The Corsican Brothers | Page 3

other?"
"The other lives at Paris."
"What is their age?"

"Twenty-one years."
"Both of them?"
"Yes, they are twins."
"And what is their profession?"
"The one who is at Paris will be a lawyer."
"And the other?"
"The other will be a Corsican."
"Ah, ha!" exclaimed I, finding this answer the more characteristic as it
was made in the most natural tone. "Well, then, let us go to the house of
Madame Savilia de Franchi."
We then continued our journey.
In ten minutes we entered the village. I then observed a circumstance,
which I had not been able to discover at a distance from the top of the
hill. Every house was fortified like that of Madame Savilia, not exactly
with machicoulis, the poverty of their proprietors no doubt not
permitting this luxury in their fortifications; but the lower part of the
windows were simply guarded by thick planks, provided with openings
large enough to pass a gun through. Other windows were furnished
with bricks. I inquired from my guide what these loopholes were called
here; he said they were called "aretiere," and this answer proved to me
that the Corsican "vendetta" is of older date than the use of firearms.
As we advanced in the streets, the village took a more profound aspect
of solitude and sadness. Several houses appeared to have sustained a
siege, and bore numerous marks of bullets.
From time to time we saw through the loopholes the glance of an eye,
which observed us in passing with curiosity; but it was impossible to
discover whether those eyes belonged to a male or female.

We at length reached the house, which I had pointed out to my guide,
and which, indeed, was the most respectable looking in the village. One
thing only struck me with surprise--the house apparently fortified by
machicoulis, which had first attracted my attention, was in reality not
protected; that is, its windows had neither planks, nor bricks, nor
loop-holes, but only common sashes, guarded at night by wooden
shutters.
It is true that these shutters bore traces in which the eye of an observer
could not fail to recognize bullet-holes. But they were evidently of long
standing, and had probably been there some ten years or more.
My guide had hardly knocked at the door, when it was opened, not
timidly, with hesitation and only half way, but promptly, and in all its
width, and a footman made his appearance.
When I say a footman, I am mistaken, I should have said a man. It is
the livery that makes the footman; but the man who opened the door for
us, was simply dressed in a velvet vest and pantaloons of the same
material, and leather spatterdashes. His pantaloons were tied at the
waist by a sash of spotted silk, outside of which appeared the handle of
a knife of Spanish fashion.
"My friend," said I to him, "it is surely an indiscretion in a stranger who
knows not a single soul in Sullacaro, to request the hospitality of your
mistress?"
"No, certainly not, eccellenza," said he, "the stranger confers a favor on
the house where he stops. Maria," continued he, speaking to a servant
girl who came up behind him, "go and inform Madame Savilia that a
French traveler calls upon her to receive hospitality."
At the same time he descended the eight steps, stiff and upright, like
the degrees of a ladder, which led from the entry door, and took my
horse by the bridle.
I took advantage of this kind invitation to ease and indulgence, one of
the most agreeable that can he made to a traveler. I then undertook to

ascend with as little difficulty as possible the aforesaid ladder, and
advanced some steps into the interior.
At a turn of the corridor, I suddenly found myself before a tall lady,
dressed in black, apparently between thirty-eight and forty years of age,
yet still beautiful. I immediately concluded that this was the mistress of
the house, and I stopped.
"Madame," said I, with a bow, "you will find me very indiscreet; but
the custom of the country excuses me, and the invitation of your
servant has authorized me to enter."
"You are welcome to the mother," answered Madame de Franchi, "and
you will soon be welcomed by the son. From this moment, sir, the
house belongs to you--dispose of it as your own."
"I ask your hospitality for one night only, madame. To-morrow
morning, at daybreak, I shall have to take my leave."
"You are at liberty to do as you please, sir; but I hope you will abandon
that plan, and favor us with a longer stay."
I bowed a second time.
"Maria," continued Madame de Franchi, "show the gentleman to Louis'
room. Make a fire immediately, and bring up