CHAPTER XIII. THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
Rome is the museum of the fine arts, the curiosity-shop of the world.There are collected the ruins of the ancient societies, temples,columns, statues, the remains of Italian and Grecian genius,_chefs-d'ouvre_ of Praxiteles, Phidias, Raphael, Michael Angelo, and ahundred masters. Fountains, from which arise marine colossi, chiefly,alas, in ruins, meet the eye on all sides. The stranger is struck withamazement and admiration at the sight of these gigantic works of art,upon many of which are engraved the mighty battles of a wonderfulby-gone age. It is not the fault of the priest if their beauty is notmarred by endless mitres and superstitious signs. But they are stillmarvellous and beautiful, and it was among them that Julia, thebeautiful daughter of Albion, was constantly to be found. She hadresided for several years in this city of sublime memorials, anddaily passed the greater part of her time in sketching all that to hercultivated taste appeared most worthy of imitation and study. MichaelAngelo was her especially favored _maestro_, and she might frequently beseen sitting for hours before his colossal statue of Moses, rapt in thelabor of depicting that brow, upon which, to her vivid imagination, satan air of majestic greatness that appeared almost supernatural. Born andbred in free and noble England, she had separated herself voluntarilyfrom loving and beloved friends, that she might thus wander undisturbedamong the objects of her idolatry. Unexpectedly, her pursuits had beeninterrupted by a stronger feeling than art. She had encounteredMuzio many times in the studio of the sculptor Manlio, and, poor andapparently low as he was, Julia had found under the ragged garb of amendicant her ideal of the proud race of the Quirites.
Yes, obscure though he was, Muzio was beloved by this strange Englishgirl. He was poor, but what cared she for his poverty.
And Muzio, did he know and return this generous love?
Yes, in truth; but, although he would have given his life to save hers,he concealed all consciousness of her interest, and allowed not a singleaction to betray it, though he longed fervently for occasion to renderher some trifling service, and the opportunity came. As Julia wasreturning from Manlio's studio, some few days before his arrest,accompanied by her faithful old nurse, two drunken soldiers rushed uponher from a by-way, and dragged her between them some little distance,before Muzio, who secretly kept her in view during such transits, couldcome to her succor. No sooner had he reached them, than he struck oneruffian to the earth, seeing which, his fellow ran away. The terrifiedJulia thanked him with natural emotion, and besought him not to leavethem until they reached their own door. Muzio gladly accepted thedelicious honor of the escort, and felt supremely happy when, at theirparting, Julia gave him the favor of her hand, and rewarded him with apriceless smile. From this evening Muzio's dagger was consecrated toher safety, and he vowed that never again should she be insulted in thestreets of Rome.
It befell that the same day upon which Silvia went to the palace Corsinito present her petition, Julia was paying one of her visits to thestudio. Arriving there, she was informed by a lad in attendance ofall that had occurred. Whilst pondering over the ominous tale, Attilioentered in quest of the ladies, and from him the English girl learnedthe particulars of Manlio's escape. His narration finished, Julia, inturn, recounted to him the views that the youth had imparted to herconcerning the presentation of the petition.
Attilio was much distressed, and could with difficulty be restrainedfrom going directly to the palace in search of Silvia and her daughter.This would have been very imprudent, and therefore Julia offered, as shehad access at all times to the palace, to go to the Cardinal's house,and ascertain the cause of the now prolonged absence of the mother anddaughter, promising to return and tell him the result.
Attilio, thoroughly spent with excitement and fatigue, yielded toSpartaco's invitation to take some rest, whilst the boy related to himthe particulars of what had passed since he left them to carry out therescue of his friend.