CHAPTER XIII.
THE ITALIAN LOVER.
It was early in the evening succeeding the day on which M. Dantes hadanswered Giovanni Massetti's letter. Zuleika was seated in the vast,sumptuously-furnished salon of the magnificent Morcerf mansion, now, asthe reader already knows, the residence of the famous and mysteriousDeputy from Marseilles. She sat upon a superb green velvet-covered sofa,half reclining in an indolent, picturesque attitude; behind the sofa andleaning over its back stood a young Italian, a perfect model of manlybeauty; his ardent black eyes were riveted on Zuleika's blushingcountenance with a look of the most profound and enthusiastic adoration,while his hand held the young girl's with a gentle, loving pressure,which was returned with unmistakable warmth. The apartment was dimlylighted and huge, sombre patches of shadow lay everywhere. Zuleika andher lover were alone together; for some time they seemed too full ofhappiness to speak, but finally Giovanni said, in a soft, flutelikewhisper, as if unwilling to break with loudly uttered words thedelicious spell of his love-dream:
"Zuleika, darling Zuleika, so you did not once forget me during ourlong, cruel separation?"
"Never for a single instant, Giovanni," answered the young girl, theflush upon her cheek deepening as she spoke, her hand tightening abouther lover's and her lovely eyes filling with a soft fire. "But Isometimes feared you had forgotten me!"
"You were always present in my mind and in my heart," replied theItalian in a tone that thrilled her through and through. Stooping, heplaced his lips to her forehead and imprinted upon it a long and silentkiss; then, flushing in his turn, he added, still holding his headagainst hers: "From the very moment of our first meeting you havereigned in my bosom, my own, my love, the queen of my destiny and mylife!"
"Oh! Giovanni, Giovanni," murmured the young girl, "I am happy, sohappy!"
He kissed her again, this time upon her upturned lips that with a slightmovement almost imperceptibly returned the kiss, sending his bloodtingling through his veins and causing him to tremble with delight fromhead to foot. No longer able to restrain himself, he hastily quitted theback of the sofa, threw himself down beside her and clasping her in hisarms drew her unresistingly upon his bosom. Once there she did not offerto stir, but even nestled closer to him and pillowed her head on hisbroad shoulder. The tumultuous beating of both their hearts was audibleamid the unbroken silence that ensued. With one hand the Viscounttenderly smoothed her silken tresses, and his arm tightened around herwaist as if he had determined never to release her again.
"Your father, in his letter of this morning," said Giovanni finally,"told me there was hope, that you did not look upon my addresses withaversion, and that I had his leave to pay court to you and ascertainyour wishes from your own dear lips. I hastened here this evening, andM. Dantes himself bade me seek you in this salon. I came on the wings oflove and found all my fondest hopes realized; that I possessed yourheart as you possessed mine. Oh! tell me, Zuleika, that this is not alla dream, for it seems too delicious to be true!"
"It is reality, Giovanni, blessed reality," answered the young girl in alow voice.
"And do you really love me with all your soul?"
"With all my soul, Giovanni!"
The ardent Italian showered a flood of burning kisses upon her forehead,cheeks and lips, and she quivered like a leaf in his embrace. Then hesaid, with a shade of anxiety in his tone:
"And your brother Esperance, is he disposed to look upon me withapproval? You know that in Rome he did not see fit to include me in thenumber of his friends. We had a little difference, you will remember,and ever afterwards he was cold toward me."
Zuleika shuddered as she recalled the fact that the little differencealluded to had been a violent quarrel that had nearly resulted in a duelbetween the two young men. She had never known the details, for both herbrother and Giovanni had studiously concealed them from her; indeed,Esperance had carefully avoided all mention of the Viscount's name eversince the day they had become embroiled. Was M. Dantes aware of thetrouble between his son and the youthful Italian? She did not know, but,at the same time, felt firmly persuaded that her father had fullyinvestigated the doings, character and family of her suitor, and wouldnot have sanctioned a renewal of his addresses to her had he not beenperfectly satisfied in every respect. She, therefore, answered:
"I am altogether ignorant as to what Esperance thinks of you, and cannotsay whether he still harbors resentment against you or not; but,whatever may be his opinion and feelings, rest assured that he willnever interfere to cause his sister an instant of unhappiness, moreespecially as he knows that my father looks upon you with a favoringeye."
"But how about the coldness existing between us?"
"Does it still exist on both sides?"
"Not on mine, Zuleika, not on mine. I forgave and forgot all long ago."
"Forgave and forgot! Then Esperance must have wronged you!"
"He did, Zuleika, and with the proverbial hot blood and headlongimpulses of the Roman youth I resented that wrong. But I could notremain at enmity with the brother of the girl I loved, so when I becamecooler I sought him out and endeavored to apologize."
"And he accepted your apology?"
"He did not accept it, but turned on his heel and left me without aword. He evidently thought me a coward and attributed my efforts towardeffecting a reconciliation to a desire to escape fighting him."
"But why did you quarrel in the first place? What was the cause of thedifference between you?"
The young Italian hung his head and did not answer. Zuleika saw that hehad grown deadly pale, and she felt his hand tremble nervously.
Freeing herself from his embrace, the young girl sprang to her feet andfaced him.
"Giovanni," said she, firmly, "tell me the whole story of this painfulaffair. It is imperative that I should know it!"
"Do you doubt me, Zuleika, do you doubt me?" he asked, bitterly, and heburied his face in his hands.
"Do I doubt you, Giovanni? No. But, if you love me, tell me all thedetails of the trouble between my brother and yourself!"
"I cannot, I cannot, Zuleika!" he cried. "Command me to shed the lastdrop of blood in my veins for you and I will do it without an instant'shesitation, but I cannot tell you that terrible tale of deceit,treachery and bloodshed!"
He had arisen and was walking excitedly about the salon; his pallor hadincreased and he trembled in every limb.
Zuleika stood with folded arms and gazed at him; she was calm and hereyes had a look of determination the young man had never before beheldin them; it filled him with dismay. A few moments ago she had been alllove and tenderness, a yielding, trusting maiden in her lover's arms;now, she resembled a beautiful Amazon bent on achieving a victory, whomnothing but unconditional surrender would satisfy.
"The story, the story," she repeated, "tell me the story!"
Her face was as white as marble and her faultless lips seemed chiseledfrom stone. She looked so beautiful and tempting as she stood there, hersurpassing loveliness enhanced by the picturesque half-oriental,half-Parisian dress she wore, that the Viscount felt his passion for herredoubled. He flung himself at her feet and seizing the hem of hersuperb robe kissed it rapturously.
"Oh! Zuleika, Zuleika," he cried, utterly unable to restrain himself, "Iam your slave! Place your tiny foot upon my neck and crush me where Ilie! I shall expire adoring you!"
"Giovanni," replied Zuleika, greatly moved by this display of devotion,"rise and be a man!"
The Italian sprang up as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt; then heendeavored to clasp her in his arms, but she quietly repulsed him.
"Zuleika," cried he, sadly, "you do not love me; you never loved me; Ihave been the victim of a cruel deception!"
"If you think so," answered the young girl, quietly, "there is but onecourse you can pursue as a man of honor--spurn the deceiver from you andnever look upon her face again!"
The young man gazed at her reproachfully.
"What have I done to turn you thus aga
inst me?" he asked, his tonesuddenly becoming humble.
"What have you done? You refuse to reveal this mystery to me, which, asyou yourself admit, involves deceit, treachery and bloodshed, and which,for aught I know, has set an indelible stain upon your life! I love youtruly, love you with all the passion of a woman's nature, but I mustknow this history that I may judge whether you are worthy of my love!"
"I assure you, Zuleika, that there is no stain upon my life, that thereis nothing in this history that tends in the least to dishonor me, butstill I cannot speak."
"Then we must separate."
"Oh! Zuleika, Zuleika, do not be pitiless! You will drive me mad!"
The young girl touched a bell and Ali, the Nubian, appeared.
"Monsieur is about taking his departure," said she to the faithfulservant. "I leave him in your hands."
And without a word of farewell to Giovanni, she swept from the salonlike a queen.
The Viscount gazed after her with indescribable sadness pictured uponhis handsome countenance. Then he followed Ali, put on his overcoat andhat and regretfully left the house.