LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1916, 15 April 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A COUNT’S ADVENTURE WITH BRIGAN . S. BY ABEX. BOMAS, PEBE [Translat 'd from the Paris ‘ Figaro.’] The convent <-f ' aint Nicolas, the most wealthy o‘ Catania, snd the cupola of which exceeded in height all the publi > buildings of the town, was built, towards the middle of the last c >ntury. from the - lans of Contini. One noli ed mure particularly the chapel and the garden; the chapel , n a count of its column -* of green antique and a vi ry beauti ful . rgau, the work of a alabrian monk, who had ask d, for sole reconipens *, that he might be interred under bis masterpiece ; the garden for difficul y vanquished, inasmuch as the fouudatio •> was lava, and all tho earth that covered it had been brought there by the hand of man. The rales of •he convent of Saint Nicolas were formerly very severe. The monks were required to live cn Etna, on the limits of habitable territory ; indeed, their first monastery was built at tho entrance to the second region, three-qua ters of a league fron Nicolosi, tho last village met with in climbing to the crater. But, aa everything g'ows weak in the course of time, the rales, little by 11 tie, lost their rigor, and the convent was no longer repairers, soon one or two of the rooms sank beneath the weight of the snows, and thereupon the good fathers had builr. for them the magnificent branch es'.abbshrm nt of ’ b.tania, which took the name of Baiut Nicolas-lo- enf, and they resided during the summer only at Saint Nicolas le Yieux. Afterwards Saint Nicolsa-le-Vieux was abandoned summer as well as winter. For two or thr> e years the monks spoke of doing certain repai s there which would render the buildings fit for occupation; but at last a baud of robbers—people tar less difficult to please as to their dwelling than monks—took possession of the place and made it their habitation. It was then no longer a question among the monks as to whether a return should bo made to Baint Nicolas-le- Vi* nx. The good fathers, who did not care to have any discussions with such occupants, left them in undisturbed enjoyment of the convent

This fact gave rise to a somewhat curious blunder.

In DOS the Fount of Weder, a German of the old school, as his name indicates, lef.i Vienna in order to visit Sicily. He embarked at Trieste, landed at Ancona, visited Rome, stopp d next at Naples in order to obtain some letters of recommendation, and then once more started on his route, and duly arrived at Catania.

The Count of Weder had for a long time known of the existence of the convent of Saint Nicholas, and the reputation of the fath' B for haying among them the best cook in iroiy. So the count, who was a roost distinguished gastronome, had not neglected to obtain at home, from a cardinal with whom he had dined at the house of the Austiian Ambassador, a letter of recoromendauon for the superior of the convent of Saint Nicholas. The letter war pressing - the count was represented as a pious and fervent pilgrim, and hospitality was asked for him during all the time that he pleased to remain at the monastery. The count w;>s learned, after the manner of Germans. He had read a great number of old books, altogether forgotten, so that in support of his assertions however erroneous and ridiculous they might be, he could cite a number of unknown names, which gave a kind of pedantic majesty to his paradoxes. Now, among these old books was a catalogue of the Benedictine convents spread over the face of t’ n e earth, and he had seen and remembered, with the tenacity of a mind from the other side of the Rome, that the rules of the Benedictines of ■ aint Nicolas required them to live, as I have said, on the last limit of the reggione coltivata, and on the first of the reggione nemorosa. Thus, when he called a mule driver to direct him to Saint Nicolas, and wh«n the mule driver asked if he meant Saint Nicolas-le-Neuf or Saint Nicolas le-Yieux, the count replied without hesitation, *A. San JVicoloSuH’ Etna.’

There was no reason why the mule-driver should think he had made a mistake, for illdirection was precise ; nevertheless, he ventured to make a few observations. But the, count silenced him by saying—--11 vill bay you veV Everyone knows the force of such an argument as this. The mule-driver touched his hat to the count, and half an hour afterwards returned with a mule. 1 Y<-11 ?’ said the count. 1 We'l! your Excellency ? ’ replied the mu’e-d river.

• Yell! my pag'iche ?’ ‘ Your Excellency takes hia baggage?’

‘ Every ve re. ’ ‘ Oh.’ said the mule-driver, ‘ your Excelenoy can leave his baggage at the irm, is will be safer ’

* I never give up my pagaohe; do you hear ? ’

The mule-driver replied by a sign which meant —‘Everyone is at liberty to please himself,’ and went away to obtain a second mule. Neveitheless, when the mule was loaded the honest guile thought he had better satisfy his conscience by a last observation.

‘ So jour Excellency is resolved ? ’ ‘Certainly,’ replied the Count, pushing an enormous pair of pistols into his breast pocket. ‘You are going to Saint Nioholaa-le-Vieux ? ’

‘I am going zere.’ ‘Vour Excellency, then, has friends at Saint Nicholas le-Vieux ? ’ * I have ein letter for ze general.’ ‘For the captain, your Excellency means?’ ‘ For ze general, I tell you.’ ‘Hum, hum.’ said the Sicilian, ‘ Moreover, I vill bay you veil. I will bay you veil ; do you hear, you rascal ? ’ ‘ Fardou me,’ continued the guide, ‘ but since your Excel! ncy is so kindly disposed, would it be all the same to you to pay me in advance ? ’

‘ln advance ! vy so ? ’ • Because it is already three o’clock ; because we shall not arrive before night, and becau e I should like to return as soon as we get there. ‘ At night, 1 said the count, ‘do they sup at the convent ? ’ ‘ At the convent ? ’ ‘ Yes j at Saint Nicolas ? ’ ‘ Oh, certainly ; they sup there. You are even more certain to find the table spread day as well as night.’ • The dissolute fellows! ’ said tho Count, whore countenance was illumined by the glare of expectation, ‘Eat is ver’ goot news you tell me.’

And he gave tbe man two piastres, which he drew from a well filed purse.

‘ ThanUo, your Excellency,’ replied the mule driver, who, once paid, had nothing mo-o ‘o say.

‘Ah veil ; shall wo go now ? ’ ‘Whenever you please, your Excellency,

The gui e assisted the Count to mount his mule P.nd started on the journey, singing a kin! of hymn, which re cm bled a miserere rather thaa a tarantella ; but the Count was too much occupied in thinking about tbe diner that he as as going to have to remark t’o melancholy tone of the mule driver’s prelude. The travellers continued their journey silently The guide had concluded, on s?eing the confidence of tho f’ouut, supported by tho two enormous pistols in his breait pocket that he was on good terms with the ocoupa; ta of Saint Ni holns-le-Vieux. and that perhaps he was even one cf that band in Bohemia which had interests in common with the robbers of Sicily. As for himself he knew that he had nothing to fear, mule

drivers being generally regarded aa sacred by the robbers, and especially so (as cm easily be understood) when they brought to them 00 good a customer as the count appeared to be. Nevertheless, at each village they reached en route, the mule-driver stopped under some pretext or other. It was a kind of compromise he was making with his conscience, in order that the count should have time to redact, and go back again if he thongh fit. But at each halt the count (cried out in a voice which hunger made more and more piercing: “Let us go on! Forward! der teufel! ve shall arrive never.”

And he proceeded, followed by the aitonnded looks of the peasants, who had learnt from the guide the end of this strange pilgrimage, and who could not understand how anyone, unless forced so to do, could have the idea to make a journey to Saint Nicolas-le Yieux.

in this manner they passed through Gravina, Santa Lucia di Cataricn, Msnananziata, and Nicolosi. Arrived at this last village the guide made a final effort. ‘ V our Excellency, ’ he said. ‘lf I were in your place I should sup and sleep here, and then to-morrow I should walk cn alone to Paint Nicda?-le Yieux,’

‘ Have you not told me zat I shall find a goot supper at ze convent?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the guide; ‘if they will receive you ’ ‘ But I tell you zat I have ein letter for ze general’

‘ For the captain ?’ ‘ No, for ze general.’ ‘ Well,’ said the guide, ‘since you are absolutely determined. ’ ‘ Oerdainly ; vat vill you zat I do ?’ ‘ln that caae let us proceed.’ And the two travellers started once mors on their journey. As the male-driver had predicted, night came on; there was no moon, and one could not see four steps in advance. But, as the mule-driver was perfectly acquainted with the road, they were in no danger of losing themselves He took a narrow path which turned aside on to some fields ; then, beginning to leave the cultivated region, he entered a forest. After aa hour’s walking they distinguished the outline of a black mass, at the windows of which no light was perceptible.

‘That is Saiat Hicolas-le-Vieux,’ said the mule-driver in a low tone. 'Oh, oh!’ replied the count; ‘it is ein convent zat is in a ver’ gloomy situation.’ ‘lf you would pr ;fer it,’ said the guide, eagerly, ‘we can return to Niooloai, and if you do not care to sleep at the inn, there is an excellent man, M. Gemellaro, who will not refuse you a bed.’ ‘ I vill net go back. It ia to Saint Nicolas zat I vaut to go, and not Nioolosl.' ‘Zeiebello da tedeacc,’ murmured the Sicilian.

_ Then, whipping his two mules he continued the journey, and five minutes afterwards they were at the door of the convent.

The convent was not more reassuring on a closer view. It was a building of the twelfth century, and there could be read on it the traces of each eruption that had taken place since the date of its foundation. The date of all the fires and of all the eruptions was there, sculptured in the stone. By certain cracks which were visible under a dark blue sky, brilliant with stars, it was easy to see that a part of the bu lling was falling in ruins, Nevertheless, the walls surrounding the edifice seemed to have kept well together, and loopholes had been constructed in them, giving to Saint Nicnlas-le-Vieux the appearance rather of a fortress than of a monastery.

The count looked at all this very quietly, and then ordered the mule-driver to knock. The latter, who had resolved to play his part, raised the heavy knocker—eaten partly away by rust and time —and let it fall with all its weight. The noise resounded in the depths of the convent, and the harsh sound of a be'l responded. Almo tat the same time a small window opened. There come from it a long iron tube, which was directed towards the breast of the count. A bearded head showed itself at the cpen'ng, and a voice which bad nothing of monastic unc ion demanded, 1 Who is there ?’

* A vriend,’ replied the count, pushing aside with his baud the barrel of the gun—- ‘ a vriend ’ At the same time there seemed to come to him through the open window a fragrant smell of roast meat, which threw him into ecstasies. ’ Friend ! Hum ! friend ?’ said the man at the window; ‘and what will prove that yon are a friend ?’ And he once more presented his gun. {To be continued.')