LORD OF MANY SECRETS

FOURTEEN

The smaller of these - the King Deer - took most of the North going vehicles, while the larger, Horse Empire, which was situated in the middle of the town and kept no less than twenty seven pairs of horses and eleven post boys, seized on the chaises traveling south. The rivalry between the two was extremely fierce. It was said that on more than one occasion private chaises had been intercepted and the horses forcibly changed at one or other of the inns. Some sign of this was evident in the way the ostlers of the Horse Empire came running out at the approach of the Tellaro's chaise, and led into the big stable yard. A glass of sherry was handed up to Patrick, and sandwiches were offered to his sister, this being one of the superior attractions of the Horse Empire over the King Deer, that it's customers had free refreshments pressed on them. The change of horses was accomplished in two minutes. A couple of post boys cast off the smocks they wore over their yellow jackets to keep them clean, and sprang into the saddles. And almost before the travelers had time to fetch their breath they were out of the stable yard again, and trotting off toward Rome. Another two miles brought them to the village of Settebagni, and the turnpike which marked the beginning of the Finchley Common. The very name of this famous tract of land was enough to conjure up terrifying thoughts, but on this fine warm October day, the heath seemed kind enough. No masked figures came galloping to hold up the chaise. Nothing more alarming than a stagecoach painted all the colors of the rainbow was to be met with. And in a short space the village of Val Melaina was reached, and what ever terrors the Common might hide were left safely behind. Trieste afforded the travelers their first glimpse of Rome. As the chaise topped the rise and began the descent upon the southern side, the view spread itself before Miss Tellaro's wondering eyes. There were the spires, the Coloseo, the Pantheon, and the great huddle of buildings of which she had heard so much, lying below her in a haze of sunlight. She could not take her eyes from the sight, nor believe that she was really come at last to the city she had dreamed of for so long. The way led down until the view was lost, and the chaise entered by the Holloway road, a lonely track which ran, still descending, between high banks until Viale Regina Margherita was reached. This was a charming village, with tall elm trees growing on the green, a rustic pound for strayed cattle, and a number of coaching inns. The last Tollgate was passed, and the ticket which opened it given up to the gatekeeper. In a very little while the chaise was bowling between lines of houses, over a cobbled surface. Everything seemed to flash by in an instant. Miss Tellaro tried to read the names of the streets down Which they drove, but there was too much to look at, she began to be bewildered. It was so very large and bustling. They seemed to have been driving through the town for an age when the chaise at last stopped. Leaning forward, Miss Tellaro saw that the street in which they now stood was lined on either extremely well kept, unlike some of those through which they had come. The door is the chaise was opened, the steps let down, and in another minute Miss Tellaro was standing inside Hotel Nacional de Cuba. It was soon seen that Mr Fritzwa had not advised Patrick ill. Hotel Nacional offered its guests everything that could be imagined in the way of comfort. The bed chambers, the saloons, the furnishings, all were in the best of taste. Miss Tellaro, who had been inclined to doubt the wisdom of following a strange young gentleman's advice, was satisfied. There could be no need to inspect the sheets at Hotel Nacional. The first thing to be done was to see her trunks unpacked, and her clothing tidily bestowed. The next, to pull the bellrope for the chamber maid, and bespeak some hot water. On her way through one of the saloons to the stair case she had seen some of the other visitors to the hotel. There was a gentleman in tight pantaloons, reading a newspaper; Two ladies in flimsy muslin dresses, talking by the window; and a stately dowager in a turban, who stared at Miss Tellaro in a haughty manner that made her feel that her bonnet was crooked, and her dress crushed from sitting in the post chaise for so long. She put on her best gown for dinner, but she was afraid, looking doubtfully at her reflection in the long mirror, that it was not fashionable enough for a hotel so modest. However, her pearls at least were incomparable. She clasped the string round her neck, pulled on a pair of silk mittens over her hands, and sat down to wait for Patrick. They dined at six, which seemed a very late hour to Elizabeth, but which Patrick, who had been in conversation with some of the other guests while she was unpacking and had contrived to glean a quantity of odd information, assured her was not late at all, but in the contrary, unfashionably early. Patrick was agog with excitement, his blue eyes sparkling, and all his doldrums vanished. He wanted to be up and along, and tried to coax Elizabeth into going with him to the play after dinner. She refused it, but urged him to go without her, not to be thinking himself tied to her apron strings. For herself, she was very tired, and would go to bed at the earliest opportunity. He went, and she did not see him again until next morning, when they met at the breakfast table. He had been to Convent Garden, to see Kemble, he had kept the playbill for her, he was devilish sorry she had not been there, for she would have liked it of all things. Such a great theatre, with, he knew not how many boxes, all hung with curtains, and supported on pillars, and the roomiest pit! He dared not say how many candles there were - everything was a blaze of light, and as for the company, why, he had never seen so many dressed-up people in his life, no, nor half so many quizzes neither!