CHAPTER II.

by Alexandre Dumas

　　I SLOWLY ascended the steps and entered the house, and at a corner ofthe corridor I found myself face to face with a tall lady dressed inblack.I understood at once that this lady of thirty-eight or forty years ofage, and still beautiful, was the mistress of the house."Madame," said I, bowing deeply, "I am afraid you will think meintrusive, but the custom of the country may be my excuse, and yourservant's invitation my authority to enter.""You are welcome to the mother," replied Madame de Franchi, "and youwill almost immediately be welcomed by the son. From this moment, sir,the house belongs to you; use it as if it were your own.""I come but to beg hospitality for one night, madame," I answered;"to-morrow morning, at daybreak, I will take my departure.""You are free to do as you please, sir; but I hope that you willchange your mind, and that we shall have the honour of your companyfor a longer period."I bowed again, and Madame continued--"Maria, show this gentleman to my son Louis' chamber; light the fireat once, and carry up some hot water. You will excuse me," she said,turning again to me as the servant departed, "but I always fancy thatthe first wants of a tired traveller are warm water and a fire. Willyou please to follow my maid, sir; and you need have no hesitation inasking her for anything you may require. We shall sup in an hour, andmy son, who will be home by that time, will have the honour to waitupon you.""I trust you will excuse my travelling dress, madame.""Yes, sir," she replied smiling; "but on condition that you, on yourpart, will excuse the rusticity of your reception."I bowed my thanks, and followed the servant upstairs.The room was situated on the first floor, and looked out towards therear of the house, upon a pretty and extensive garden, well plantedwith various trees, and watered by a charming little stream, whichfell into the Tavaro.At the further end the prospect was bounded by a hedge, so thick as toappear like a wall. As is the case in almost all Italian houses, thewalls of the rooms were white-washed and frescoed.I understood immediately that Madame de Franchi had given me this, herabsent son's chamber, because it was the most comfortable one in thehouse.While Maria was lighting the fire and fetching the hot water, I tookit into my head to make an inventory of the room, and try to arrive atan estimation of the character of its usual occupant by those means.I immediately put this idea into execution, and beginning with theleft hand, I took mental notes of the various objects by which I wassurrounded.The furniture all appeared to be modern, a circumstance which in thatpart of the island, where civilization had not then taken deep root,appeared to indicate no inconsiderable degree of luxury. It wascomposed of an iron bedstead and bedding, a sofa, four arm-chairs, sixother occasional chairs, a wardrobe, half book case and half bureau,all of mahogany, from the first cabinet maker in Ajaccio.The sofas and chairs were covered with chintz, and curtains of similarmaterial fell before the windows, and hung round the bed.I had got so far with my inventory when Maria left the room, and I wasenabled to push my investigation a little closer.I opened the book-case, and found within a collection of the works ofour greatest poets. I noticed Corneille, Racine, Molière, La Fontaine,Ronsard, Victor Hugo, and Lamartine.Our moralists--Montaigne, Pascal, Labruyère.Our historians--Mezeray, Chateaubriand, Augustin Thierry.Our philosophers--Cuvier, Beudant, Elie de Beaumont.Besides these there were several volumes of romances and other books,amongst which I recognized, with a certain pride, my own "Impressionof Travel."The keys were in the drawer of the bureau. I opened one of them.Here I found fragments of a history of Corsica, a work upon the bestmeans of abolishing the Vendetta, some French verses, and some Italiansonnets, all in manuscript. This was more than I expected, and I hadthe presumption to conclude that I need not seek much farther to formmy opinion of the character of Monsieur Louis de Franchi.He appeared to be a quiet, studious young man, a partizan of theFrench reformers, and then I understood why he had gone to Paris tobecome an advocate.There was, without doubt, a great future for him in this course. Imade all these reflections as I was dressing. My toilette, as I hadhinted to Madame de Franchi, although not wanting in a certainpicturesqueness, demanded that some allowance should be made for it.It was composed of a vest of black velvet, open at seams of thesleeves, so as to keep me cooler during the heat of the day, andslashed _à l'Espagnole,_ permitting a silken chemise to appearunderneath. My legs were encased in velvet breeches to the knee, andthence protected by Spanish gaiters, embroidered in Spanish silk. Afelt hat, warranted to take any shape, but particularly that of asombrero, completed my costume.I recommend this dress to all travellers as being the most convenientI am acquainted with, and I was in the act of dressing, when the sameman who had introduced me appeared at the door.He came to announce that his young master, Monsieur Lucien de Franchi,had that instant arrived, and who desired to pay his respects to me ifI were ready to receive him.I replied that I was at the disposal of Monsieur Lucien de Franchi ifhe would do me the honour to come up.An instant afterwards I heard a rapid step approaching my room, andalmost immediately afterwards I was face to face with my host.