The Viceroys Read Online Free PDF Page A

boy!…’
    The women were now thinking of Signorina Lucrezia and of the young princess; did they know nothing, or had the news been kept from them?… And Baldassarre, what the devil did Baldassarre think he was doing, not giving orders to shut all up? Don Gaspare, the head coachman, looking green as garlic, shrugged his shoulders:
    ‘Everything’s upside-down here.’
    But Pasqualino Riso, the second coachman, spat out right in his face:
    ‘Don’t worry, you won’t have to put up with it long.’
    Back came the other with:
    ‘You’re all right, being the master’s pimp!’
    Out came Pasqualino, quick as a flash, with:
    ‘As you were the young count’s …’
    On they went till Salemi, on his way back to the offices, called out:
    ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!’
    But Don Gaspare was so sure of losing his job that he had lost control of himself, and went on:
    ‘Ashamed? Of being in a house where mother and children are at each other’s throats!’
    And now many voices called out:
    ‘Silence!’
    But those who had sided too openly with the princess were feeling very small, sure as they were of being dismissed by her son. Giuseppe did not know what to do in all that confusion; he was longing to shut the gates for his mistress’s death, as seemed proper. Why ever didn’t Don Baldassarre give the order? And without Don Baldassarre’s order not a thing could be done. Why, not even the shutters were closed on the main floor. And as time passed and no order came, some down in the court began fearing or hoping that maybe the mistress wasn’t dead. ‘Who said she was dead?… The coachman!… But he never saw her!… He might have misunderstood!…’ Other arguments were produced in support of this idea: the prince would not have left in such a rush if she were dead, as there would have been nothing for him to do up there … And for some the doubt began to be a certainty; there must have been a misunderstanding, the princess was only on her deathbed …
    But eventually Baldassarre put his head out from above the loggia and shouted:
    ‘Giuseppe, the gates! You haven’t shut the gates! And close the stable and coachhouse windows. And tell ’em to shut the shops. Shut everything!’
    ‘No hurry!’ murmured Don Gaspare.
    And as, pushed by Giuseppe, the great gates turned at last on their hinges, passers-by began gathering in little groups. ‘Who’s dead?… The princess?… At the Belvedere?…’ Giuseppe, now quite beside himself, shrugged his shoulders. But questions and answers crossed confusedly in the crowd, ‘Was she in the country?… Ill for at least a year … Alone?… With none of her children!…’ The better informed explained, ‘She wanted no one with her, except her agent … she couldn’t bear them …’ Said an old man, shaking his head, ‘A mad lot, these Francalanza!’
    Meanwhile the retainers were barring up windows of stables and coachhouses; baker, vintner, cabinet-maker and watchmaker also put up their shutters. Another group of curious passers-by had gathered by the service gates, which were still open, and looked at the confused coming and going of domestics in the courtyard, while from up on the loggia, like a ship’s captain, Baldassarre imparted order after order.
    Pasqualino, go to the Signora Marchesa and to the Benedictines … But give the news to the Signor Marchese and to Father Don Blasco, d’you understand?… Not to the Prior!… Now you, Filippo, go to Donna Ferdinanda’s … Donna Vincenza? Where’s Donna Vincenza?… Take your shawl and go off to the convent … Ask the Mother Abbess to prepare the nun for the news … Just a minute! First come up and see the princess, who wants a word with you … Salemi?… Giuseppe, only let in close relatives … Has Salemi come?… Drop everything. The prince and Signor Marco are expecting you up there, as they need help. Natale, you go to Donna Graziella and the duchess.