The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-09-06
The Anti-M0nopo1ist.

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that lady began seriously 70 disturb the, Sc
renity Of the Baron Monteggiana- Varver-
nellie, and in proportion as their rivalry
progressed, SO did the interest and amuse-
ment of the company progress with it.
"My dear Charles" said my wife, isn't
she abominable now? She's a regular firt;
and at her age too-forty, if she's day.
And entangling the Baron, to go an egg on
the Count, and all in public, too It's bad
enough to make love in public at all, but to
do it to two men, one after the other-I say
she's simply abominable!''
'Well, but, my DEAR" I expostulated,
''they are both making love to her at the
same time. You see the Counts castles are
nearer to Russia than Sicily is, so perhaps
she prefers to become Mrs. Count, etc., to
the other thing
Those of us who were not in love with the
Prin cess began to wish the absurd affair at
an end. The lady was most unfairly fair to
each: for she gave each. of them enough en-
coura cement to make them savagely Jealous
of each other, without going far enough
with either to give the other any grounds
for complaint. But for her beautiful eyes,
would compare her to tableau ciuant Of
Justice holding the scales. can, however,
safely liken her to Helen; for she was set
ting by the ears not only the two most in
terested individuals but also the whole
world about her; and it wanted but spark
to commence confagration, certainly an
explosion, between those two.
We had an American at the Hotel du Bon
Vivant, quiet, thoughtful man, too much
of an invalid to talk much, and very re-
served in his manners. We little thought
that the dreadful spark would be dropped
by him; but it was.
The Baron was describing to o knot of us,
including the Count, as we were lounging in
the entrance hall after luncheon, his SYRIA
cusan villa, with its exquisite gardens. The
American was listening with his usual air
Of abstraction, and quietly interposed a
question: "Did l understand you to say
that the villa d'Aosta in the strada di Paler-
mo belongs to your
Isl, signor, the villa d'Aosta you speak of
is the one. 1t is mine. 1t has been in my
family for several generations
you've got q tenant there now who's a
friend of nine -
''No, signor, no; do not let my villa, nor
any other of my residences"
''Well, that's queer, consider" said the
American. Il came direct from Sicily,
last month, and friend of mine was tenant
Of that villa for the winter, and stayed a
day or two with him in that very house.
Guess there's some bunkum somewhere"
Part ofthe:.remarks were made in Italian;
some CALCULATED in English.
"Bagatelle!" replied the Baron; "you are
mistaken, signor! 1t must have been some
other villa d'Aos.a."
"No, it wasn't" returned the American;
s'and for my part, l think you are no more
Baron than I'm julius Cesar
He certainly looked offended, though hap
PLY the last sentence was in English; In fact
he had been SO unaccustomed to he contra
dicted that it positively confused him. And
could not help noticing that the Count
looked excessively tickled, as well as tri-
umphant.
That evening, when the Barren advanced
to attend the Princess to the salon she de-
clined his offer to place the shawl on her
shoulders, as he had always done; and,in the
most perfect manner, without snubbing or
putting him down, allowed him to discover
for himself that she was utterly Indifferent
to him. 1t was just as if the moon were to
take the place of the sun, in quiet and
undemonstrative way, with no explanation
given.
But, of course, an explanation was to be
demanded; and, as soon as the dinner was
over, the Baron sought and obtained tete-
q tete in tie corner of the sale des Danes.
We all had the decency to read Galignani.
or play bezique. or otherwise to throw q
veil over our curiosity, as we anxiouSly
watched the development Of the plot, and
trie,l to hedge our bets before it was too late.
Suddenly the Baron started to his feet,
and uttered loud exclamation, which /
decline to translate. His soul now most
clearly betrayed its passionateness, but
there was rather more light than sweetness
in his eyes as he glared round the room IN
search Of the hapless American.
We all sprang to our feet, too the ladies
near the door rapidly retreated, and the
men looked at one another, half amused,
alf-angrily.
..If knew who had poisoned the mind
of madame l would .dilaniate' him-tear
him in pieces" shrieked the Baron That
viper of an American
1T was not an American" answered the
Count, coming quietly out Of recess. Il
told madame what he had discovered.
The Baron so far forgot the perfectness
of his manners and evident desire to please,
as with his open palm to slap the Count en-
the face; bat in another second he found
himself in that physical checkmate known
as chancery-he had got his head under his
rivals left arm. who was holding it down to
q convenient level for the right hand to bob
his nose: and there, before the princess, IN
the sale des Danes, was being displayed
scene from the British ring; chairs and ia
bles going everywhere as the quadruPedai
monster performed its erratic evolutions,
amid the screams Of women, the shouts OF
men, the groans Of the maitre, and the In
describable cries of astonishment uttered
by the whole staff Of the hotel. which had
been gathered together 1t the door BY the
first ordinations of the Baron.
The Anglo-Saxon nationality having, in
spite of the principle Of non Intervention,
separated the Latin and the Teuton the de-
feated combatant WAS assisted to his room
and looked to by an English doctor, who
happened to be at the hotel, and who re-
ported that, with the exception Of couple
of broken teeth, nothing Of consequence
was to be apprehended. beyond further
requisition OF his services At . rencontre OF
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