Ladies’ Edinburgh Magazine > Volume 5

The Beggar of Capo di Monte: a Tale of Sixty-one. 211
recollection of the features of the locality. She did not
attempt to demur, but, remembering her oath, submissively
resigned herself to the irksome restraint. The events of the
night had shown her most clearly the intentions of Filippo
in his present character of reactionist, but his conduct towards
herself was as inscrutable as ever. Her mind was calmer
than it had been during the first days of her capture, for she
was sensible of a change in the manner of Filippo, though
she could not account for it; nor could she reconcile his
present scheme with the intense hatred toward the dynasty
of the Bourbons which he had avowed on board Signor
Ciprani's vessel, in their little voyage to Ischia. Coufd it
be that he had then been acting a part to acquire a more
intimate knowledge of her habits and whereabouts, and that
the pretended encounter with the other vessel had been
pre-arranged to prevent suspicion falling upon him when his
plot for her capture had succeeded ? While these thoughts
filled her mind, she was for a time insensible to the difficulties
of the descent; but the oaths and exclamations of the men
who carried the litter made her tremble lest, wearied with
their burden and the dangerous nature of the rocky path,
they might refuse to carry her further. Every now and
then they halted and muttered something about leaving her
behind, and probably would have done so had they not
feared the anger of Filippo, for they made fresh efforts
whenever his voice was heard calling them not to tarry with
their burden.
And now the sound of the waves rolling over the rocky
beach told her the dangerous descent was ended, and Filippo's
voice was again heard shouting to the men to hasten on board
and raise the anchor, as the wind was favourable for their
sailing, Alas, then it was too true ! they were about to take
lier from her adopted country, and bitter were the tears she
shed at this enforced separation. She was soon taken from
the litter, hoisted up the side of the vessel, and laid on the
mattress where she had slept on the previous day. The
handkerchief had not yet been taken from her eyes, but she
had become familiar with the sounds on board, and soon
discovered they had left the little port. The breeze was
fresh, and the little vessel seemed to fly before it; and when
at length her eyes were uncovered, she perceived they were
fast losing sight of the land. Filippo walked backwards
and forwards on the deck, evidently in some anxiety, for he
constantly raised the telescope he carried in his hand and
examined the bearings of the compass. Concetta observed