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of giving him a title before sending him on missions to foreign
courts。
Bartolomeo had always professed a hatred to the traitors with whom
Napoleon surrounded himself； expecting to bind them to his cause by
dint of victories。 It was he of whom it is told that he made three
steps to the door of the Emperor's cabinet after advising him to get
rid of three men in France on the eve of Napoleon's departure for his
celebrated and admirable campaign of 1814。 After the second return of
the Bourbons Bartolomeo ceased to wear the decoration of the Legion of
honor。 No man offered a finer image of those old Republicans；
incorruptible friends to the Empire； who remained the living relics of
the two most energetic governments the world has ever seen。 Though the
Baron di Piombo displeased mere courtiers； he had the Darus； Drouots；
and Carnots with him as friends。 As for the rest of the politicians；
he cared not a whiff of his cigar's smoke for them； especially since
Waterloo。
Bartolomeo di Piombo had bought； for the very moderate sum which
Madame Mere； the Emperor's mother； had paid him for his estates in
Corsica； the old mansion of the Portenduere family； in which he had
made no changes。 Lodged； usually； at the cost of the government； he
did not occupy this house until after the catastrophe of
Fontainebleau。 Following the habits of simple persons of strict
virtue； the baron and his wife gave no heed to external splendor；
their furniture was that which they bought with the mansion。 The grand
apartments； lofty； sombre； and bare； the wide mirrors in gilded frames
that were almost black； the furniture of the period of Louis XIV。 were
in keeping with Bartolomeo and his wife； personages worthy of
antiquity。
Under the Empire； and during the Hundred Days； while exercising
functions that were liberally rewarded； the old Corsican had
maintained a great establishment； more for the purpose of doing honor
to his office than from any desire to shine himself。 His life and that
of his wife were so frugal； so tranquil； that their modest fortune
sufficed for all their wants。 To them； their daughter Ginevra was more
precious than the wealth of the whole world。 When； therefore； in May；
1814； the Baron di Piombo resigned his office； dismissed his crowd of
servants； and closed his stable door； Ginevra； quiet； simple and
unpretending like her parents； saw nothing to regret in the change。
Like all great souls； she found her luxury in strength of feeling； and
derived her happiness from quietness and work。 These three beings
loved each other too well for the externals of existence to be of
value in their eyes。
Often； and especially after the second dreadful fall of Napoleon；
Bartolomeo and his wife passed delightful evenings alone with their
daughter； listening while she sang and played。 To them there was a
vast secret pleasure in the presence； in the slightest word of that
child； their eyes followed her with tender anxiety； they heard her
step in the court…yard； lightly as she trod。 Like lovers； the three
would often sit silently together； understanding thus； better than by
speech； the eloquence of their souls。 This profound sentiment； the
life itself of the two old people； animated their every thought。 Here
were not three existences； but one；one only； which； like the flame
on the hearth； divided itself into three tongues of fire。 If；
occasionally； some memory of Napoleon's benefits and misfortunes； if
the public events of the moment distracted the minds of the old people
from this source of their constant solicitude； they could always talk
of those interests without affecting their community of thought； for
Ginevra shared their political passions。 What more natural； therefore；
than the ardor with which they found a refuge in the heart of their
only child？
Until now the occupations of public life had absorbed the energy of
the Baron di Piombo； but after leaving those employments he felt the
need of casting that energy into the last sentiment that remained to
him。 Apart from the ties of parentage； there may have been； unknown to
these three despotic souls； another powerful reason for the intensity
of their reciprocal love： it was love undivided。 Ginevra's whole heart
belonged to her father； as Piombo's whole heart belonged to his child；
and if it be true that we are bound to one another more by our defects
than by our virtues； Ginevra echoed in a marvellous manner the
passions of her father。 There lay the sole imperfection of this triple
life。 Ginevra was born unyielding of will； vindictive； and passionate；
like her father in his youth。
The Corsican had taken pleasure in developing these savage sentiments
in the heart of his daughter； precisely as a lion teaches the lion…
cubs to spring upon their prey。 But this apprenticeship to vengeance
having no means of action in their family life； it came to pass that
Ginevra turned the principle against her father； as a child she
forgave him nothing； and he was forced to yield to her。 Piombo saw
nothing more than childish nonsense in these fictitious quarrels； but
the child was all the while acquiring a habit of ruling her parents。
In the midst； however； of the tempests which the father was fond of
exciting； a look； a word of tenderness； sufficed to pacify their angry
souls； and often they were never so near to a kiss as when they were
threatening each other vehemently。
Nevertheless； for the last five years； Ginevra； grown wiser than her
father； avoided such scenes。 Her faithfulness； her devotion； the love
which filled her every thought； and her admirable good sense had got
the better of her temper。 And yet； for all that； a very great evil had
resulted from her training； Ginevra lived with her father and mother
on the footing of an equality which is always dangerous。
Piombo and his wife； persons without education； had allowed Ginevra to
study as she pleased。 Following her caprices as a young girl； she had
studied all things for a time； and then abandoned them；taking up and
leaving each train of thought at will； until； at last； painting had
proved to be her dominant passion。 Ginevra would have made a noble
woman had her mother been capable of guiding her studies； of
enlightening her mind； and bringing into harmony her gifts of nature；
her defects came from the fatal education which the old Corsican had
found delight in giving her。
After marching up and down the room for some time； Piombo rang the
bell； a servant entered。
〃Go and meet Mademoiselle Ginevra；〃 said his master。
〃I always regret our carriage on her account；〃 remarked the baroness。
〃She said she did not want one；〃 replied Piombo； looking at his wife；
who； accustomed for forty years to habits of obedience； lowered her
eyes and said no more。
Already a septuagenarian； tall； withered； pale； and wrinkled； the
baroness exactly resembled those old women whom Schnetz puts into the
Italian scenes of his 〃genr