disappeared. His old manner had its old fascination for me, and in a short time I found myself talking with him exactly as I had talked in Paris only a few months before.
He told me he had called at my house some days previously, and had found I was away from home, but that I was expected to return shortly. He had been awaiting my arrival ever since. My laboratory he had easily discovered, and on passing along the street that morning had seen that it was open. He immediately entered, requesting the servants not to disturb me. Although, through deference to my wife’s feelings, I had never told her of my alliance with Maffi, still I had told my domestics I expected a foreign gentleman to assist me in my researches, and his request was consequently acceded to.
The disagreeable impression produced by his first appearance wore off rapidly, and I soon felt quite at ease. I perceived he had already laid the foundation work for a new course of research, and as he proceeded with his work noiselessly and carefully, I was struck with the extreme adroitness of his manipulation. When he had completed the preliminary stage of his experiments, we both adjourned to my study, which opened into the laboratory, and there we endeavoured to decipher and unriddle the mystical contents of my Parisian purchases. I was again astonished at the clearness of mind and calmness of judgment with which he discriminated facts of value among the vast amount of cumbersome uselessness with which they were surrounded. As he pointed them out, I made notes from time to time, and was delighted to find how important a fund of materials he soon extracted.
Time passed away unheeded, until the evening shades began to warn me it was late in the day. I was about to propose we should abstain from our labours, when I became aware that some one was moving about in the outer laboratory.
Antonio had risen, and was standing at the window, in order to see more distinctly the volume which he had taken up. Glancing from him to the door-way behind me, I saw the curtain gently lifted up, and my wife standing in the opening. As her eyes wandered through the gloom, they at last fell upon the form of Maffi. She started, and seemed spell-bound for an instant, and then dropping the curtain, moved silently away. I heard her passing quietly through the outer room, and the sound of the further door as it opened and shut.
All this time I remained silent,—a feeling of sorrow and remorse taking possession of me. I felt that I ought to have spoken to Louisa of my arrangements with the Italian, and it seemed now as if I had been deceiving her, if not with a suggestio falsi, at least with a suppressio veri. It had been often in my heart to tell her all, during the calm and happy time that had just passed away. But I feared to give her pain, for I knew she disliked if she did not fear the man. Latterly, however, I had become so wrapped up in my own happiness and in her society, that I had almost forgotten his existence, or if I did remember him, I almost fancied I should never see him again. When, therefore, my wife appeared thus silently, with that strange look of mingled sadness and terror in her face, I felt guilty,—guilty of treason to her young confiding love.
Full of these thoughts, I glanced up at Antonio, who was still reading intently, in the fading day-light, at the window, and I could not prevent a feeling of distrust and suspicion from rising in my breast. It might be the increasing uncertainty of the light, but certainly at that moment his countenance seemed absolutely fiendish,—and I fancied I saw that deadly smile hovering about his mouth.
At last he shut the book, and replaced it, saying:
“Well, Signor, I think we have done enough preliminary work to-day. We had better lose no time, but begin our practical investigations to-morrow.”
I cannot tell how it was, but whenever that man spoke to me on the subject of my studies, whenever he said a word that buoyed up my infatuated hopes and ambition, I forgot his repulsiveness immediately. He seemed to have a mysterious influence over my intellect and will.
I at once acquiesced in his proposal for avoiding delay, and promised to have everything arranged for commencing with our work in the morning.
As he drew on his hat and folded his cloak round him before leaving, he said:
“Remember we will be long together. The undertaking which we are about to commence is no trivial one, and will absorb much of your time,—that is, if you enter upon it in the same spirit in which you spoke to me in Paris. In order that we may work together effectually, it is necessary that you inform the Signora, your wife, of the whole of our engagement. I could see plainly,” he continued, lighting a cigar with deliberation, “by her look of astonishment this evening, that I was an unexpected guest.”
I had fancied he did not observe Louisa’s entrance. He noticed my start and said, with that laugh which I had begun to hate:
“Aha, Signor! We, who have looked so long into the dark secrets of nature, are not quite blind. Good night.”
He was gone, with the evil smile upon his face; and again that gloomy expectant feeling of evil fell around me with the shadows of the place.
I found my wife pale and frightened, but I endeavoured in every way that lay in my power to re-assure her. I explained to her my reasons for not having told her before of my agreement with Antonio, and expatiated so fully on his knowledge and ability, and of the great assistance that he was able to afford me, that she soon coincided, or appeared to coincide with me, fully. She confessed to a feeling of distrust towards the Italian, and so did I; but we both determined we would endeavour to conquer a feeling which could only be a prejudice. Louisa herself remembered that in Palermo he was esteemed as a very learned man, against whom nothing could be said except that he was reserved and cold.
I myself had not forgotten the words which