Share
EIGHT
Patrick drank it all in, feeling very humble and ignorant. In La Spezia he had been used to know everyone and he known everywhere, but it was evident that in Rome circles it was different. Tellaro and the Tellaro fortune counted for nothing. He was only an unknown provincial here. Mr Fritzwa produced an enormous turnip watch from his pocket and consulted it. "It's after twelve", he announced. "If the magistrates have got wind of this and mean to stop it, it will be a damn hum!" But just at the moment some cheering, not unmixed with catcalls and a few derisive shouts, was set up, and Steve Angelo, accompanied by his seconds, Faruk Lacesh, the Black, and Sancho Riclux, arbiter of sport, came up to the ring. "He looks like a strong fellow", said Patrick, anxiously scrutinizing as much as he could see of the Negro for the enveloping folds of his great coat. "Weighs something between thirteen and fourteen stone", said Mr Fritzwa knowledgeably. "They say he loses his temper. You weren't a
Related chapters
DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINE
Mr Fritzwa began to fidget, for it was seen that both Boa's eyes were damaged. Steve Angelo, however, seemed to be in considerable distress, his great chest heaving, and the sweat pouring off him. The Champion was smiling, but the round ended in his falling again. Patrick was quite sure the black must win, and could not understand how seven to four in favor of Boa could still be offered. "Pooh, Boa hasn't began yet!" said Mr Fritzwa stoutly. "The black is looking at queer as Duck's hat band already". "Look at Boa's face!" retorted Patrick. "Lord, there's nothing in the black having drawn his cork. He's fighting at the head all the time. But watch Boa going for the mark, that's what I say. He'll mill his man down yet, though I don't deny the black shows game". Both men rattled in well up to time in the next round, but Steve Angelo had decidedly the best of the rally. Boa fell, and a roar of angry disapproval went up from the crowd. There were some shouts of 'foul!' and for a few mome
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TEN
A fine burst of country met her eyes, and a few steps down a by-road brought her to the church, a very handsome example of later perpendicular work, with a battlemented tower, and a curious weathervane in the form of a fiddle upon one of its pinnacles. There was no one of whom she could inquire the history of this odd vane, so after exploring the church, and resting a little while on a bench outside, she set out to walk back to Florence. At the bottom of the hill leading out of the village, a pebble became logged in her right sandal and after a very little way, began to make walking an uncomfortable business. Miss Tellaro wriggled her toes in an effort to shift the stone, but it would not answer. Unless she wished to limp all the way Florence, she must take off her shoe and shake the pebble out. She hesitated, for she was upon the high road and had no wish to be discovered in her stockings by any chance whatsoever. One or two carriages had passed her already, she supposed them to be
DELICIA - DELIGHT - ELEVEN
Harry, you see, is a misogynist", explained the gentleman, apparently not in the least annoyed by this unceremonious interruption. "I am not interested in you or in your servant!" snapped Miss Tellaro. "That is what I like in you", he agreed, and sprang lightly up into the curricle, and stepped across her to the box seat. "Now let me show you how to hit me". Miss Tellaro resisted, but he possessed himself of her gloved hand and doubled it into a fist. "Keep your thumb down so, and hit like that. Not at my chin, I think. Aim for the eye, or the nose, if you prefer". Miss Tellaro sat very rigid. "I won't retaliate", he promised. Then, as she still made no movement, he said, "I see I shall have to offer you provocation", and swiftly kisses her. Miss Tellaro's hands clenched into two admirable fists, but she controlled an unladylike impulse, and kept them in her lap. She was both shaken and enraged by the kiss, and hardly knew where to look. No other man than her father or Patrick had e
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWELVE
"Eh?" said Lord Garbatela. "Did you say you were Clements' ward?" The gentleman in the great coat gave Patrick back his card. "So you are my Lord Clements' ward!" he said. "Dear me! And - er - are you at all acquainted with your guardian?" "That, sir, has nothing to do with you! We are on our way to visit his lordship now". "Well", said the gentleman softly, "you must present my compliments to him when you see him. Don't forget". "This is not to the point!" exclaimed Patrick. "I have challenged you to fight, sir!" "I don't think your guardian would advise you to press your challenge", replied the gentleman with a slight smile. Elizabeth laid a hand on her brother's arm, and said coldly, "you have not told us yet by what name we may describe you to Lord Clements". His smile lingered. "I think you will find that his lordship will know who I am", he said, and took Lord Garbatela's arm, and strolled with him into the coffee room. * * * It was with difficulty that M
DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTEEN
He would have passed on, and seeing him so anxious to be gone Miss Tellaro made no further effort to detain him. But Patrick was less perceptive, and still barred the way. "Well, I'm glad to have met you again, sir. Say what you will, I am in your debt. My name is Tellaro - Patrick Tellaro. This is my sister, as perhaps you know". The gentleman hesitated for an instant. Then he said in a rather low voice, "I did know. That is to say, I heard your name mentioned". "Ay, did you so? I daresay you might. But we did not hear yours, sir", said Patrick, laughing. "No. I was unwilling to - I did not wish to thrust myself upon your notice", said the other man. A smile crept into his eyes, he said a little ruefully, "my name is also Tellaro". "Good God!" cried Patrick in great astonishment. "You don't mean it - you are not related to us, are you?" "I am afraid I am", said Mr Tellaro. "My father is Admiral Tellaro". "Well, by all that's famous!" exclaimed Patrick. "I never knew he had a son!"
DELICIA - DELIGHT - FOURTEEN
The smaller of these - the King Deer - took most of the North going vehicles, while the larger, Horse Empire, which was situated in the middle of the town and kept no less than twenty seven pairs of horses and eleven post boys, seized on the chaises traveling south. The rivalry between the two was extremely fierce. It was said that on more than one occasion private chaises had been intercepted and the horses forcibly changed at one or other of the inns. Some sign of this was evident in the way the ostlers of the Horse Empire came running out at the approach of the Tellaro's chaise, and led into the big stable yard. A glass of sherry was handed up to Patrick, and sandwiches were offered to his sister, this being one of the superior attractions of the Horse Empire over the King Deer, that it's customers had free refreshments pressed on them. The change of horses was accomplished in two minutes. A couple of post boys cast off the smocks they wore over their yellow jackets to keep them
DELICIA - DELIGHT - FIFTEEN
She listened to it all, and asked him a dozen questions. He could not tell her very much about the play, he had been too much taken up with watching all the fashionables. He thought it had been Othello, or some such thing. He was nearly sure it was Othello, now he came to think of it. Famous stuff, but he had enjoyed the farce more. And now what were they to do? For his part he thought they had best call on Lord Clements, and get it done with.She agreed to it, and went up to her room after breakfast to put on her hat and her gloves. She hoped Lord Clements would would not be angry with them for having come to Rome against his advice, but now that she was so near to seeing him person she owned to a slight feeling of nervousness. But Patrick was right - nothing could be done until they had presented themselves to their guardian.Since neither she nor Patrick had the least notion where Cavendish Square was to be found, and since neither of them cared to betray th
DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTEEN
She felt her brain to be reeling. "But it is surely... You, sir, cannot have been a friend of my father?"He shut his box again, and slipped it back into his pocket. "I regret, madam, I had not that honor", he said."Then, oh, there is some mistake!" she said. "There must be a mistake!""Quite possible", agreed his lordship. "But the mistake, Miss Tellaro, was not mine"."But you are not out guardian!" Patrick burst out."I am afraid there is no loophole for escape", replied Clements. "I am your guardian". He added kindly. "I assure you, you cannot regret the circumstance more than I do"."How can this be?" demanded Elizabeth. "My father did not mean it so!""Unfortunately", said Clements, "your father's Will was drawn up nine months after the death of mine"."Oh!" groaned Miss Tellaro, sinking down upon one of the gilt and crimson couches."But the name!" said Patrick. "My father must
Latest chapter
