Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 1, 2025
Muzio laid the violin on the table, and lightly shaking back his hair, said, with a courteous smile: "That? That melody ... that song I heard once on the island of Ceylon. That song is known there, among the people, as the song of happy, satisfied love." "Repeat it," whispered Fabio. "No; it is impossible to repeat it," replied Muzio. "And it is late now.
But he was not motionless: now he made devout obeisances and seemed to be praying, again he drew himself up to his full height, even stood on tiptoe; now he threw his hands apart in broad and measured sweep, now he waved them urgently in the direction of Muzio, and seemed to be menacing or commanding with them, as he contracted his brows in a frown and stamped his foot.
All day long Muzio had treated Valeria in a respectfully-simple manner, like a friend of long standing; but as he took leave he pressed her hand very hard, jamming his fingers into her palm, staring so intently into her face the while that she, although she did not raise her eyelids, felt conscious of that glance on her suddenly-flushing cheeks.
Fabio had intended to have an explanation with Muzio directly after supper, but his strange guest did not return to supper. Then Fabio decided to defer the interview with Muzio until the following day, and husband and wife withdrew to their bed-chamber. Valeria speedily fell asleep; but Fabio could not get to sleep.
"Signor," began the old man, "the Malay has just informed us that Signor Muzio is ailing and desires to remove with all his effects to the town; and therefore he requests that you will furnish him with the aid of some persons to pack his things and that you will send, about dinner-time, both pack-and saddle-horses and a few men as guard. Do you permit?"
Muzio first played several melancholy airs, which were, according to his assertion, popular ballads, strange and even savage to the Italian ear; the sound of the metallic strings was plaintive and feeble.
"My wife also had a remarkable dream last night which she did not relate to me," added Fabio. But at this point Valeria rose and left the room. Immediately after breakfast Muzio also went away, asserting that he was obliged to go to Ferrara on business, and that he should not return before evening.
"But Muzio cannot have returned from the town, surely," flashed through Fabio's head, and he darted into the pavilion.... What did he behold?
Fabio and Muzio beheld Valeria for the first time at a sumptuous popular festival, got up at the command of the Duke of Ferrara, Ercole, son of the famous Lucrezia Borgia, in honour of some distinguished grandees who had arrived from Paris on the invitation of the Duchess, the daughter of Louis XII, King of France.
Muzio had vanished for them as though he had never existed. And both Fabio and Valeria seemed to have entered into a compact not to recall him by a single sound, not to inquire about his further fate; and it remained a mystery for all others as well. Muzio really did vanish, as though he had sunk through the earth.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking