Farewell Nikola: Chapter 13

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter thirteen, A Farewell to Nicola by die Boothby this
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter thirteen. If
I were offered my heart's desire and returned for so doing,
I could not tell you how I got home. After
my interview with Niccola at the Palace Ravicy. I was

(00:22):
unconscious of everything save that I had gone to Nichola's
house in the hope of being able to save the
life of a man whom I had the best of
reasons for hating, and that at the last moment I
had turned coward and fled the field. No humiliation could
have been more complete. Niccola had won a victory, and
I knew it and despaired of retrieving it. While reaching

(00:44):
the hotel, I was about to disempart from my gondola
when a voice hailed me from another craft proceeding in
the direction I had come, Dick Hatteras as I'm a sinner,
it cried, don't you know me, Dick. I turned to
see a face I well remembered smiling at me from
the gondola. I immediately bade my own man put me
out into the stream, which he did, and presently the

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two gondolas lay side by side. The man who had
hailed me was none other than George Beckworth, a Queensland
sugar planter with whom I'd been on terms of the
most intimate friendship in bygone days. And as there was
a lady seated beside him, I derived the impression that
he had married since I had last seen him. This

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is indeed a surprise, he said, as he shook hands.
By the way, let me introduce you to my wife, Dick.
He said this with all the pride of a newly
married man. My dear, this is my old friend, Dick
hatteras of whom I've so often spoken to you. What
are you doing in Venice, Dick? I have my wife
and some friends traveling with me, I answered, who is
staying at Gallaghati's hotel Yonder? Cannot you and your wife

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die with us to night? Possible? I'm afraid, he answered,
He sailed a night in the Pianot boat. Why'd you
come and die with us? As equally impossible? I replied,
we have friends with us. I like to see something
of you more before you go, and if you will
allow me, I'll run down after dinner for a chat.
About old times. I should be delighted, he answered, be

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sure that you do not forget it. Having assured him
that I would not permit it to escape my memory,
I bade him good bye and then return to my hotel.
A more fortunate meeting could scarcely have occurred. For now
I was furnished with an excellent excuse for leaving my
party and for being alone for a time. Once more,
I felt that I was a coward for not daring

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to face my fellow men under the circumstances. However, I
knew that it was impossible. I could no more have
spent the evening listening to Glenbarth's happy laughter. I could
have jumped into the Grand Canal. For the time being,
the society of my fellow creatures was absolutely distasteful to me.
On ascending to my rooms, I discovered my wife and

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the Duke in the drawing room, and was informed by
the latter that Miss Trevor had again been compelled to
retire to her room with a severe headache. In that case,
I am afraid you will only be a small party
for dinner, I said, I'm going to ask you to
excuse me. If often heard me speak my dear of
George Beckworth, the Queensland sugar planter, with whom I used
to be on such friendly terms in the old days.

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My wife admitted that she remembered hearing me speak of
the gentleman in question. Well, he's in Venice, I replied,
and he sails to night by the piano boat for Colombo.
As it is the last time I should be likely
to see him for many years. I feel sure you
will not mind my accepting his invitation, of course, not
if a duke will excuse you, she said, And when
the question was put to him, glen Barth willingly consented

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to do so. I accordingly went to my room to
make my toilet, and then, having bade my wife goodbye,
I chanted a gondola and ordered the man to row
me to the Piazza of Saint Mark. Thence I set
off for a walk through the city, caring little in
which way I went. I was growing dark by this time,
and I knew there was a little chance of my
being recognized, my recognizing anybody else. All the time, however,

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my memory was haunted by the recollection of that room
at the Palace Ravici, and of what was in all
probability going on in it. My gorge rose at the
idea all my man, who had revolted from it. A
loathing of Nicholas such as I had never known before,
was succeeded by a deathly chill as I realized how
impotent I was to avert the catastrophe? What could I do?

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To have attempted to stay him in his course would
have been worse than useless, while to have appealed to
the authorities would only have the effect of putting myself
in direct opposition to and who knew what would happen.
Then I looked at it from another point of view.
Why should I be so anxious to interfere on the
wretched Spaniard's behalf. I had seen his murderous intention on

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the morning of the frustrated duel. I had heard from
Nichol of the assassination of those unfortunate lads in Ecotina. Moreover,
I was well aware that he was a thief and
also a traitor to his country. Why should he not
be punished as he deserved? And why should not Niccola
be his executioner? I endeavored to convince myself that this

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was only fit and proper retribution. But this argument was
no more successful than the last had been. Arguing in
this way, I walked on and on, turning to right
or left, just as the fancy took me. Presently, I
found myself in a portion of the town into which
I had never hitherto penetrated. At the moment of which
I'm about to write, I was standing in a narrow

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lane paved with large stones, having high dismal houses on
either hand. Suddenly, an old man turned the corner and
approached me. As he passed, I saw his face and
recognized an individual to whom Niccola had spoken in the
little church on that memorable evening when he had taken
us on a tour of inspection through the city. He

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was visibly agitated, and was moreover in hot haste. For
some reason I cannot explain, nor I shall never be
able to do so, an intense desire to follow him
took possession of It must have been more than a desire,
for I felt that I must go with him, whether
I wished to or not. I accordingly dived into the
house after him, and followed him along the passage and

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up the rickety flight of stairs that ascended from it.
Having attained one floor, we continued our ascent. The sounds
and voices reached us from the different rooms, but we
saw no one. On the second landing, the old man
paused before a door, opened it very softly, and entered.
I followed him and looked about me. It was a

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pathetic scene that met my eyes. The room was a
poor one and scantily furnished. A rough table and a
narrow bed were its only furniture. On the latter, a
young man was lying kneeling on the floor beside him,
holding the thin hands in his own was no less
a person than doctor Nicholler himself. I saw that he

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was aware of my presence, but he took no notice
of me than if I had not existed. He called
me too late before Antonio, he said, addressing the old man.
I followed. Nothing can save him now. He was dying
when I arrived. On hearing this, the old man fell
on his knees beside the bed and burst into a
flood of weeping. Nichola placed his hand, with a kindly gesture,

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upon the other's shoulder, and at the moment that he
did so, the man upon the bed expired. Do not
grieve for him, my friend, said Nicola, believe me, it
was hopeless. From the first. He was better, as he
is the all the gentleness of a woman. He proceeded
to comfort the old man, whose only son lay dead
upon the bed. I knew no more of the story

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than what I have seen, or have I heard more
of it since. But I have been permitted to see
another side of his character, and one which, in the
light of existing circumstances, was not to be denied. It
scarcely finished with his kindly offices before there was a
heavy step outside, and a black browed priest entered the room.

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He looked from Nichola to myself, and then the dead
man upon the bed. Farewell, my good Antonio said, Nichola,
have no fear, remember that your future is in my care. Then,
having said something in an undertone to the priest, he
placed his hand upon my arm and led me from
the room. When we had left them, he murmured, in
a voice not unlike that which you'd addressed the old man,

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hatteras this is another lesson? Is it so difficult to learn?
I do not pretend that I made any answer. We
passed down the stairs together and When we reached the street,
stood for a moment at the house door. You will
not be able to understand me, he said. Nevertheless, I
tell you that the end is brought nearer by that
one scene. It will not be long before it comes. Now,

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all things considered, I do not know that I shall
regret it. Then, without another word, he strode away into
the darkness, leaving me to place what construction I pleased
upon his last speech. For some moments I stood where
he left me, pondering over his words, and then set
off in the direction I had come. As maybe imagined,

(09:07):
I felt even less inclined than before for the happy,
jovial party. I knew I should find on board the steamer,
but I had given my promise and could not get
out of it. When I reached the Piazza Saint Mark
once more, I went to the steps and hailed a gondola,
telling the man to take me to the piano vessel
then lying at anchor in the harbor. He did so.

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When I made my way up the accommodation ladder to
the deck above, to find that the passengers in the
first saloon had just finished their dinner and were making
their appearance on the promenade deck. I inquired the steward
for mister Beckworth and discovered him in the act of
lighting his cigar at the smoking room door. He greeted
me her fusively, and begged me to remain where I

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was a while while he went in search of his wife.
When she arrived, I found out to be a pretty
little woman with big brown eyes and a sympathetic manner.
She was good enough to say that she had heard
such a lot concerning me from her husband and had
always looked forward to making my acquaintance. I accepted a
cigar for Beckworth's case, and we then adjoined the smoking

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room for a long talk together. When we had comfortably
installed ourselves my friends, fly of conversation commenced, and I
was made aware of all the principal events that had
occurred in Queensland since my departure. Was favored with his
opinion of England, which he had never before visited, and
was furnished with the details as to how he had

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met his wife, and of the happy event in which
their courtship had been concluded. Altogether, he said, taking one
thing with another, I don't know that you'd be able
to find a much happier fellow in the world than
I am. At this moment, I said, I was glad
to hear it, and as I did so, contrasted his breezy, happy,
go lucky manner and those of certain other people I

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had been brought in contact with that day. My interview
with him must have done meeker, for I stayed on,
and the hour was consequently late when I left the ship. Indeed,
it wanted only a few minutes of eleven o'clock. Although
I went down the accommodation added to the gondola which
I had ordered to come for me at ten Galaghati's hotel,
I said to the man, as quickly as you can.

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I bade my friends good by and left the ship.
I felt comparatively cheerful, but no sooner had the silence
of Venis closed in upon me again, and all my
old despondency returned to me. A foreboding of coming misfortune
settled upon me, and do what I would, I could
not shake it off. When I reached the hotel, I

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found that my party had retired to rest. My wife
was sleeping quietly and not feeling inclined for bed, and
dreading lest if I did go I might be a
sail by more dreams of a similar description to that
I had had on the previous night, I resolved to
go back to the drawingroom and read there for a time.
This plan I carried into execution up a new book

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in which I was very much interested. I seated myself
in an easy chair and determined to peruse it. I
found some difficulty, however, in concentrating my attention upon it.
My thoughts continuously reverted to my interview that afternoon with Nicola,
and also to the scene I had witnessed in the
poorer quarter after dark. I suppose eventually I must have

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fallen asleep. I remember nothing else. I awoke to find
myself sitting up and listening to a light step in
the corner outside. I looked at my watch to discover
the time as exactly a quarter to one. In that case,
as we monopolized the whole of the corridor, who could
it be? In order to find out, I went to
the door and softly opened it. A dim light was

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always left in the passage throughout the night, and by
it I was able to see a tall and graceful
figure which I instantly recognized making for the secondary stairs
at the further end. A dim light was always left
in the passage throughout the night, and by it I
was able to see a tall and graceful figure, which
I instantly recognized, making for the secondary stairs at the

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further end. Now, these stairs, so I had been given
to understand, led to another portion of the hotel, to
which I had never penetrated. Why therefore Miss Trevor was
using it for such an hour, and above all dressed
for going out, I could not, for the life of
me determine. I could see that if I was anxious
to find out, I must be quick, So, turning swiftly

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into the room again, I picked up my hat and
set off in pursuit. As the sequel will prove, it
was perhaps as well that I did so. By the
time I reached the top of the stairs, she was
at the bottom and was speeding along another passage to
the right. At the end of this was a door,
the fastenings of which she undid with an ease and

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assurance that bewildered me. So certain was she of her whereabouts,
and so easily did she manipulate the heavy door. Though
I felt inclined to believe she must have used that
passage many times before. At last she opened it and
passed out into the darkness, drawing it too after her.
I had paused to watch her. Now I hastened on

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even faster than before, fearing that if I were not careful,
I might lose her. Outside having passed the door, I
found myself in a narrow lane, bounding on either side
by high walls, and some fifty or sixty yards in extent.
The lane, in its turn opened into a small square,
out of which led two or three other narrow streets.

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She turned to the left and passed down one of these.
I followed close upon our heels. Of all the strange
experiences to which I stay in Venice had given rise,
this was certainly one of the most remarkable. That Gertrude Trevor,
the honest English girl, the daughter of a dignitary of
the church and a prospective bishop, should leave her hotel

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in the middle of the night in order to wander
about the streets with which she was most imperfectly acquainted,
was a mystery I found difficult to solve. When she
had crossed the bridge, which spanned a small canal, she
once more turned to the left, passed along the footway
before a dilapelated palace, and then entered a narrow passage
on the right. The buildings hereabouts were all large, and

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as a natural consequence, the streets were so dark that
I had some difficulty in keeping her inside. As a
matter of fact, she had stopped, and I was almost
upon her before I became aware of it. Even then
she did not seem to realize my presence. She was
standing before a small door which she was endeavoring to
push open, and at last she succeeded, and, without hesitation,

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began to descend some steps inside. Once more I took
up the chase. But where we were and what we
were going to do there, I had not the least
idea The small yard in which we found ourselves was
stone paved, and for this reason I wondered that she
did not hear my footsteps. It is certain, however, that
she did not, for she made for a door I

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could just discern on the opposite side to that by
which we had entered, without turning her head. It was
at this point that I began to wish I had
brought a revolver or some weapon with me. When she
was about to open the door I've just mentioned. I
called her softly by name and implawed her to wait
for me, But still she took no notice. Could she
be a somnambulist, I asked myself. But if this were so,

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why had she chosen this particular house. Having passed the door,
we stood in a second and larger courtyard. It was
then that the whole mystery became apparent to me. The
house to which I had followed her was the Palace Ravichi.
She was on her way to Nicola. But for what reason?
Was this a trick of Nicholas? Or had her terrible

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dreams taken such a hold upon her that she was
not responsible for her actions. Either alternative was bad enough.
Pausing for a moment in the courtyard beside the well,
she turned quickly to her right hand and began to
send the stairs towards that awful room, which, so far
as I knew, she had never visited before. When she

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reached it, I scarcely knew how to act. Shall I
enter behind her and accuse Nichola of having enticed her there?
Or shall I wait outside and only hear what transpired
between them? At last, I made up my mind to
adopt the latter course, and when she had entered, I,
calling him, remained outside and waited for her. Through the
half open door, I could see Nicholas stooping over what

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looked like a microscope at a side table. He looked
up as Miss Trevor entered and uttered a cry of surprise.
As I heard this, a sigh of relief to escaped me,
for his action proved to me that her visit had
not been anticipated. Miss Trevor, he said, moving forward to greetor.
What does this mean? How did you get here? I

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have come to you, she faltered, because I could not
remain away. I have come to you that I may
beg of you that matched man's life, Doctor Nichola, I
AmLaw you to spare him, My dear young lady, said Nicholas,
with a softness in his voice that reminded me of
that I had heard in the death chamber a few
hours before. You cannot understand what you are doing. You

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must let me take you back to your friends. You
should not be here at this hour of the night,
but I was bound to come, Don't I tell you?
I could not remain away spare him or for God's sake,
spare him. You do not know what you are asking.
You are not yourself to night. I only know that
I am thinking of you, she answered. You must not
do it. You are so great, so powerful, that you

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can afford to forgive take my life rather than harmin.
I will yield it gladly to save you from this sin,
To save me, I heard him mutter to himself. She
would save me. God would never forgive, she continued, still
in the same dreamy voice. He moved away from her,
and from where I stood, I can see how agitated

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he was. For some moments she knelt looking up at
him with arms outstretched in supplication. Then he said something
to her in a low voice which I could not catch.
Her answer, however, was plain to me. Yes, I have
known it always in my dream, she said, and, knowing
that he would still wish me to pardon him in

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the name of God, I would urge you to do so,
she answered. The safety of your soul depends upon it.
Once more, Nicholla turned away and paced the room. Are
you aware that Sir Richard Hatteras was here on the
same errand this afternoon? He asked, I know it, she replied, though,
how she could have done so? I could not conceive,
nor have I been able to do so since. And

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does he know that you've come to me now asking
me to forgive? He knows it, she answered, as before
he followed me here. As she had never looked behind her,
how had she known this? Also? And Nichola approached the
door and threw it open. Come in, hatteras he said,
your presence is discovered. For Heaven's sake, Nichola, tell me
what this means, I cried, seeing that the girl did

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not turn towards me. Is she asleep or have you
brought your diabolical influence upon her? She's not asleep, and
yet she is not conscious of her actions, he answered.
There's something in this that passes our philosophy. Had I
any idea that she contemplated such a thing, I would
have used every effort to prevent it. Miss Trevor believed me.

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You must go home with Sir Richard, he continued, tenderly,
raising the girl to her feet as he spoke. I
cannot go until you have sworn to forgive, was her reply.
I must have time to think, he answered. In the morning,
you'll know everything. Trust me. Until then, and remember always
that while Nikola lives, he will be grateful. Then he

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assisted me to conduct her downstairs and across the two
courtyards to the little posted door through which we had
entered the palace. Have no fear for her, he said,
addressing me, She would go home as she came, and
in the morning she remember nothing of what has transpired.
And taking her hand in his, he raised it to
his lips, and a moment later bade me farewell, and

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had vanished into the palace once more. As I tracked
her from the hotel, so I followed her back to
her a day. I was nonetheless anxious. However, if only
Nikola would abandon his purpose and released his enemy, her
action and my anxiety would not be in vain. But
would he do so, and the event of his doing
this would his prophecy that Miss Trevor would in the

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morning remember nothing of what had transpired proved true. Turning
twisting as before, we proceeded on our way. My chief
fear was that the door through which we had made
our exit would be found to be shut on our return. Happily, however,
this did not prove to be the case. I saw
Miss Trevor enter, and then swiftly followed her. She hastened

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down the passage, ascended the stairs, passed along the corridor,
and made her way to her own room. As soon
as I had made certain that she was safely there,
I went on to my own dressing room, and on
entering my wife's apartment, had the good fortune to find
her still asleep. I was still more thankful in the
morning when I discovered that she had not missed me,

(22:11):
and being satisfied on this point, I decided to say
nothing whatsoever concerning our adventure. Miss Trevor was the last
to put in an appearance at breakfast, and as you
may suppose, I scanned her face with some anxiety. She
looked pale and worn, but it was evident from her
manner when she greeted me that she had not the
least idea of what she had done during the night.

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Nicholas promise had proved to be true, and for that
reason I was more determined than ever to keep my
information to myself. Events could all have turned out more
fortunately for all parties concerned. Shortly after breakfast, the letter
was handed to me, and glancing at the writing, I
saw that it was from Nicola. I was alone at
the time of receiving it, a fact for which I

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was grateful. I will leave you to imagine with what impatience.
I opened it short and merely contained a request that
I would call at the Palace Ravichi before noon that
day if I could spare the hour. I decided to
do so and reach the palace twenty minutes or so
before the appointed time. The old servitor, who by this

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time had become familiar with my face, opened the door
and permitted me to enter. I inquired if doctor Nikola
were at home, and to my surprise, was informed that
he was not. Perhaps your excellency would like to see
the other signor, the old man asked, pointing up the stairs.
I was about to decline this invitation with all possible haste,
when a voice I recognized as that of the dawn

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greeted me from the gallery above. Not come upstairs, sir Richard,
it said, I have a letter for you from my
friend doctor Nicholl. I could scarcely believe the evidence of
my eyes and ears, and when I reached the room
of which I had such terrible recollections, my surprise is intensified,
rather than lessened. Martinez had gone a complete metamorphosis in

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outward appearance. He was no longer the same person who
only the day before and had filled me with such
terrible repulsions, If such a thing could be believed, He
was more like his old self as I had first
seen him. Where doctor Nichol, I inquired, When I looked
around the room and noticed the absence of the chemical paraphernalia,
the multitude of books, and the general change in it,

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He went away early this morning, the don replied. He
left a letter for him, requested me to give it
to you as soon as you should call. I have
much pleasure in doing so. Now. I took it and
placed it almost mechanically in my pocket. Are you aware
when he will return, I asked. He will never do so,
Martinos replied, I heard the old man below wailing this

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morning because he'd lost the best master he had ever had,
and you I'm ruined this, you know, he said, with
onlyy reference to his illness. But the good doctor has
been good enough to place twenty thousand lear to my credit.
I should go elsewhere to attempt to double it. He
must have been much better, for he smiled in the
old deceitful way. As he said this, remembering when I

(25:08):
knew of him, I turned from the man in disgusted
and bidding him good day, left the room, which I
hoped never to see again, as long as I might live.
In the courtyard, I encountered the old caretakeer once more.
So the sennor Nichola has gone away, never to return.
I said that if so, Senor, said the old man,
with a heavy sigh. He's left me a rich man.

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But I do not like to think that I shall
never see him again. Sitting down upon the edge of
the well, I took from my pocket the letter the
don and handed me farewell, friend, hatteras it began. By
the time he received this, or shall have left Venice
never more to set foot in it. We should not
meet again. I go to the fate which claims me,

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of which I told you think of me sometimes, and
if it be possible, with kindness, Nicola, I wrote it was,
and moved towards the door, placing a gold piece in
the old man's hands as I passed in. Then, with
a last look at the courtyard, I went down the
steps and took my place in the gondola. With a

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feeling of sadness in my heart, and for the sad
destiny of the most wonderful man I have ever known.
End of Chapter thirteen.