If Sayavedra paid all possible attention to this information, he certainly paid no less to me, for while I was packing up my clothes in the trunks, he took exact notice where I placed those of the greatest value, and that he should see that I was possessed of such pleased my foolish vanity and love of parade. A gold chain, some valuable jewels, and three hundred good pistoles, which I had hoarded up during my stay at the ambassador’s, did not escape his observation. I had wholly quitted the gaming table, and I had saved up with the utmost frugality every present that had been made me. Would to Heaven that I had been destined to reap the fruits of my improved behaviour: but, alas! that happiness was reserved for thieves, and not for me. I filled the other two boxes with what was of less value, and having carefully locked them, left the bunch of keys upon a table that stood by. We then continued our conversation, until a lacquey came to inform me that I was wanted by a person below. My room not appearing to be in a fit state for receiving company, I begged my new friend to excuse me for a few minutes while I waited on the person who wanted to speak to me. It was the carrier, whom in the bustle I had almost forgotten having sent for. I told him on what day I should set out, and that we might agree on the sum he was to charge for the carriage of my baggage, I took him up stairs to shew him of what it consisted. Meantime Sayavedra had done the deed. This rascal, seeing the coast clear, took the impression of my keys on some wax, which, I suppose, was part of the ammunition he always carried about with him, and seeing a letter lying by, which he knew I had just received from Pompey, he impressed that also into his service. I shewed my trunks to the carrier, who lifted them up, that he might judge of their weight. I gave him what he asked for their conveyance to Sienna, and he withdrew, saying that he would return immediately with his people to help him away with the boxes, and would set out with them in three hours time. He had no sooner quitted the house than this friendly Spaniard offered to take leave of me, under a pretence that his visit retarded the preparations I was making for my journey. It was to no purpose to assure him that he by no means incommoded me, nor even to press him to stay and take breakfast with me: nothing could prevail upon him to stay, as he was upon the rack of impatience to go and order the false keys. “At least then, my dear friend,” said I, “acquaint me with your place of abode. I can by no means think of quitting Rome without returning your visit.” He replied that he would rather dispense with that ceremony, and gave me to understand with a very mysterious air, that he lived privately with a lady, and for reasons, which as a man of honor he must conceal, he was under the necessity of debarring himself the pleasure of receiving the visits of his friends. As after hearing this I could urge him no longer, I suffered this favorite of the ladies to depart, who, no doubt, hastened with all speed to his companions, to consult on the measures they should adopt to get possession of my trunks. He was in league with four rogues, who had for their leader a famous and notorious thief, called Alexander Bentivoglio: he generally conducted their enterprises, and assigned to each the part he was to play, sustaining the chief character himself. But on this occasion he yielded that honor to Sayavedra, who, being a Spaniard, appeared to him the most proper person to represent a Castilian. As they were well provided with disguises of all kinds, they dressed themselves in character, and set off the next morning for Sienna, which they reached on the following day. Sayavedra, followed by two of the others dressed in livery, put up at the best hotel in the town, and gave himself out as the gentleman in waiting to the Spanish Ambassador. As for Alexander, who was well known for a rogue throughout Italy, he did not dare to play the part of a third lacquey; but thought proper to lodge elsewhere with the fourth cavalier of his company. Sayavedra, putting on a lofty air, desired to be conducted to the best apartment in the hotel, and having taken possession of it, sent one of the people to inform Signor Pompey that his friend Don Guzman had just arrived post from Rome, but was so fatigued with his journey, that he begged to be excused waiting on him at present. Pompey, delighted at the arrival of Don Guzman, hastened to pay his devoirs to a man to whom he was under so much obligation. He flies to the hotel, and is shewn into a fine chamber, where he sees a cavalier reposing himself upon a couch, who, seeing him approach, runs to meet him with open arms. “Ah, Signor Pompey,” cries he, “I flatter myself that you will pardon the liberty I took in sending my baggage to your house.” “I can readily excuse that,” replied Pompey, with a smile, “but I shall not so soon forgive your coming to this place in preference to my house.” “You are extremely polite,” replied the false Don Guzman, “but, upon my honor, riding post has fatigued me so much, that I could not think of being so troublesome.” “For that very reason,” replied the merchant, “you would have been more comfortable at my house.” “Another reason too,” continued Sayavedra, “opposed the desire I had to alight at your door; I am merely passing through Sienna. To-morrow I set out for Florence by the order of my dear master, who has given me some commissions to execute in that place; wherefore, I thought it best not to give you the trouble of receiving me for so short a visit; but, to make amends,” added he, with a gracious smile, “I will return in a few days, and promise myself the pleasure of making some stay with you.”
Pompey did not let slip this opportunity of pressing him to take a supper and bed at his house, though but for a single night, but he declined it with so much earnestness that the merchant, fearful of offending him, dropped the subject; after which he prepared to take his leave, assuring him that he would not fail to return in the morning to see him again before his departure, and wish him a pleasant journey. Upon this, Sayavedra cried aloud to one of his valets, “here, Gradelin, take these keys; they belong to my trunks. Signor Pompey will have the goodness to allow me to send to his house for the clothes and linen which I shall want during the next eight days. Don’t forget,” added he, “to bring the dressing-gown, which you will find in the largest box.” “Would it not be better,” interrupted Pompey, running inconsiderately into the snare, “to let the trunks be brought here to you, when you can take out what you want at your leisure.” “You are quite right,” said the false Guzman, “I will make up a parcel of those things I shall absolutely want, and put them into the smallest trunk, which I can carry with me to Florence, and I will send back the other two, which I shall be much obliged by your taking care of till my return.”
The merchant then quitted the hotel, and half an hour after my dear trunks were carried thither by the companions of Sayavedra and one of the grooms, accompanied by a person who presented to the false Guzman a present from Pompey, consisting of a basket of fine fruit, and half a dozen bottles of excellent wine. Sayavedra received this present with all the politeness imaginable, and dismissed the bearer with a small gratuity for himself, and a thousand thanks for his master.
No sooner were the trunks conveyed to the hotel than Alexander Bentivoglio, who had already learnt the success of the scheme, hastened to the spot. The false keys they had obtained opened two of them, and they picked the lock of the third, which contained my money and jewels, which they divided among them, or, to speak more correctly, which Signor Alexander appropriated to himself: for he was a bully who awed the rest of the gang, so that he gave them just such a share of the plunder as he chose to part with. All that they received was thirty pistoles each, and the least valuable clothes. After which, he filled the smallest trunk with what remained for his share, and had the other two crammed with straw and stones. Then, that no time might be lost, he despatched one of the band to hire post horses to start by break of day for Florence. This accommodation was easily procured by these worthy gentlemen, who, when they paid the innkeeper, ordered him to send back to Signor Pompey the two trunks which they left at the hotel.
While this fine game was playing at Sienna, I was employed very busily at Rome in bidding farewell to my real friends, without the slightest suspicion of this trick. Nothing now remaining but to bid adieu to my master, I entered the room with a sorrowful countenance; and after having assured him, that I should never forget his kindness towards me, I threw myself at his feet and kissed his hand, which I bathed with my tears. He was as much affected as I was, and testified extreme regret at parting with me.
This excellent nobleman exhorted me to a virtuous course of life, in as earnest and paternal a manner as if he had been speaking to his own child. He even embraced me, and throwing round my neck a gold chain which he usually wore, he told me, “that he gave it to me as a memorial of his affection.” He added to this proof of his friendship a purse of fifty pistoles, and one of the best horses in his stables. All the servants followed his example, in expressing their unwillingness to part with me: in truth I had never done them any ill offices with my master, but had often rendered them services; so that there was not one of them who had just reason to complain of me. I will not pass over in silence a strange event which took place in Rome the day previous to my departure, though it has no relation to my own adventures.
The Ambassador had just finished supper, when a Neapolitan gentleman came in, who often visited at the palace: he appeared considerably agitated. “My Lord,” said he to his Excellency, “I am going to relate to you a most extraordinary tragedy; I have just heard it, and you may perceive the effect it has had upon me.” “I am very impatient to be acquainted with it,” said my master. I then placed a chair for the Neapolitan gentleman, who having seated himself, began as follows.
CHAP. XXXIII.
The loves of Dorido and Clorinia; or the Sever’d Hand.
A Cavalier of this city, called Dorido, a young man of an illustrious family, an engaging person and great bravery, fell in love with a young lady of the name, of Clorinia, who was about seventeen years old, virtuous, beautiful, and of equal rank. The relations of this charming girl brought her up with so much care, that they would not allow her to make any connection by which her virtue might be at all endangered. She was hardly ever suffered even to approach her latticed window, lest some misfortune should be the consequence, as no one could gaze upon her extreme beauty with impunity: either her father or her mother, or her brother Valerio, attended her every where, and watched her every action. Some months ago, Dorido having accidentally obtained a sight of her, became violently enamoured: but could declare his love by no other means than by casting empassioned glances towards the window of her chamber when she happened to be there, as he passed by the house. If the homage of his eyes was not always remarked by the object of it, at least it was sometimes noticed; at all events, it was practised often enough to produce the wished for effect.