"Letusdropthesubject，"saidshe，withincomparabledignityofgesture，expression，andattitude。"Makeasplendidfortune，beoneoftheremarkablemenofyourcountry；thatismydesire。Fameisadrawbridgewhichmayservetocrossadeepgulf。Beambitiousifyoumust。Ibelieveyouhavegreatandpowerfultalents，butusethemratherforthehappinessofmankindthantodeserveme；youwillbeallthegreaterinmyeyes。"
　　Inthecourseofthisconversation，whichlastedtwohours，RodolphediscoveredthatFrancescawasanenthusiastforLiberalideas，andforthatworshipoflibertywhichhadledtothethreerevolutionsinNaples，Piemont，andSpain。Onleaving，hewasshowntothedoorbyGina，theso-calledmute。Ateleveno'clocknoonewasastirinthevillage，therewasnofearoflisteners；RodolphetookGinaintoacorner，andaskedherinalowvoiceandbadItalian，"Whoareyourmasterandmistress，child？Tellme，Iwillgiveyouthisfinenewgoldpiece。"
　　"Monsieur，"saidthegirl，takingthecoin，"mymasteristhefamousbooksellerLampariniofMilan，oneoftheleadersoftherevolution，andtheconspiratorofallotherswhomAustriawouldmostliketohaveintheSpielberg。"
　　"Abookseller'swife!Ah，somuchthebetter，"thoughthe；"weareonanequalfooting——Andwhatisherfamily？"headded，"forshelookslikeaqueen。"
　　"AllItalianwomendo，"repliedGinaproudly。"Herfather'snameisColonna。"
　　EmboldenedbyFrancesca'smodestrank，Rodolphehadanawningfittedtohisboatandcushionsinthestern。Whenthiswasdone，thelovercametoproposetoFrancescatocomeoutonthelake。TheItalianaccepted，nodoubttocarryoutherpartofayoungEnglishMissintheeyesofthevillagers，butshebroughtGinawithher。FrancescaColonna'slightestactionsbetrayedasuperioreducationandthehighestsocialrank。BythewayinwhichshetookherplaceattheendoftheboatRodolphefelthimselfinsomesortcutofffromher，and，inthefaceofalookofprideworthyofanaristocrat，thefamiliarityhehadintendedfelldead。ByaglanceFrancescamadeherselfaprincess，withalltheprerogativesshemighthaveenjoyedintheMiddleAges。Sheseemedtohavereadthethoughtsofthisvassalwhowassoaudaciousastoconstitutehimselfherprotector。
　　Already，inthefurnitureoftheroomwhereFrancescahadreceivedhim，inherdress，andinthevarioustriflesshemadeuseof，Rodolphehaddetectedindicationsofasuperiorcharacterandafinefortune。Alltheseobservationsnowrecurredtohismind；hebecamethoughtfulafterhavingbeentrampledon，asitwere，byFrancesca'sdignity。Gina，herhalf-grown-up/confidante/，alsoseemedtohaveamockingexpressionasshegaveacovertorasideglanceatRodolphe。
　　ThisobviousdisagreementbetweentheItalianlady'srankandhermannerswasafreshpuzzletoRodolphe，whosuspectedsomefurthertricklikeGina'sassumeddumbness。
　　"Wherewouldyougo，SignoraLamporani？"heasked。
　　"TowardsLucerne，"repliedFrancescainFrench。
　　"Good!"saidRodolphetohimself，"sheisnotstartledbyhearingmespeakhername；shehad，nodoubt，foreseenthatIshouldaskGina——
　　sheissocunning——Whatisyourquarrelwithme？"hewenton，goingatlasttositdownbyherside，andaskingherbyagesturetogivehimherhand，whichshewithdrew。"Youarecoldandceremonious；what，incolloquiallanguage，weshouldcall/short/。"
　　"Itistrue，"sherepliedwithasmile。"Iamwrong。Itisnotgoodmanners；itisvulgar。InFrenchyouwouldcallitinartistic。Itisbettertobefrankthantoharborcoldorhostilefeelingstowardsafriend，andyouhavealreadyprovedyourselfmyfriend。PerhapsIhavegonetoofarwithyou。Youmusttakemetobeaveryordinarywoman。"——
　　Rodolphemademanysignsofdenial——"Yes，"saidthebookseller'swife，goingonwithoutnoticingthispantomime，which，however，sheplainlysaw。"Ihavedetectedthat，andnaturallyIhavereconsideredmyconduct。Well!Iwillputanendtoeverythingbyafewwordsofdeeptruth。Understandthis，Rodolphe:Ifeelinmyselfthestrengthtostifleafeelingifitwerenotinharmonywithmyideasoranticipationofwhattrueloveis。Icouldlove——aswecanloveinItaly，butIknowmyduty。Nointoxicationcanmakemeforgetit。
　　Marriedwithoutmyconsenttothatpooroldman，Imighttakeadvantageofthelibertyhesogenerouslygivesme；butthreeyearsofmarriedlifeimplyacceptanceofitslaws。Hencethemostvehementpassionwouldnevermakemeutter，eveninvoluntarily，awishtofindmyselffree。
　　"Emilioknowsmycharacter。Heknowsthatwithoutmyheart，whichismyown，andwhichImightgiveaway，Ishouldneverallowanyonetotakemyhand。ThatiswhyIhavejustrefusedittoyou。Idesiretobelovedandwaitedforwithfidelity，nobleness，ardor，whileallI
　　cangiveisinfinitetendernessofwhichtheexpressionmaynotoversteptheboundaryoftheheart，thepermittedneutralground。Allthisbeingthoroughlyunderstood——Oh!"shewentonwithagirlishgesture，"Iwillbeascoquettish，asgay，asglad，asachildwhichknowsnothingofthedangersoffamiliarity。"
　　Thisplainandfrankdeclarationwasmadeinatone，anaccent，andsupportedbyalookwhichgaveitthedeepeststampoftruth。
　　"APrincessColonnacouldnothavespokenbetter，"saidRodolphe，smiling。
　　"Isthat，"sheansweredwithsomehaughtiness，"areflectiononthehumblenessofmybirth？Mustyourloveflauntacoat-of-arms？AtMilanthenoblestnamesarewrittenovershop-doors:Sforza，Canova，Visconti，Trivulzio，Ursini；thereareArchintosapothecaries；but，believeme，thoughIkeepashop，Ihavethefeelingsofaduchess。"
　　"Areflection？Nay，madame，Imeantitforpraise。"
　　"Byacomparison？"shesaidarchly。
　　"Ah，onceforall，"saidhe，"nottotorturemeifmywordsshouldillexpressmyfeelings，understandthatmyloveisperfect；itcarrieswithitabsoluteobedienceandrespect。"
　　Shebowedasawomansatisfied，andsaid，"Thenmonsieuracceptsthetreaty？"
　　"Yes，"saidhe。"Icanunderstandthatinarichandpowerfulfemininenaturethefacultyoflovingoughtnottobewasted，andthatyou，outofdelicacy，wishedtorestrainit。Ah!Francesca，atmyagetendernessrequited，andbysosublime，soroyallybeautifulacreatureasyouare——why，itisthefulfilmentofallmywishes。Toloveyouasyoudesiretobeloved——isnotthatenoughtomakeayoungmanguardhimselfagainsteveryevilfolly？Isitnottoconcentrateallhispowersinanoblepassion，ofwhichinthefuturehemaybeproud，andwhichcanleavenonebutlovelymemories？IfyoucouldbutknowwithwhathuesyouhaveclothedthechainofPilatus，theRigi，andthissuperblake——"
　　"Iwanttoknow，"saidshe，withtheItalianartlessnesswhichhasalwaysatouchofartfulness。
　　"Well，thishourwillshineonallmylifelikeadiamondonaqueen'sbrow。"
　　Francesca'sonlyreplywastolayherhandonRodolphe's。
　　"Ohdearest!foreverdearest!——Tellme，haveyouneverloved？"
　　"Never。"
　　"Andyouallowmetoloveyounobly，lookingtoheavenfortheutmostfulfilment？"heasked。
　　Shegentlybentherhead。TwolargetearsrolleddownRodolphe'scheeks。
　　"Why!whatisthematter？"shecried，abandoningherimperialmanner。
　　"IhavenownomotherwhomIcantellofmyhappiness；sheleftthisearthwithoutseeingwhatwouldhavemitigatedheragony——"
　　"What？"saidshe。
　　"Hertendernessreplacedbyanequaltenderness——"
　　"/Poveromio/!"exclaimedtheItalian，muchtouched。"Believeme，"shewentonafterapause，"itisaverysweetthing，andtoawoman，astrongelementoffidelitytoknowthatsheisallinallonearthtothemansheloves；tofindhimlonely，withnofamily，withnothinginhisheartbuthislove——inshort，tohavehimwhollytoherself。"
　　Whentwoloversthusunderstandeachother，theheartfeelsdeliciouspeace，supremetranquillity。Certaintyisthebasisforwhichhumanfeelingscrave，foritisneverlackingtoreligioussentiment；manisalwayscertainofbeingfullyrepaidbyGod。Loveneverbelievesitselfsecurebutbythisresemblancetodivinelove。Andtherapturesofthatmomentmusthavebeenfullyfelttobeunderstood；itisuniqueinlife；itcanneverreturnnomore，alas!thantheemotionsofyouth。Tobelieveinawoman，tomakeheryourhumanreligion，thefountoflife，thesecretluminaryofallyourleastthoughts!——isnotthisasecondbirth？Andayoungmanmingleswiththislovealittleofthefeelinghehadforhismother。
　　RodolpheandFrancescaforsometimeremainedinperfectsilence，answeringeachotherbysympatheticglancesfullofthoughts。TheyunderstoodeachotherinthemidstofoneofthemostbeautifulscenesofNature，whoseglories，interpretedbythegloryintheirhearts，helpedtostampontheirmindsthemostfugitivedetailsofthatuniquehour。TherehadnotbeentheslightestshadeoffrivolityinFrancesca'sconduct。Itwasnoble，large，andwithoutanysecondthought。ThismagnanimitystruckRodolphegreatly，forinitherecognizedthedifferencebetweentheItalianandtheFrenchwoman。Thewaters，theland，thesky，thewoman，allweregrandioseandsuave，eventheirloveinthemidstofthispicture，sovastinitsexpanse，sorichindetail，wherethesternnessofthesnowypeaksandtheirhardfoldsstandingclearlyoutagainstthebluesky，remindedRodolpheofthecircumstanceswhichlimitedhishappiness；alovelycountryshutinbysnows。
　　Thisdelightfulintoxicationofsoulwasdestinedtobedisturbed。A
　　boatwasapproachingfromLucerne；Gina，whohadbeenwatchingitattentively，gaveajoyfulstart，thoughfaithfultoherpartasamute。Thebarkcamenearer；whenatlengthFrancescacoulddistinguishthefacesonboard，sheexclaimed，"Tito!"assheperceivedayoungman。Shestoodup，andremainedstandingattheriskofbeingdrowned。
　　"Tito!Tito!"criedshe，wavingherhandkerchief。
　　Titodesiredtheboatmentoslacken，andthetwoboatspulledsidebyside。TheItalianandTitotalkedwithsuchextremerapidity，andinadialectunfamiliartoamanwhohardlykneweventheItalianofbooks，thatRodolphecouldneitherhearnorguessthedriftofthisconversation。ButTito'shandsomeface，Francesca'sfamiliarity，andGina'sexpressionofdelight，allaggrievedhim。Andindeednolovercanhelpbeingillpleasedatfindinghimselfneglectedforanother，whoeverhemaybe。TitotossedalittleleatherbagtoGina，fullofgoldnodoubt，andapacketofletterstoFrancesca，whobegantoreadthem，withafarewellwaveofthehandtoTito。
　　"GetquicklybacktoGersau，"shesaidtotheboatmen，"IwillnotletmypoorEmiliopinetenminuteslongerthanheneed。"
　　"Whathashappened？"askedRodolphe，ashesawFrancescafinishreadingthelastletter。
　　"/Laliberta/!"sheexclaimed，withanartist'senthusiasm。
　　"/Edenaro/!"addedGina，likeanecho，forshehadfoundhertongue。
　　"Yes，"saidFrancesca，"nomorepoverty!FormorethanelevenmonthshaveIbeenworking，andIwasbeginningtobetiredofit。Iamcertainlynotaliterarywoman。"
　　"WhoisthisTito？"askedRodolphe。
　　"TheSecretaryofStatetothefinancialdepartmentofthehumbleshopoftheColonnas，inotherwords，thesonofour/ragionato/。Poorboy!
　　hecouldnotcomebytheSaint-Gothard，norbytheMont-Cenis，norbytheSimplon；hecamebysea，byMarseilles，andhadtocrossFrance。
　　Well，inthreeweeksweshallbeatGeneva，andlivingatourease。
　　Come，Rodolphe，"sheadded，seeingsadnessoverspreadtheParisian'sface，"isnottheLakeofGenevaquiteasgoodastheLakeofLucerne？"
　　"ButallowmetobestowaregretontheBergmanns'delightfulhouse，"
　　saidRodolphe，pointingtothelittlepromontory。
　　"Comeanddinewithustoaddtoyourassociations，/poveromio/，"
　　saidshe。"Thisisagreatday；weareoutofdanger。Mymotherwritesthatwithinayeartherewillbeanamnesty。Oh!/lacarapatria/!"
　　ThesethreewordsmadeGinaweep。"Anotherwinterhere，"saidshe，"andIshouldhavebeendead!"
　　"PoorlittleSiciliankid!"saidFrancesca，strokingGina'sheadwithanexpressionandanaffectionwhichmadeRodolphelongtobesocaressed，evenifitwerewithoutlove。
　　Theboatgrounded；Rodolphesprangontothesand，offeredhishandtotheItalianlady，escortedhertothedooroftheBergmanns'house，andwenttodressandreturnassoonaspossible。
　　Whenhejoinedthelibrarianandhiswife，whoweresittingonthebalcony，Rodolphecouldscarcelyrepressanexclamationofsurpriseatseeingtheprodigiouschangewhichthegoodnewshadproducedintheoldman。Henowsawamanofaboutsixty，extremelywellpreserved，aleanItalian，asstraightasanI，withhairstillblack，thoughthinandshowingawhiteskull，withbrighteyes，afullsetofwhiteteeth，afacelikeCaesar，andonhisdiplomaticlipsasardonicsmile，thealmostfalsesmileunderwhichamanofgoodbreedinghideshisrealfeelings。
　　"Hereismyhusbandunderhisnaturalform，"saidFrancescagravely。
　　"Heisquiteanewacquaintance，"repliedRodolphe，bewildered。
　　"Quite，"saidthelibrarian；"Ihaveplayedmanyapart，andknowwellhowtomakeup。Ah!IplayedoneinParisundertheEmpire，withBourrienne，MadameMurat，Madamed'Abrantis/etuttequanti/。
　　Everythingwetakethetroubletolearninouryouth，eventhemostfutile，isofuse。Ifmywifehadnotreceivedaman'seducation——anunheard-ofthinginItaly——Ishouldhavebeenobligedtochopwoodtogetmylivinghere。/Povera/Francesca!whowouldhavetoldmethatshewouldsomedaymaintainme!"
　　Ashelistenedtothisworthybookseller，soeasy，soaffable，sohale，Rodolphescentedsomemystification，andpreservedthewatchfulsilenceofamanwhohasbeenduped。
　　"/Cheavete，signor/？"Francescaaskedwithsimplicity。"Doesourhappinesssaddenyou？"
　　"Yourhusbandisayoungman，"hewhisperedinherear。
　　Shebrokeintosuchafrank，infectiouslaughthatRodolphewasstillmorepuzzled。
　　"Heisbutsixty-five，atyourservice，"saidshe；"butIcanassureyouthateventhatissomething——tobethankfulfor!"
　　"Idonotliketohearyoujestaboutanaffectionsosacredasthis，ofwhichyouyourselfprescribedtheconditions。"
　　"/Zitto/!"saidshe，stampingherfoot，andlookingwhetherherhusbandwerelistening。"Neverdisturbthepeaceofmindofthatdearman，assimpleasachild，andwithwhomIcandowhatIplease。Heisundermyprotection，"sheadded。"IfyoucouldknowwithwhatgenerosityheriskedhislifeandfortunebecauseIwasaLiberal!forhedoesnotsharemypoliticalopinions。Isnotthatlove，MonsieurFrenchman？——Buttheyarelikethatinhisfamily。Emilio'syoungerbrotherwasdesertedforahandsomeyouthbythewomanheloved。Hethrusthisswordthroughhisownhearttenminutesafterhehadsaidtohisservant，'Icouldofcoursekillmyrival，butthatwouldgrievethe/Diva/toodeeply。'"
　　Thismixtureofdignityandbanter，ofhaughtinessandplayfulness，madeFrancescaatthismomentthemostfascinatingcreatureintheworld。Thedinnerandtheeveningwerefullofcheerfulness，justified，indeed，bythereliefofthetworefugees，butdepressingtoRodolphe。
　　"Canshebefickle？"heaskedhimselfashereturnedtotheStopfers'
　　house。"Shesympathizedinmysorrow，andIcannottakepartinherjoy!"
　　Heblamedhimself，justifyingthisgirl-wife。
　　"Shehasnotaintofhypocrisy，andiscarriedawaybyimpulse，"
　　thoughthe，"andIwanthertobelikeaParisianwoman。"
　　Nextdayandthefollowingdays，infact，fortwentydaysafter，RodolphespentallhistimeattheBergmanns'，watchingFrancescawithouthavingdeterminedtowatchher。Insomesoulsadmirationisnotindependentofacertainpenetration。TheyoungFrenchmandiscernedinFrancescatheimprudenceofgirlhood，thetruenatureofawomanasyetunbroken，sometimesstrugglingagainstherlove，andatothermomentsyieldingandcarriedawaybyit。Theoldmancertainlybehavedtoherasafathertohisdaughter，andFrancescatreatedhimwithadeeplyfeltgratitudewhichrousedherinstinctivenobleness。
　　ThesituationandthewomanweretoRodolpheanimpenetrableenigma，ofwhichthesolutionattractedhimmoreandmore。
　　Theselastdayswerefullofsecretjoys，alternatingwithmelancholymoods，withtiffsandquarrelsevenmoredelightfulthanthehourswhenRodolpheandFrancescawereofonemind。Andhewasmoreandmorefascinatedbythistendernessapartfromwit，alwaysandinallthingsthesame，anaffectionthatwasjealousofmerenothings——already!
　　"Youcareverymuchforluxury？"saidheoneeveningtoFrancesca，whowasexpressingherwishtogetawayfromGersau，whereshemissedmanythings。
　　"I!"criedshe。"IloveluxuryasIlovethearts，asIloveapicturebyRaphael，afinehorse，abeautifulday，ortheBayofNaples。
　　Emilio，"shewenton，"haveIevercomplainedhereduringourdaysofprivation。"
　　"Youwouldnothavebeenyourselfifyouhad，"repliedtheoldmangravely。
　　"Afterall，isitnotinthenatureofplainfolkstoaspiretograndeur？"sheasked，withamischievousglanceatRodolpheandatherhusband。"Weremyfeetmadeforfatigue？"sheadded，puttingouttwoprettylittlefeet。"Myhands"——andsheheldoneouttoRodolphe——
　　"werethosehandsmadetowork？——Leaveus，"shesaidtoherhusband；
　　"Iwanttospeaktohim。"
　　Theoldmanwentintothedrawing-roomwithsublimegoodfaith；hewassureofhiswife。
　　"IwillnothaveyoucomewithustoGeneva，"shesaidtoRodolphe。
　　"Itisagossipingtown。ThoughIamfarabovethenonsensetheworldtalks，Idonotchoosetobecalumniated，notformyownsake，butforhis。Imakeitmypridetobethegloryofthatoldman，whois，afterall，myonlyprotector。Weareleaving；stayhereafewdays。WhenyoucomeontoGeneva，callfirstonmyhusband，andlethimintroduceyoutome。Letushideourgreatandunchangeableaffectionfromtheeyesoftheworld。Iloveyou；youknowit；butthisishowIwillproveittoyou——youshallneverdiscerninmyconductanythingwhateverthatmayarouseyourjealousy。"
　　Shedrewhimintoacornerofthebalcony，kissedhimontheforehead，andfled，leavinghiminamazement。
　　NextdayRodolpheheardthatthelodgersattheBergmanns'hadleftatdaybreak。ItthenseemedtohimintolerabletoremainatGersau，andhesetoutforVevaybythelongestroute，startingsoonerthanwasnecessary。AttractedtothewatersofthelakewherethebeautifulItalianawaitedhim，hereachedGenevabytheendofOctober。ToavoidthediscomfortsofthetownhetookroomsinahouseatEaux-Vives，outsidethewalls。Assoonashewassettled，hisfirstcarewastoaskhislandlord，aretiredjeweler，whethersomeItalianrefugeesfromMilanhadnotlatelycometoresideatGeneva。
　　"NotsofarasIknow，"repliedtheman。"PrinceandPrincessColonnaofRomehavetakenMonsieurJeanrenaud'splaceforthreeyears；itisoneofthefinestonthelake。ItissituatedbetweentheVillaDiodatiandthatofMonsieurLafin-de-Dieu，lettotheVicomtessedeBeauseant。PrinceColonnahascometoseehisdaughterandhisson-in-
　　lawPrinceGandolphini，aNeopolitan，orifyoulike，aSicilian，anoldadherentofKingMurat's，andavictimofthelastrevolution。
　　ThesearethelastarrivalsatGeneva，andtheyarenotMilanese。
　　Seriousstepshadtobetaken，andthePope'sinterestintheColonnafamilywasinvoked，toobtainpermissionfromtheforeignpowersandtheKingofNaplesforthePrinceandPrincessGandolphinitolivehere。GenevaisanxioustodonothingtodispleasetheHolyAlliancetowhichitowesitsindependence。/Our/partisnottoruffleforeigncourts；therearemanyforeignershere，RussiansandEnglish。"
　　"EvensomeGevenese？"
　　"Yes，monsieur，ourlakeissofine!LordByronlivedhereaboutsevenyearsattheVillaDiodati，whicheveryonegoestoseenow，likeCoppetandFerney。"