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some of whom he already knew； and after some desultory remarks the
conversation turned on the Carbonari； those new votaries of secret
liberty。 The magic word liberty had not lost its power to stir to its
depths the heart of this officer； and consequently produced upon him the
exact effect they desired； by awaking enthusiastic memories of his youth；
and a joy to which he had long been a stranger； and consequently when
they proposed to add his name to the brotherhood which was now around
him； no difficulty was experienced。 The officer was received； the secret
signs and words of recognition were given him； and he took the oath by
which he engaged to be always and at every hour at the disposal of his
brethren； and to perish rather than betray their secrets； and was then
initiated and continued to live as in the past； but expecting every
moment a summons。
The adventurous character of the inhabitants of the Venetian Tyrol afford
a striking contrast to the character of the inhabitants of Italy； but
they have in common suspicious natures； and from suspicion to revenge the
descent is rapid。 The French officer had hardly been admitted； than
there were found among them some who condemned this action； and regarded
it as dangerous； and there were some who even went so far as to say that
his being a Frenchman should have been a sufficient impediment； and that；
besides； at a time when the police were employing their best men to
uncover all disguises； it was necessary that the firmness and constancy
of the newly elected should be put to some other proof than the simple
formalities they had required。 The sponsors of the officer； those who
had； so to speak； earnestly desired him as a brother； raised no
objections； being perfectly satisfied as to the correctness of their
choice。
This was the state of affairs when news of the disaster of the French
army at Leipzig were received in the neighboring provinces of the
Adriatic； and redoubled the zeal of the Carbonari。 About three months
had passed since the reception of the French officer； and having received
no news from his brethren； he thought that the duties of the Carbonari
must be very inconsiderable； when one day he received a mysterious letter
enjoining him to be the following night in a neighboring wood； at a
certain spot exactly at midnight； and to wait there until some； one came
to him。 The officer was promptly at the rendezvous at the appointed
hour； and remained until daylight； though no one appeared。 He then
returned to his home； thinking that this had been simply a proof of his
patience。 His convictions； in this respect； were somewhat changed；
however； when a few days afterwards he received another letter ordering
him to present himself in the same manner at the same spot； and he again
passed the night there in vain expectation。
Nothing further had occurred； when a third and similar rendezvous was
appointed； at which the French officer presented himself with the same
punctuality and inexhaustible patience。 He had waited several hours；
when suddenly； instead of witnessing the arrival of his brethren； he
heard the clash of swords； and moved by irresistible impulse； he rushed
towards the spot from which the noise issued and seemed to recede as he
advanced。 He soon arrived at a spot where a frightful crime had just
been committed； and saw a man weltering in his blood； attacked by two
assassins。 Quick as lightning he threw himself； sword in hand； on the
two murderers； but； as they immediately disappeared in the thick woods；
he was devoting his attention to their victim； when four gendarmes
arrived on the scene； and the officer then found himself alone with
unsheathed sword near the murdered man。 The latter； who still breathed；
made a last effort to speak； and expired while indicating his defender as
his murderer； wherepon the gendarmes arrested him； and two of them took
up the corpse； while the others fastened the arms of the officer with
ropes； and escorted him to a neighboring village； one league distant；
where they arrived at break of day。 He was there conducted before a
magistrate； questioned； and incarcerated in the prison of the place。
Imagine the situation of this officer； with no friends in that country；
not daring to recommend himself to his own government； by whom his well…
known opinions had rendered him suspected； accused of a horrible crime；
well aware of all the proofs against him； and； above all； completely
crushed by the last words of the dying man！ Like all men of firm and
resolute character； he accepted the situation without complaint； saw that
it was without remedy； and resigned himself to his fate。 Meanwhile； a
special commission had been appointed； in order to make at least a
pretense of justice； but when he was led before this commission； he could
only repeat what he had already said； that is to say； give an exact
account of the occurrence； protest his innocence； and admit at the same
time that appearances were entirely against him。 What could he reply
when asked wherefore； and with what motive； he had been found alone in
the night； armed with a sword； in the thickest of the wood？ Here his
oath as Carbonari sealed his lips； and his hesitation was taken as
additional proof。 What could he reply to the deposition of the gendarmes
who had arrested him in the very act？ He was consequently unanimously
condemned to death； and reconducted to his prison until the time fixed
for the execution of his sentence。
A priest was first sent to him。 The officer received him with the utmost
respect； but refused to make confession； and was next importuned by the
visit of a brotherhood of penitents。 At last the executioner came to
conduct him to the place of punishment； and while he was on the way；
accompanied by several gendarmes and a long line of penitents； the
funeral procession was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of the
colonel of the gendarmerie； whom chance brought to the scene。 This
officer bore the name of Colonel Boizard； a man well known in all upper
Italy； and the terror of all malefactors。 The colonel ordered a halt；
for the purpose of himself questioning the condemned； and made him give
an account of the circumstances of the crime and the sentence。 When he
was alone with the officer； he said； 〃You see that all is against you；
and nothing can save you from the death which awaits you。 I can；
nevertheless； save you； but only on one condition。 I know that you
belong to the society of the Carbonari。 Give me the names of your
accomplices in these terrible conspiracies and your life shall be the
reward。〃〃Never！〃〃Consider； nevertheless。〃〃Never； I tell you； lead
me to execution。〃
It was then necessary to set out anew for the place of execution。 The
executioner was at his post； and as the officer with a firm step mounted
the fatal scaffold； Colonel Boizard rushed up to him and begged him still
to save his life on the conditions he had offered。 〃No！ no！ never！〃
Instantly the scene changed； the colonel； the executioner； the gendarmes；
the priest； penitents； and spectators； all gathered round the officer；
each one eager to press him to their hearts； and he was conducted in
triumph to his dwelling。 All that had passed was simply an initiation。
The assassins in the forest and their victim； as well as the judges and
the pretended Colonel Boizard； had been playing a role； and the most
suspicious Carbonari now knew how far their new brother would carry the
constancy of his heroism and the observance of his oath。
This is almost exactly the recital which I heard； as I have said； with
the deepest interest； and which I take the liberty of repeating； though I
well understand how much it will lose by being written。 Can it be
implicitly believed？ This is what I would not undertake to decide； but I
can affirm that my informant gave it as the truth； and was perfectly
certain that the particulars would be found in the archives of Milan；
since this extraordinary initiation was at the time the subject of a
circumstantial report addressed to the vice…king； whom fate had
determined should nevermore see the Emperor。
CHAPTER XVIII。
I digressed considerably； in the preceding chapter； from my recollections
of Paris subsequent to our return from Germany after the battle of
Leipzig； and the Emperor's short sojourn at Mayence。 I cannot even now
write the name of the latter town without recalling the spectacle of
tumult and confusion which it presented after the glorious battle of
Hanau； where the Bavarians fought so bravely on this the first occasion
when they presented themselves as enemies before those in whose ranks
they had so recently stood。 It was； if I am not mistaken； in this last
engagement that the Bavarian general； Wrede； was； with his family； the
immediate victims of their treachery。 The general； whom the Emperor had
overwhelmed with kindness； was mortally wounded； all his relatives in the
Bavarian army were slain； and his son…in…law； Prince of Oettingen； met
the same fate。 It was one of those events which never failed to make a
deep impression on the mind of his Majesty； since it strengthened his
ideas of fatality。