptsthetreaty？"
"Yes，"saidhe。"Icanunderstandthatinarichandpowerfulfemininenaturethefacultyoflovingoughtnottobewasted，andthatyou，outofdelicacy，wishedtorestrainit。Ah!Francesca，atmyagetendernessrequited，andbysosublime，soroyallybeautifulacreatureasyouare——why，itisthefulfilmentofallmywishes。Toloveyouasyoudesiretobeloved——isnotthatenoughtomakeayoungmanguardhimselfagainsteveryevilfolly？Isitnottoconcentrateallhispowersinanoblepassion，ofwhichinthefuturehemaybeproud，andwhichcanleavenonebutlovelymemories？IfyoucouldbutknowwithwhathuesyouhaveclothedthechainofPilatus，theRigi，andthissuperblake——"
"Iwanttoknow，"saidshe，withtheItalianartlessnesswhichhasalwaysatouchofartfulness。
"Well，thishourwillshineonallmylifelikeadiamondonaqueen"sbrow。"
Francesca"sonlyreplywastolayherhandonRodolphe"s。
"Ohdearest!foreverdearest!——Tellme，haveyouneverloved？"
"Never。"
"Andyouallowmetoloveyounobly，lookingtoheavenfortheutmostfulfilment？"heasked。
Shegentlybentherhead。TwolargetearsrolleddownRodolphe"scheeks。
"Why!whatisthematter？"shecried，abandoningherimperialmanner。
"IhavenownomotherwhomIcantellofmyhappiness；sheleftthisearthwithoutseeingwhatwouldhavemitigatedheragony——"
"What？"saidshe。
"Hertendernessreplacedbyanequaltenderness——"
"/Poveromio/!"exclaimedtheItalian，muchtouched。"Believeme，"shewentonafterapause，"itisaverysweetthing，andtoawoman，astrongelementoffidelitytoknowthatsheisallinallonearthtothemansheloves；tofindhimlonely，withnofamily，withnothinginhisheartbuthislove——inshort，tohavehimwhollytoherself。"
Whentwoloversthusunderstandeachother，theheartfeelsdeliciouspeace，supremetranquillity。Certaintyisthebasisforwhichhumanfeelingscrave，foritisneverlackingtoreligioussentiment；manisalwayscertainofbeingfullyrepaidbyGod。Loveneverbelievesitselfsecurebutbythisresemblancetodivinelove。Andtherapturesofthatmomentmusthavebeenfullyfelttobeunderstood；itisuniqueinlife；itcanneverreturnnomore，alas!thantheemotionsofyouth。Tobelieveinawoman，tomakeheryourhumanreligion，thefountoflife，thesecretluminaryofallyourleastthoughts!——isnotthisasecondbirth？Andayoungmanmingleswiththislovealittleofthefeelinghehadforhismother。
RodolpheandFrancescaforsometimeremainedinperfectsilence，answeringeachotherbysympatheticglancesfullofthoughts。TheyunderstoodeachotherinthemidstofoneofthemostbeautifulscenesofNature，whoseglories，interpretedbythegloryintheirhearts，helpedtostampontheirmindsthemostfugitivedetailsofthatuniquehour。TherehadnotbeentheslightestshadeoffrivolityinFrancesca"sconduct。Itwasnoble，large，andwithoutanysecondthought。ThismagnanimitystruckRodolphegreatly，forinitherecognizedthedifferencebetweentheItalianandtheFrenchwoman。Thewaters，theland，thesky，thewoman，allweregrandioseandsuave，eventheirloveinthemidstofthispicture，sovastinitsexpanse，sorichindetail，wherethesternnessofthesnowypeaksandtheirhardfoldsstandingclearlyoutagainstthebluesky，remindedRodolpheofthecircumstanceswhichlimitedhishappiness；alovelycountryshutinbysnows。
Thisdelightfulintoxicationofsoulwasdestinedtobedisturbed。A
boatwasapproachingfromLucerne；Gina，whohadbeenwatchingitattentively，gaveajoyfulstart，thoughfaithfultoherpartasamute。Thebarkcamenearer；whenatlengthFrancescacoulddistinguishthefacesonboard，sheexclaimed，"Tito!"assheperceivedayoungman。Shestoodup，andremainedstandingattheriskofbeingdrowned。
"Tito!Tito!"criedshe，wavingherhandkerchief。
Titodesiredtheboatmentoslacken，andthetwoboatspulledsidebyside。TheItalianandTitotalkedwithsuchextremerapidity，andinadialectunfamiliartoamanwhohardlykneweventheItalianofbooks，thatRodolphecouldneitherhearnorguessthedriftofthisconversation。ButTito"shandsomeface，Francesca"sfamiliarity，andGina"sexpressionofdelight，allaggrievedhim。Andindeednolovercanhelpbeingillpleasedatfindinghimselfneglectedforanother，whoeverhemaybe。TitotossedalittleleatherbagtoGina，fullofgoldnodoubt，andapacketofletterstoFrancesca，whobegantoreadthem，withafarewellwaveofthehandtoTito。
"GetquicklybacktoGersau，"shesaidtotheboatmen，"IwillnotletmypoorEmiliopinetenminuteslongerthanheneed。"
"Whathashappened？"askedRodolphe，ashesawFrancescafinishreadingthelastletter。
"/Laliberta/!"sheexclaimed，withanartist"senthusiasm。
"/Edenaro/!"addedGina，likeanecho，forshehadfoundhertongue。
"Yes，"saidFrancesca，"nomorepoverty!FormorethanelevenmonthshaveIbeenworking，andIwasbeginningtobetiredofit。Iamcertainlynotaliterarywoman。"
"WhoisthisTito？"askedRodolphe。
"TheSecretaryofStatetothefinancialdepartmentofthehumbleshopoftheColonnas，inotherwords，thesonofour/ragionato/。Poorboy!
hecouldnotcomebytheSaint-Gothard，norbytheMont-Cenis，norbytheSimplon；hecamebysea，byMarseilles，andhadtocrossFrance。
Well，inthreeweeksweshallbeatGeneva，andlivingatourease。
Come，Rodolphe，"sheadded，seeingsadnessoverspreadtheParisian"sface，"isnottheLakeofGenevaquiteasgoodastheLakeofLucerne？"
"ButallowmetobestowaregretontheBergmanns"delightfulhouse，"
saidRodolphe，pointingtothelittlepromontory。
"Comeanddinewithustoaddtoyourassociations，/poveromio/，"
saidshe。"Thisisagreatday；weareoutofdanger。Mymotherwritesthatwithinayeartherewillbeanamnesty。Oh!/lacarapatria/!"
ThesethreewordsmadeGinaweep。"Anotherwinterhere，"saidshe，"andIshouldhavebeendead!"
"PoorlittleSiciliankid!"saidFrancesca，strokingGina"sheadwithanexpressionandanaffectionwhichmadeRodolphelongtobesocaressed，evenifitwerewithoutlove。
Theboatgrounded；Rodolphesprangontothesand，offeredhishandtotheItalianlady，escortedhertothedooroftheBergmanns"house，andwenttodressandreturnassoonaspossible。
Whenhejoinedthelibrarianandhiswife，whoweresittingonthebalcony，Rodolphecouldscarcelyrepressanexclamationofsurpriseatseeingtheprodigiouschangewhichthegoodnewshadproducedintheoldman。Henowsawamanofaboutsixty，extremelywellpreserved，aleanItalian，asstraightasanI，withhairstillblack，thoughthinandshowingawhiteskull，withbrighteyes，afullsetofwhiteteeth，afacelikeCaesar，andonhisdiplomaticlipsasardonicsmile，thealmostfalsesmileunderwhichamanofgoodbreedinghideshisrealfeelings。
"Hereismyhusbandunderhisnaturalform，"saidFrancescagravely。
"Heisquiteanewacquaintance，"repliedRodolphe，bewildered。
"Quite，"saidthelibrarian；"Ihaveplayedmanyapart，andknowwellhowtomakeup。Ah!IplayedoneinParisundertheEmpire，withBourrienne，MadameMurat，Madamed"Abrantis/etuttequanti/。
Everythingwetakethetroubletolearninouryouth，eventhemostfutile，isofuse。Ifmywifehadnotreceivedaman"seducation——anunheard-ofthinginItaly——Ishouldhavebeenobligedtochopwoodtogetmylivinghere。/Povera/Francesca!whowouldhavetoldmethatshewouldsomedaymaintainme!"
Ashelistenedtothisworthybookseller，soeasy，soaffable，sohale，Rodolphescentedsomemystification，andpreservedthewatchfulsilenceofamanwhohasbeenduped。
"/Cheavete，signor/？"Francescaaskedwithsimplicity。"Doesourhappinesssaddenyou？"
"Yourhusbandisayoungman，"hewhisperedinherear。
Shebrokeintosuchafrank，infectiouslaughthatRodolphewasstillmorepuzzled。
"Heisbutsixty-five，atyourservice，"saidshe；"butIcanassureyouthateventhatissomething——tobethankfulfor!"
"Idonotliketohearyoujestaboutanaffectionsosacredasthis，ofwhichyouyourselfprescribedtheconditions。"
"/Zitto/!"saidshe，stampingherfoot，andlookingwhetherherhusbandwerelistening。"Neverdisturbthepeaceofmindofthatdearman，assimpleasachild，andwithwhomIcandowhatIplease。Heisundermyprotection，"sheadded。"IfyoucouldknowwithwhatgenerosityheriskedhislifeandfortunebecauseIwasaLiberal!forhedoesnotsharemypoliticalopinions。Isnotthatlove，MonsieurFrenchman？——Buttheyarelikethatinhisfamily。Emilio"syoungerbrotherwasdesertedforahandsomeyouthbythewomanheloved。Hethrusthisswordthroughhisownhearttenminutesafterhehadsaidtohisservant，"Icouldofcoursekillmyrival，butthatwouldgrievethe/Diva/toodeeply。""
Thismixtureofdignityandbanter，ofhaughtinessandplayfulness，madeFrancescaatthismomentthemostfascinatingcreatureintheworld。Thedinnerandtheeveningwerefullofcheerfulness，justified，indeed，bythereliefofthetworefugees，butdepressingtoRodolphe。
"Canshebefickle？"heaskedhimselfashereturnedtotheStopfers"
house。"Shesympathizedinmysorrow，andIcannottakepartinherjoy!"
Heblamedhimself，justifyingthisgirl-wife。
"Shehasnotaintofhypocrisy，andiscarriedawaybyimpulse，"
thoughthe，"andIwanthertobelikeaParisianwoman。"
Nextdayandthefollowingdays，infact，fortwentydaysafter，RodolphespentallhistimeattheBergmanns"，watchingFrancescawithouthavingdeterminedtowatchher。Insomesoulsadmirationisnotindependentofacertainpenetration。TheyoungFrenchmandiscernedinFrancescatheimprudenceofgirlhood，thetruenatureofawomanasyetunbroken，sometimesstrugglingagainstherlove，andatothermomentsyieldingandcarriedawaybyit。Theoldmancertainlybehavedtoherasafathertohisdaughter，andFrancescatreatedhimwithadeeplyfeltgratitudewhichrousedherinstinctivenobleness。
ThesituationandthewomanweretoRodolpheanimpenetrableenigma，ofwhichthesolutionattractedhimmoreandmore。
Theselastdayswerefullofsecretjoys，alternatingwithmelancholymoods，withtiffsandquarrelsevenmoredelightfulthanthehourswhenRodolpheandFrancescawereofonemind。Andhewasmoreandmorefascinatedbythistendernessapartfromwit，alwaysandinallthingsthesame，anaffectionthatwasjealousofmerenothings——already!
"Youcareverymuchforluxury？"saidheoneeveningtoFrancesca，whowasexpressingherwishtogetawayfromGersau，whereshemissedmanythings。
"I!"criedshe。"IloveluxuryasIlovethearts，asIloveapicturebyRaphael，afinehorse，abeautifulday，ortheBayofNaples。
Emilio，"shewenton，"haveIevercomplainedhereduringourdaysofprivation。"
"Youwouldnothavebeenyourselfifyouhad，"repliedtheoldmangravely。
"Afterall，isitnotinthenatureofplainfolkstoaspiretograndeur？"sheasked，withamischievousglanceatRodolpheandatherhusband。"Weremyfeetmadeforfatigue？"sheadded，puttingouttwoprettylittlefeet。"Myhands"——andsheheldoneouttoRodolphe——
"werethosehandsmadetowork？——Leaveus，"shesaidtoherhusband；
"Iwanttospeaktohim。"
Theoldmanwentintothedrawing-roomwithsublimegoodfaith；hewassureofhiswife。
"IwillnothaveyoucomewithustoGeneva，"shesaidtoRodolphe。
"Itisagossipingtown。ThoughIamfarabovethenonsensetheworldtalks，Idonotchoosetobecalumniated，notformyownsake，butforhis。Imakeitmypridetobethegloryofthatoldman，whois，afterall，myonlyprotector。Weareleaving；stayhereafewdays。WhenyoucomeontoGeneva，callfirstonmyhusband，andlethimintroduceyoutome。Letushideourgreatandunchangeableaffectionfromtheeyesoftheworld。Iloveyou；youknowit；butthisishowIwillproveittoyou——youshallneverdiscerninmyconductanythingwhateverthatmayarouseyourjealousy。"
Shedrewhimintoacornerofthebalcony，kissedhimontheforehead，andfled，leavinghiminamazement。
NextdayRodolpheheardthatthelodgersattheBergmanns"hadleftatdaybreak。ItthenseemedtohimintolerabletoremainatGersau，andhesetoutforVevaybythelongestroute，startingsoonerthanwasnecessary。AttractedtothewatersofthelakewherethebeautifulItalianawaitedhim，hereachedGenevabytheendofOctober。ToavoidthediscomfortsofthetownhetookroomsinahouseatEaux-Vives，outsidethewalls。Assoonashewassettled，hisfirstcarewastoaskhislandlord，aretiredjeweler，whethersomeItalianrefugeesfromMilanhadnotlatelycometoresideatGeneva。
"NotsofarasIknow，"repliedtheman。"PrinceandPrincessColonnaofRomehavetakenMonsieurJeanrenaud"splaceforthreeyears；itisoneofthefinestonthelake。ItissituatedbetweentheVillaDiodatiandthatofMonsieurLafin-de-Dieu，lettotheVicomtessedeBeauseant。PrinceColonnahascometoseehisdaughterandhisson-in-
lawPrinceGandolphini，aNeopolitan，orifyoulike，aSicilian，anoldadherentofKingMurat"s，andavictimofthelastrevolution。
ThesearethelastarrivalsatGeneva，andtheyarenotMilanese。
Seriousstepshadtobetaken，andthePope"sinterestintheColonnafamilywasinvoked，toobtainpermissionfromtheforeignpowersandtheKingofNaplesforthePrinceandPrincessGandolphinitolivehere。GenevaisanxioustodonothingtodispleasetheHolyAlliancetowhichitowesitsindependence。/Our/partisnottoruffleforeigncourts；therearemanyforeignershere，RussiansandEnglish。"
"EvensomeGevenese？"
"Yes，monsieur，ourlakeissofine!LordByronlivedhereaboutsevenyearsattheVillaDiodati，whicheveryonegoestoseenow，likeCoppetandFerney。"