Chapter XXIII: Cattarina Does Mischief

Norah’s judgment of physiognomy had not deceived her in any way with regard to Cattarina, for she was bent on mischief.

The wily woman had perceived, from the beginning of their tour, that Miss Chandos saw through her, in spite of all the arts by which she often gained the good-will, and sometimes even the warm affections of many people. It is a strange fact that the common or usual characteristic of the Italian character is great simplicity; but when this is the reverse, their artfulness, and the patience with which they work vengeance upon those who incur their displeasure, is very striking.

It so happened that she had a quarrel with Valentino the night before, because she could not make him believe that she had lost some valuables by the banditti, after he had triumphantly maintained to Mr. Chandos that no padroni of his had ever lost any of their property when they were under his charge.

Signor Valentino was by no means a bad man, as couriers go, and beyond a turn for gossip, and making money within (somewhat stretched) honest limits, there was no harm in him. However, all he had said at different times disclosed more of Norah’s, and Sir Alfred’s, and my (Constance Vivian’s) history, than he would have told had he been fully aware of Cattarina’s mischief-making propensities, or imagined that she had imbibed the strongest possible hatred for the “bella Signora Norina,” as he called his young lady, whom he particularly admired, and whose happiness he sincerely wished for.

It so happened that Cattarina had some intimate friends or relations at a third-rate hotel in Gaeta; thither she went after her quarrel with Valentino the preceding evening, and found a gay marriage _fête_ in progress, so she remained there in great glee half the night. In the middle of it some strangers arrived, who excited her interest, for she fancied that two of them were not what they seemed to be; and, as she watched them closely, she made a discovery. She then contrived to see where the strangers were lodged, and overheard the taller of the two saying that they should start early the following morning. After that she had a long _tête-à-tête_ with a son of the hotel-keeper, who was a great admirer of hers, and the result was a promise on his part that her wishes should be punctually carried out.

When Norah saw her leave their hotel in the morning, Cattarina went first to the scene of her gaieties of the preceding evening; and, on the way, she met the travelling carriage containing the Spendfasts and Lady Selina, and she contrived to make herself seen by them, although they were driving very quickly. She had expected they would travel in this direction soon, and was particularly glad to see them arrive now, and concluded that they would put up at the Hotel de Russie, as there was no room at the best. Having watched some minutes to ascertain that they were taken in there, after the fruitless attempt at the Angleterre, she proceeded with her walk, and had an interview with her young admirer.

The news he gave her seemed to be satisfactory, for she thanked him warmly, and said she would call again before they left Gaeta, and hoped if they remained for several days he would have more to tell. She informed him that she was now hurrying off to see a lady who would pay him well for the trouble, and gladly recompense any loss he might incur. She then proceeded, with gleaming eyes and triumphant step, to the “Russie,” and asked to see Lady Selina Bugginfield. They had a long interview, and her ladyship seemed so much pleased with her that she gave Cattarina a valuable emerald ring.

But what Lady Selina heard from the maid induced her to alter her own plans, and instead of remaining with the Spendfasts, she determined to start at once for Caserta, “having heard,” she said, “that an old English lady who lived there was very ill, and wished to see her.” But she would not think of taking the Spendfasts so out of the way; she would meet them at Naples in a few days. Horses were ordered immediately, and Lady Selina, with her own maid and man, proceeded on the road to Caserta.

After leaving the “Russie,” Cattarina hurried off to her own hotel, for it suddenly occurred to her that if the poor Duke should unfortunately die, her padrone would not remain there, but would probably wish to proceed to Naples. She devoutly hoped he would not die, for, besides having a great admiration for the handsome and generous Duke, his recovery, rather than his death, would best help the success of her plans.

“He may live--the ball has been extracted,” was the answer to her eager inquiry on reaching the hotel.

“And was her padrone and the young lady with him now?”

“Yes, they were in his room, for the doctor was gone to rest after having been up all night, and they were watching by the sufferer’s bedside.”

“Va bene,” she said, with a triumphant smile, as she went up to see after the children and her padrona.