Dwaraka/Training_Dataset_of_Project_Gutebberg_Gothic_Fiction

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“No, no, not Matilda: Isabella; when did Isabella first become acquainted
with this Theodore!”

“Virgin Mary!” said Bianca, “how should I know?”

“Thou dost know,” said Manfred; “and I must know; I will—”

“Lord! your Highness is not jealous of young Theodore!” said Bianca.

“Jealous! no, no. Why should I be jealous? perhaps I mean to unite
them—If I were sure Isabella would have no repugnance.”

“Repugnance! no, I’ll warrant her,” said Bianca; “he is as comely a youth
as ever trod on Christian ground. We are all in love with him; there is
not a soul in the castle but would be rejoiced to have him for our
Prince—I mean, when it shall please heaven to call your Highness to
itself.”

“Indeed!” said Manfred, “has it gone so far! oh! this cursed Friar!—but I
must not lose time—go, Bianca, attend Isabella; but I charge thee, not a
word of what has passed. Find out how she is affected towards Theodore;
bring me good news, and that ring has a companion. Wait at the foot of
the winding staircase: I am going to visit the Marquis, and will talk
further with thee at my return.”

Manfred, after some general conversation, desired Frederic to dismiss the
two Knights, his companions, having to talk with him on urgent affairs.

As soon as they were alone, he began in artful guise to sound the Marquis
on the subject of Matilda; and finding him disposed to his wish, he let
drop hints on the difficulties that would attend the celebration of their
marriage, unless—At that instant Bianca burst into the room with a
wildness in her look and gestures that spoke the utmost terror.

“Oh! my Lord, my Lord!” cried she; “we are all undone! it is come again!
it is come again!”

“What is come again?” cried Manfred amazed.

“Oh! the hand! the Giant! the hand!—support me! I am terrified out of my
senses,” cried Bianca. “I will not sleep in the castle to-night. Where
shall I go? my things may come after me to-morrow—would I had been
content to wed Francesco! this comes of ambition!”

“What has terrified thee thus, young woman?” said the Marquis. “Thou art
safe here; be not alarmed.”

“Oh! your Greatness is wonderfully good,” said Bianca, “but I dare
not—no, pray let me go—I had rather leave everything behind me, than stay
another hour under this roof.”

“Go to, thou hast lost thy senses,” said Manfred. “Interrupt us not; we
were communing on important matters—My Lord, this wench is subject to
fits—Come with me, Bianca.”

“Oh! the Saints! No,” said Bianca, “for certain it comes to warn your
Highness; why should it appear to me else? I say my prayers morning and
evening—oh! if your Highness had believed Diego! ’Tis the same hand that
he saw the foot to in the gallery-chamber—Father Jerome has often told us
the prophecy would be out one of these days—‘Bianca,’ said he, ‘mark my
words—’”

“Thou ravest,” said Manfred, in a rage; “be gone, and keep these
fooleries to frighten thy companions.”

“What! my Lord,” cried Bianca, “do you think I have seen nothing? go to
the foot of the great stairs yourself—as I live I saw it.”

“Saw what? tell us, fair maid, what thou hast seen,” said Frederic.

“Can your Highness listen,” said Manfred, “to the delirium of a silly
wench, who has heard stories of apparitions until she believes them?”

“This is more than fancy,” said the Marquis; “her terror is too natural
and too strongly impressed to be the work of imagination. Tell us, fair
maiden, what it is has moved thee thus?”

“Yes, my Lord, thank your Greatness,” said Bianca; “I believe I look very
pale; I shall be better when I have recovered myself—I was going to my
Lady Isabella’s chamber, by his Highness’s order—”

“We do not want the circumstances,” interrupted Manfred. “Since his
Highness will have it so, proceed; but be brief.”

“Lord! your Highness thwarts one so!” replied Bianca; “I fear my hair—I
am sure I never in my life—well! as I was telling your Greatness, I was
going by his Highness’s order to my Lady Isabella’s chamber; she lies in
the watchet-coloured chamber, on the right hand, one pair of stairs: so
when I came to the great stairs—I was looking on his Highness’s present
here—”

“Grant me patience!” said Manfred, “will this wench never come to the
point? what imports it to the Marquis, that I gave thee a bauble for thy
faithful attendance on my daughter? we want to know what thou sawest.”

“I was going to tell your Highness,” said Bianca, “if you would permit
me. So as I was rubbing the ring—I am sure I had not gone up three
steps, but I heard the rattling of armour; for all the world such a
clatter as Diego says he heard when the Giant turned him about in the

“No, no, not Matilda: Isabella; when did Isabella first become acquainted

with this Theodore!”

“Virgin Mary!” said Bianca, “how should I know?”

“Thou dost know,” said Manfred; “and I must know; I will—”

“Lord! your Highness is not jealous of young Theodore!” said Bianca.

“Jealous! no, no. Why should I be jealous? perhaps I mean to unite

them—If I were sure Isabella would have no repugnance.”

“Repugnance! no, I’ll warrant her,” said Bianca; “he is as comely a youth

as ever trod on Christian ground. We are all in love with him; there is

not a soul in the castle but would be rejoiced to have him for our

Prince—I mean, when it shall please heaven to call your Highness to

itself.”

“Indeed!” said Manfred, “has it gone so far! oh! this cursed Friar!—but I

must not lose time—go, Bianca, attend Isabella; but I charge thee, not a

word of what has passed. Find out how she is affected towards Theodore;

bring me good news, and that ring has a companion. Wait at the foot of

the winding staircase: I am going to visit the Marquis, and will talk

further with thee at my return.”

Manfred, after some general conversation, desired Frederic to dismiss the

two Knights, his companions, having to talk with him on urgent affairs.

As soon as they were alone, he began in artful guise to sound the Marquis

on the subject of Matilda; and finding him disposed to his wish, he let

drop hints on the difficulties that would attend the celebration of their

marriage, unless—At that instant Bianca burst into the room with a

wildness in her look and gestures that spoke the utmost terror.

“Oh! my Lord, my Lord!” cried she; “we are all undone! it is come again!

it is come again!”

“What is come again?” cried Manfred amazed.

“Oh! the hand! the Giant! the hand!—support me! I am terrified out of my

senses,” cried Bianca. “I will not sleep in the castle to-night. Where

shall I go? my things may come after me to-morrow—would I had been

content to wed Francesco! this comes of ambition!”

“What has terrified thee thus, young woman?” said the Marquis. “Thou art

safe here; be not alarmed.”

“Oh! your Greatness is wonderfully good,” said Bianca, “but I dare

not—no, pray let me go—I had rather leave everything behind me, than stay

another hour under this roof.”

“Go to, thou hast lost thy senses,” said Manfred. “Interrupt us not; we

were communing on important matters—My Lord, this wench is subject to

fits—Come with me, Bianca.”

“Oh! the Saints! No,” said Bianca, “for certain it comes to warn your

Highness; why should it appear to me else? I say my prayers morning and

evening—oh! if your Highness had believed Diego! ’Tis the same hand that

he saw the foot to in the gallery-chamber—Father Jerome has often told us

the prophecy would be out one of these days—‘Bianca,’ said he, ‘mark my

words—’”

“Thou ravest,” said Manfred, in a rage; “be gone, and keep these

fooleries to frighten thy companions.”

“What! my Lord,” cried Bianca, “do you think I have seen nothing? go to

the foot of the great stairs yourself—as I live I saw it.”

“Saw what? tell us, fair maid, what thou hast seen,” said Frederic.

“Can your Highness listen,” said Manfred, “to the delirium of a silly

wench, who has heard stories of apparitions until she believes them?”

“This is more than fancy,” said the Marquis; “her terror is too natural

and too strongly impressed to be the work of imagination. Tell us, fair

maiden, what it is has moved thee thus?”

“Yes, my Lord, thank your Greatness,” said Bianca; “I believe I look very

pale; I shall be better when I have recovered myself—I was going to my

Lady Isabella’s chamber, by his Highness’s order—”

“We do not want the circumstances,” interrupted Manfred. “Since his

Highness will have it so, proceed; but be brief.”

“Lord! your Highness thwarts one so!” replied Bianca; “I fear my hair—I

am sure I never in my life—well! as I was telling your Greatness, I was

going by his Highness’s order to my Lady Isabella’s chamber; she lies in

the watchet-coloured chamber, on the right hand, one pair of stairs: so

when I came to the great stairs—I was looking on his Highness’s present

here—”

“Grant me patience!” said Manfred, “will this wench never come to the

point? what imports it to the Marquis, that I gave thee a bauble for thy

faithful attendance on my daughter? we want to know what thou sawest.”

“I was going to tell your Highness,” said Bianca, “if you would permit

me. So as I was rubbing the ring—I am sure I had not gone up three

steps, but I heard the rattling of armour; for all the world such a

clatter as Diego says he heard when the Giant turned him about in the