CHAPTER XXXVII. THE ANTIQUARY
It was Easter Eve. Every thing in the antique monument was in readinessfor the siege, and those of the band who were not on duty were assembledwith Orazio and the ladies in the spacious dining-hall. After a trulyHomeric supper, which was enlivened by some patriotic toasts, Emiliothe antiquary, who desired to put them on their guard against anycontretemps that might arise, asked permission of his commander to speaka few words. Consent being given, Emilio began thus:-
"As we shall soon have to take refuge in the subterranean passages, Iwish, by way of precaution, to narrate a circumstance that happened tome a few years ago in the vicinity of Rome. You all remember the superbmausoleum of Cecilia Metella, erected by a Roman patrician in honor ofhis daughter, who died in her twelfth year.
"You know, too, that that mausoleum is beautiful among all our ruins,and, like the Pantheon, one of the best preserved. But what you donot, perhaps, know, is that under it is the opening to a subterraneanpassage, leading no one knows whither. One day I determined toinvestigate this dark place, and as, in my youthful folly and pride,I thought I should not have so much merit if I were accompanied by anyone, I resolved to go alone. Providing myself with an immense ball oftwine, so large that I could scarcely grasp it, and a bundle of tapers,some bread, and a flask of wine, I ventured out very early in themorning, descended into the bowels of the earth, having previouslysecured the end of my twine at the entrance to the tunnel, and commencedmy mysterious journey. Onward, onward I went under the gloomy arches,and the farther I went the more my curiosity was excited. It appearedtruly astounding to me that any human being destined by God to dwellupon the earth, and enjoy the fruits and blessed light of the sun,should ever have condemned himself to perpetual darkness, or haveworked so hard, like the mole, to construct such a secure but fearfulhabitation. Wretched, and bitterly terrified, although rich, must havebeen those who, at the cost of so much labor, excavated these giganticworks for hiding-places.
"While such thoughts were passing through my mind, I continued to walk,lighted by my taper, unrolling my ball at the same time, and endeavoringto follow in a direction originally indicated by the narrow passage atthe entrance; but I discovered that the gloomy lane gradually widened,and was supported by columns of clay, from between which opened variousalleys, spreading out in all directions. These were fantastically andunsymmetrically arranged, as if the architect had wished to involveany trespassers in an inextricable labyrinth. The observations I madetroubled me somewhat, and I speak frankly when I say that I occasionallyfelt my courage failing me, and was several times on the point ofturning back, but Pride cried, 'Of what use were these preparations ifyour expedition is to be a failure?'
"I felt ashamed of myself for my terror; besides, had I not my guidingthread that would lead me back to security? Onward I went again,unwinding my twine, and lighting, from time to time, a fresh taper, aseach became consumed. At last I came to the end of my twine, and, muchto my discontent, I had encountered nothing but a profound solitude. Iwas tired and rather discouraged at having such a long road to retrace.While I stood contemplating my position, and holding the end of thethread firmly, lest I should lose it, and anxiously regarding my lasttaper, which I feared every moment would be extinguished, I heard arustling, as of a woman's dress, behind me, and, while turning round todiscover the cause, a breath blew out my light, some one tore the threadviolently out of my fingers, and my arms were seized with such forcethat the very bones seemed to crack, while a cloth was thrown over myhead, completely blinding me.
"A presentiment of danger is oft times harder to bear than the dangeritself. I had felt very much terrified when I first heard the footstepsapproaching me, but now that I was being led by the hand like a child,my fear fled: I had to do with flesh and blood. I walked boldly along.Although I was blinded, I was conscious another light had been struck,and that the touch and footsteps near me were those of living beings,and not of spirits. In this manner I proceeded for some minutes, andthen the veil or bandage was removed from my eyes, and, to my amazement,I found myself in a small room, brilliantly illuminated, with a table inthe centre splendidly laid out, around which sat twenty hearty fellowsfeasting merrily."
During the antiquary's narrative, a smile had passed over Gasparo's facefrom time to time; now he rose, and extending his hand to Emilio, said,with some motion-
"Ah, my friend, were you then that incautious explorer? I dwelt in thecatacombs in those days with my band; and the emissaries of Rome, beforeventuring into them, generally made their wills, if prudent. The womanwho blew out your light, and who afterwards showed you so much kindnesswas my Alba, who died a short time since from grief on account of mysufferings and imprisonment."
"Oh!" exclaimed the antiquary, "was it you who sat at the head of thetable, and received as much homage from your men as if you had been inreality a sovereign?"
"Yes, it was I," replied the bandit, somewhat mournfully, notingEmilio's surprise; "years and the irons and cruelties of those wretchedmen calling themselves ministers of God have wrinkled my forehead andsilvered these hairs. But my conscience is pure. I have treated everyunhappy creature kindly, and you know whether you received any harmfrom us, or if even a hair of your head were touched. I wished only tohumiliate those proud voluptuaries who live in luxury and vice at theexpense of suffering humanity; and with God's help and yours, although Iam old, I yet hope to see my country freed from their monstrous yoke."
"Yes," answered the antiquary affectionately, "I received the greatestkindness from you and your lady. I shall never forget it as long as Ilive."
And then turning to the company, he continued his recital:
"I was much shaken by my solitary exploration, and a little, too, bymy unexpected encounter; and was so feverish inconsequence, that I wascompelled to remain two days in the subterranean abode; and duringthat time I received, as you have heard, the greatest care and the mostdelicate attentions from the amiable Alba, who not only provided me withevery necessary, but watched assiduously by my pillow. Having regainedmy strength at the end of the two days, I requested to be allowed todepart, and was conducted by a new and shorter road into the light ofthe sun, which I had thought never to see again. Upon giving my wordof honor not to betray the secret of their existence, two of the bandpointed out the road to Rome, and left me to pursue my way."