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The Fool Errant Being the Memoirs of Francis-Anthony Strelley, Esq., Citizen of Lucca By: Maurice Henry Hewlett (1861-1923) |
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BEING THE MEMOIRS OF FRANCIS ANTONY STRELLEY, ESQ. CITIZEN OF LUCCA EDITED BY
MAURICE HEWLETT AUTHOR OF "THE QUEEN'S QUAIR," "NEW CANTERBURY
TALES," "RICHARD YEA AND NAY," "LITTLE
NOVELS OF ITALY," ETC., ETC.
Published July, 1905.
To J. M. BARRIE AFFECTIONATELY
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. MY EXORDIUM: A JUSTIFICATORY PIECE
II. AURELIA AND THE DOCTOR
III. MY DANGEROUS PROGRESS
IV. FATAL AVOWAL
V. DISASTER
VI. I COMMENCE PILGRIM
VII. I AM MISCONCEIVED AT THE HOSPITAL
VIII. THE PEDLAR OF CRUCIFIXES
IX. I AM HUMILIATED, LIFTED UP, AND LEFT CURIOUS
X. I FALL IN AGAIN WITH FRA PALAMONE
XI. I EXERCISE COMMON SENSE, IMAGINATION AND CHARITY
XII. I SEEK AND FIND
XIII. HAVING EMPTIED MY POCKET, I OFFER MY HAND, BUT RESERVE MY HEART
XIV. MY HAPPY DAYS; THEIR UNHAPPY END
XV. I AM IN BONDAGE
XVI. VIRGINIA AND I FALL OUT, BUT ARE RECONCILED
XVII. ERCOLE AT THE FAIR
XVIII. FRA PALAMONE BREAKS THE LAW, AND I MY CHAIN
XIX. I AM AGAIN MISCONCEIVED
XX. SURPRISING CHANGE IN MY FORTUNES
XXI. MY DIVERSIONS: COUNT GIRALDI
XXII. I WORK FOR AURELIA, AND HEAR OF HER
XXIII. AURELIA FORGIVES
XXIV. VIRGINIA VEXES
XXV. I PREPARE FOR BLISS
XXVI. I DISAPPOINT MY FRIENDS
XXVII. I SLAY A MAN
XXVIII. VIRGINIA ON HER METTLE
XXIX. I TAKE SANCTUARY
XXX. I MARRY AND GO TO LUCCA
XXXI. MY ADVENTURES AT THE INN
XXXII. WE LIVE HAPPILY IN LUCCA
XXXIII. TREACHERY WORKS AGAINST US
XXXIV. I FALL IN WITH THE PLAYERS
XXXV. TEMPTED IN SIENA, BELVISO SAVES ME
XXXVI. MY UNREHEARSED EFFECT AND ITS MIDNIGHT SEQUEL
XXXVII. I COMMIT A DOUBLE MURDER
XXXVIII. AN UNEXPECTED MESSENGER LIFTS ME UP
XXXIX. VIRGINIA DECLINES THE HEIGHTS
XL. I GET RID OF MY ENEMY AND PART FROM MY FRIEND
XLI. I RETURN TO FLORENCE AND THE WORLD OF FASHION
XLII. I STAND AT A CROSS ROAD
XLIII. AGITATIONS AT THE VILLA SAN GIORGIO
XLIV. I CONFRONT MY ENEMIES
XLV. THE MEETING
XLVI. THE DISCOVERY
XLVII. THE FINAL PROOF
XLVIII. THE LAST
INTRODUCTION
The top heavy, four horsed, yellow old coach from Vicenza, which arrived
at Padua every night of the year, brought with it in particular on the
night of October 13, 1721, a tall, personable young man, an Englishman,
in a dark blue cloak, who swang briskly down from the coupe and asked in
stilted Italian for "La sapienza del Signer Dottor' Lanfranchi." From
out of a cloud of steam for the weather was wet and the speaker
violently hot a husky voice replied, "Eccomi eccomi, a servirla." The
young man took off his hat and bowed. "Have I the honour to salute so much learning?" he asked courteously.
"Let me present myself to my preceptor as Mr. Francis Strelley of
Upcote." "His servant," said the voice from the cloud, "and servant of his
illustrious father. Don Francis, be accommodated; let your mind be at
ease. Your baggage? These fellows are here for it. Your valise? I carry
it. Your hand? I take it. Follow me." These words were accompanied by action of the most swift and singular
kind. Mr. Strelley saw two porters scramble after his portmanteaux, had
his valise reft from his hand, and that hand firmly grasped before he
could frame his reply. The vehemence of this large perspiring sage
caused the struggle between pride and civility to be short; such faint
protests as he had at command passed unheeded in the bustle and could
not be seen in the dark. Vehement, indeed, in all that he did was Dr. Porfirio Lanfranchi,
Professor of Civil Law: it was astonishing that a bulk so large and
loosely packed could be propelled by the human will at so headlong a
speed. Yet, spurred by that impetus alone, he pounded and splashed
through the puddled, half lit street of Padua at such a rate that Mr.
Strelley, though longer in the leg, fully of his height, and one quarter
his weight, found himself trotting beside his conductor like any
schoolboy. The position was humiliating, but it did not seem possible to
escape it. The doctor took everything for granted; and besides, he so
groaned and grunted at his labours, his goaded flesh protested so
loudly, the pitfalls were so many, and the pace so severe, that nothing
in the world seemed of moment beyond preserving foothold... Continue reading book >>
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