New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-09
THE SPECTRE OF MILAGGIO

On starting from MUNICH 10 pIOCtcu " AtstIA
through portions of the. Tyrol and Switzerland, |
contented myself with taking only knaDsack, and
handed over my luggage TO Bayarlan spedlteur
who engaged that it should reach Florence III per-
feet safety by certain day. But the Word spedl-
teur must he taken ironically, and translated de-
sS edec D 3s @seRs %OSh
passed after the appointed tme but OF the luggage
nothing could be seen or heard i'll Florence, Vain
were all inquiries of the Italian agent vanly was
my knowledge of German taxed to the uttermOst IN
writing letters TO Mnnchen of every kind, from the
pathetic with such experience before me It ap-
peared certain that to leave Florence would nc TO
lose my effects forever; because, though they
might pursue. these portmantcaus, III the hands OF
spediteurs were not very likely ever TO oTertake
their proper owner until he had reached that bourne
where they could no longer he of the slightest use
to him. There also serious objections to giving
up my luggage altogether aud at once, seeing that 1T
contained some valued manuscripts letters OF intro
ductiOn sketcl-books certain mementOs of atcc-
ton, and my degree of Ph.D. Moreovcr-and here
was the great Recommendations it | scarcely knew
how Immediately to supply myself with money. and
some curious adventures i'll Milan had exhausted
my purse. Not expecting any Immediate need OF
more cash, several manuscripts, and among Others
n handbook of German art, which London pup
Usher had engaged to purchase, had been Tasy
committed to the spcditcur, and were now Tor al
] knew to the contrary, buried i'll an avalanche
among the Alps, or i'll course OF being used by BAN
dit for lighting cigars. 1t was impossible to leave
Florence until a small sum was had some way or
other so there was nothing for 1t but to remain
where | was. and TO take up the pen. which, of all
means of imposing upon the world, L most deSplse
One day in the Uffzii when sketching the ,sculp-
lures of the NiObc group in small note book with
lead pencil. q dark compact young man. who might
have passed for an Italian but Tor ms loose dress OF
English tweods asked if felt inclined to furnish
number of such sketches as those on which was
engaged, as he thought they conveyed better idea
of statues than engravings could give; This pro;
posal which was not unacceptable at the tine, leu
TO friendly acquaintance with Benton VINO pre-
sented n curious combination of tacturnity with
considerable love OF companlonSmP lie Oltch
brought to my recollection story WHICH the ltal-
llofl mi William Rpntuck illustration OF
English character. That nObicman atterWard one
of the greatest of the commandments OF lndal
according to their account. once spent night,
along with brother IN suspicious mn at tilc iSoI
of the AbruZZ. Next morning they drove on LOT
many miles without exchanging single word, until
the younger, being the wca kcr-minded Xenturedto
say Did You notice dead man under the bed last
night. WlliamP To this question william i, I'm, only ny
brother closed the conversation by saying, quite
abashed " Oh, nothnGw or as the Italians tell 1t;
with most amusing grimacc and emphasis, " Nlentc
nientcv Benton was Just the man to have taken
part i'll such a conversation but ut times on Ger
tain subjects, and Wien along with only one com
Times myself given to intervals of silence and very
much occupied at that time with speculation on my
portmantcauS as phenomena IN time ana space, ms
S0eicty was quite cOngcnial Though very deficient
in general information, Ii Ike most Engshnen fresh
from college, and not in good health, ihere was
something SO sincere, manly and strong about him,
that even his melancholy was not 1elt oppressive.
Almost every evening we met; and sauntered TO:
pcther along the CaScne, through the streets OF
the town. smoking in silence or discussing various
matters but always observing closely.
AZ am always coming across that dirty-looking
fellow" said Benton sharply on one of these Occa-
sions indicating an Italian who seemed absorbed
in the pcrusal OF his newspaper. -. a4,,o4
"Ah! forgot to tell YOU, was my reply, " thaI
that notwithstanding youth IS the gnaTGian anger
appointed to watch over you by the Minister OF
Police Every stranger who comes here ut present
is closely tracked for the first few weeks Of his stay,
unless his bankers can vouch for his political Orth0-
doxy; and yOu are very like an Italian, that you
FLORENCE"
Ny grandmother, believe was Roman and
therefore | am to he logged about ConfOund
tLcir imputrncc! they might, at least have set
some one with clean shirt to look after me-. And
this is not the first annoyance OF the klnG, az
sooner had landed atlLcghorn than was arrested
as an Italian Illegally using British passport
though could not speak two words OF the IAN
guage. But how do sou know that lie is a spy upon
'HS because I was told of the practice, and after
that there was 10 difficulty III discovering oGth
your guardian and mine Luckily, my trieild haS
slackened lis diligence Of late, finding that dine
regularly at restaurant trcqucnted by Austrian
officers and converse with them IN their own
tongue German here covers multitude OF sins"
1t was about midnight that ! crossed the Ponte
order to reach my rooms OIL the south side OF the
ArnO As had been before arranged fingered q
little the third arch and was so2n greeted ny
n tall man in q loose cloak, who followed me az q
little distance and assembled the long STAIRS Wlnch
led to the ultmO piano, where my lodgings were,
greeting, no words were exchanged between US. anu
lie also kept his face carefully concealed laklng
parcel from under his cloak, he laid 1T on thr table
and making me low bow, retired as silently rs
LctLad come. have not the TemntCst idea who this
individual was and do not even know what the
pparious susnjcions have suggested themselves to
me. All know with certainty is, that It was con-
sidered of much importance by the REVOLUTIONARY
Marty that the risk of carrying it would have nccn
In case of detection, much greater to an ltalan man
it could have been to an, Englisl9an ana that u
was most cXpcdicnt in the event OF It's hcing heIc
that there should be no possibility OF tracing ~ 10
the source from whence it came ! Hmdgrt93k to
tar iu it Of fF t h MON and Without Troubling myself
as to its contents.
On starting next morning, kept the DANGEROUS
parcel suspended from my arm with thick coat
Thrown over it. because all luggage is examined III
entering leghoTnI and was grauhed OH IttDIiiIn5
the railway station, at finding myself unatteno9 t
by the spia mOucha1d, whose business IL was 20
keen all eye upon me- Just as the train was START
ing however, he rushed up IN an excited state
though unprOvided with ticket. Luckily the
train was crowded, and he could not get close 10 me-
cealed without directing hh attention to the cir
cumstance, though it was evident that ne Judgc| I
was engaged on some business which 1t beh0 Owed
how to give him the slip at the Termination Of our
journey. so that might get through the gate at
TeghOfn before he could have time to give the
Officers there a hint TO examine my personal pTac-
lice which was not usually followed. The number
If Messengers that day Favored the design was
oilp IN crf ont before him. and instead Of waiting
for INV luggage, or taking hacre at TIE station,
walked rapidly to the g2t6s r i1 GV S in
SHSgc amy nSd the pleasure Of seeing my greasy
Sriend most himself at the gate, in anticipation Of
my arrival. ,. -, o,
q You are going to stay at the Bagni di Luccaf I"
soid 10 Italian 10 WHOM the PARCEL was delivered.
aySr{G to @G4fr M ftS f& sfd yS
sonIJ xisit the Borgo of AilaggiO, q curious old
G see among HSit the nountqns where friend Of mine
is in hiding, and where he is fretung nlIaSem ltIo
Ak the landlord of the inn there, with this gesture
give you cup Of rosso vino and you o %il b GG
D, Ss;t ;f Wnn tcomyeniently can. None of us can
Senfnre 10 90 near him at present; and as Stcfani