The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni & Bruce Penman

Author:Alessandro Manzoni & Bruce Penman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141904177
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: 1983-11-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

The old woman went off eagerly to obey her orders, and to issue other instructions with the authority of the name which assured prompt compliance from all in the castle, whoever pronounced it. For it never occurred to anyone that somebody might be rash enough to use that name without permission. She did reach the inn before the carriage arrived, and when she saw it drive up, she got out of the litter, signed to the coachman to stop, and went up to the door. Nibbio put his head out, and she whispered the master’s instructions in his ear.

As the carriage stopped, Lucia shook herself, and woke up out of a sort of trance. Her blood ran cold again. She opened her mouth and eyes very wide, and watched to see what would happen. Nibbio had drawn back from the door, and the old woman, with her chin on the window-sill, was looking at Lucia.

‘Come on, young lady,’ she said. ‘Come on, you poor little thing! Come with me, for I’ve orders to treat you well and cheer you up.’

At the sound of a woman’s voice, poor Lucia felt a little comfort, a moment’s return of courage; but then even darker terrors overtook her.

‘Who are you?’ she asked in a trembling voice, staring at the old woman with a dazed look in her eyes.

‘Come on, then; come on, you poor little thing,’ said the old woman again. Nibbio and the others drew their own conclusions about their master’s intentions from the unwonted kindness of the old woman’s words and voice. They also tried, as gently as possible, to induce Lucia to do what she was told. But she went on looking out of the window, and, though the wild and unknown countryside gave her little hope of rescue, and the confident bearing of her guards even less, she still opened her mouth to scream. But then she saw Nibbio scowl meaningly at the cloth in his hand, and she choked back her cry. Trembling and struggling, she was picked up and put into the litter. The old woman followed her inside while Nibbio told the other two bravoes to escort the litter, and quickly made his way up the slope, to report to his master in accordance with his orders.

‘Who are you?’ asked Lucia anxiously, looking at that ill-favoured, unfamiliar face. ‘Why am I here with you? Where is this? Where are you taking me?’

‘To see someone who wants to do you a kindness,’ said the old woman. ‘To see a fine … Oh, it’s a fine thing for people when he decides to do them a kindness. You’re a lucky, lucky girl! Don’t be frightened; and come on, smile now! For he’s told me to cheer you up. You’ll tell him I have, won’t you? You’ll tell him I have cheered you up?’

‘But who is he? Why? What does he want with me? I don’t belong to him! Tell me where I am! Oh, let me go! tell

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