"That pure wave of holy sound" "Goes straight to the heart!" "Come, for the altar will grant us the joys of unspoiled love" "Manrico, the gypsy!" "Come look." "She's in chains" " Oh God!" "Those barbarians have lit the pyre!" "Heavens!" "My whole body trembles!" "My eyes are blinded!" " You're trembling!" " With good reason!" "You must learn... that I am..." "Who?" "Her son!" "VENICE" " SPRING OF 1866" "THE LAST MONTHS OF THE AUSTRIAN OCCUPATION OF THE VENETO." "THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS FORGED A PACT WITH PRUSSIA," "AND THE WAR OF LIBERATION IS IMMINENT." "The horrid flames of that pyre" "Consume every fiber of my being!" "Put it out, you godless wretches" "Or I shall quench it with your own blood!" "I was her son before I ever loved you" "Not even your suffering can stay my hand" "Oh, my poor mother, I hasten to save you" "Or at least to die with you!" "Or at least to die with you!" "To arms!" "To arms!" "We stand ready to fight for you... or to die with you!" "To arms!" "Foreigners out of Venice!" "General La Marmora is on the march!" "Long live La Marmora!" "Long live Italy!" "Long live Italy!" "Where are the stewards?" "This is a disgrace!" "General, come look." "If this continues, we'll have to empty the theater." "Just look at this!" "How delightful!" "This is the war Italians prefer:" "showers of confetti to a background of mandolins." "Coward!" "You're a coward!" "I'm ready to show you that the Italians are willing to fight you!" "And if you're a gentleman..." "Let me go!" "You have no right to touch me!" "Long live Italy!" "Venice will belong to Italy!" " Where are you going?" " To the lobby." "I'm dying of the heat." "This is hardly the time." "Leave me alone." "You know I do whatever I wish." "I will not permit you to go with these flowers." "It all began that evening." "It was the 27th of May." "My cousin, Roberto Ussoni, one of the organizers of the demonstration, was also a leader in the underground movement in Venice." "I was worried because he had so needlessly exposed himself by challenging that officer." "I was desperately thinking of how I might help him." "Roberto." "Livia!" "It was madness to take such a public stand." "You shouldn't have done it." "All I know is I lost my head when that scoundrel said those words..." " What will you do now?" " He's accepted my challenge." "At least, so it seems." "We'll fight a duel." " No, you mustn't." "To take on an officer in your position?" "The consequences would be..." "Something must be done." "Leave." "You must leave the theater at once." "Go home, or to Massenza's..." "wherever you want." "But wait until I send word." "Please, Roberto, you must be careful, for everyone's sake." "I know." "Don't worry." "But did you see?" "They rose up tonight." "There's still a lot to do, but they're waking up!" "Let's go." "We'll go by way of the pier." " Farewell, Roberto." "Go!" " See you soon, Livia." " Go now!" " See you soon." "That's La Marmora's declaration." "We haven't published it in the newspapers, of course." "It's utter nonsense and would only further agitate the Venetians." "At least some people here think little of his provocations." "It's a pity we have to give up our music, Count, but we cannot allow La Fenice to become a hotbed of sedition." "I'm the first to agree, but please believe me that this is doubtlessly the work of some agent provocateur." "Yes, it's certainly been a delightful evening." "Ah, Countess Serpieri." "There's to be a duel." "I'm serious." "Someone challenged Franz Mahler." "Perhaps they wish to recreate the battle between the Horatii and Curiatii." "His challenger is well known to you, Countess." "Please, let us not dwell on this unfortunate incident." "That young man is a distant relative." "We rarely see him." "Aren't relatives always those we know least?" "I know him very well." "No, there will be no battle between the Horatii and Curiatii." "My cousin isn't interested in politics." "He's completely indifferent to that kind of thing." "He must have had other reasons." "This Lieutenant Mahler..." "I've heard a lot about him." "I'm sure you have." "All the ladies of Venice are talking about him." "You see?" "They must have had words over a woman." "Thus is the course of history so often altered, is it not?" "Is he under your command, Your Excellency?" " Mahler?" "Certainly." " Yes." "I'd love to meet him." "Since all the ladies of Venice are discussing him," "I'd like to be able to as well." "You shouldn't ask such a favor of one of your admirers." "Lieutenant Mahler is far too dangerous a rival." "Would you care to sit down?" "No, thank you." "I'm very familiar with Il trovatore." "Besides, you Austrians love music." "We Italians come to the theater for very different reasons." "We have arrived." "There's the tower" "Where prisoners languish" "The poor man was brought here" "Go now, leave me" "And fear not for me" "I may be able to save him" "Fear for me?" "Sure and ready is my protection" "Countess, Lieutenant Mahler." "Countess Serpieri." "In this dark night I'm near to you" " Would you care to sit down?" " Thank you." "O gentle breeze" "You who fill the air with your sighs" " Do you have a good view?" " Very nice, thank you." "Do you like opera, Lieutenant Mahler?" "I'm very fond of opera, Countess Serpieri, when it's an opera I'm fond of." "And you?" "I'm very fond of it." "But I don't care for it when it takes place offstage." "I dislike people behaving like characters in some melodrama, with no regard for the serious consequences of a gesture dictated by impulse or by unforgivable thoughtlessness." "May I speak very frankly?" "Please do." "It's the only manner of speaking that I appreciate." "If I've heard correctly, a duel is take place tomorrow." "Isn't that so?" "And it's up to you to accept the challenge." "Is that true?" "I'm curious to know." "I'm very curious myself." "Don't accept that challenge." "It isn't right to risk one's life for..." "Why are you so concerned about my life?" "It's a matter of principle." "Don't worry." "Neither my life nor your principles are in any danger." "This foolish incident will soon be resolved with a pair of handcuffs." "What do you mean?" "Waken in him the memories..." "What splendid music!" "Will you return tomorrow evening?" "If you'd allow me to..." "I don't feel well." "I must go." "No, please stay." "Good night, Your Excellency." " Depriving us of your company so soon?" " I don't feel well." "I'm so sorry." "Good night." "Let's go." "If you don't feel well, perhaps we should wait..." " I said let's go." " As you wish." "Good-bye, Countess." "Leaving so soon?" "Come back and see Der Freischütz with us." "Your Excellency." "Colonel." "They arrested Roberto as soon as he left La Fenice." "No, it can't be!" "He was with Donà and Meneghini." "They arrested all three." "We must do something at once." "Why don't you tell your husband?" "If he got involved..." "Let me handle this." "You two go to Massenza's." "I'll send you word." "Leave this moment." "Don't take any chances." "Good night." "Have you heard?" "They arrested Roberto." "Listen, I've never asked you for anything... but you must do something to free Roberto." "If you wanted to, with your influence and your contacts..." "That lieutenant must have reported him so he wouldn't have to fight." " Of course." "Why would an Austrian officer fight an Italian civilian?" "The very thought is absurd." "If your cousin had a speck of good sense..." "Can't you see what this could mean?" "Perfectly well, and I want nothing to do with this matter." "They were right to arrest him." "You'd involve me in this foolishness that is none of my concern?" "I've had enough." "Don't speak to me of this again." "ls that clear?" "Such childish pranks!" "What do you hope to gain anyway?" "Along with many others," "Roberto was condemned to a year of exile," "I felt a dark foreboding of what his departure would mean for me." "Ussoni, Roberto." "Until we meet again." "I hope it will be soon, my guardian angel." "Try to get to Aldeno as soon as possible, and get word to Cavalletto." "We need a strong, safe link between our forces." "I hope to come back soon." "Garibaldi's in Desenzano." "Just think:" "The moment's close at hand." "May we meet again as Italians!" "Roberto, please be careful." "Attention!" "Forward... march!" "But when I saw that officer again," "I realized he was the cause of all my worries and that for days I'd actually been dreading the thought of encountering him." "Countess Serpieri." "What is it?" "Would you allow me to give you safe-conduct through this quarter?" "No, thank you, Lieutenant Mahler." "There's a curfew in Venice, and it's already quite late." "Will you have me arrested for being out after curfew?" "I don't believe in having people arrested for little infractions of the law." "What about the arrest of Roberto Ussoni?" "Oh?" "Was he arrested?" "I thought he was just sent somewhere for a while." "He has been exiled, and you know it." "You think it was all my fault." "I assure you, you're wrong." "I hope you believe me." "I think this Ussoni probably enjoys it." "He's the type that was born to be a martyr to some noble cause." "And what were you born to be?" "Exactly what I am." "Exactly." "Good night." "Wouldn't it have been simpler if you'd told me last night at the opera that this man Ussoni was your lover and you wanted me to do what I could to keep him here in Venice?" "A man with a minimum of good breeding would not take advantage of the fact I'm alone to insult me." "I asked you not to follow me." "I'm not following you." " So you're not following me?" " Think of me as your shadow." "Thank you." "My own is sufficient." "But mine gives you more protection." "Don't follow me, I say!" "Is he dead?" "Yes." "But how..." "Come quickly!" "Hurry, please!" "Sergeant, look at this." "Damn it, he's dead!" "Quick, two of you men pick him up." "These damned Venetians kill someone every night." "Bring him along." "One of you at either end." "Hurry it up." "I knew the poor devil." "Why just a while ago..." "He just arrived in Venice a few days ago." "Thank you." "You see, it really isn't very pleasant to be in an army of occupation." "You live on intimate terms with people who hate you." "And being young... and away from home... and lonely... one has flirtations with their sweethearts and wives." "I understand." "Good night, Lieutenant." "I'm not frightened any more." "Please don't bother walking me any further." "Good night." "But there is something I should like you to know." "Roberto Ussoni is not my lover." "He's my cousin... and the person I admire most in the world." "Do you admire him more than..." "your husband?" "You know, my husband and I have very different attitudes toward the Austrians." "He's willing to accept them." "He courts their favor." "I'm like my cousin:" "a true Italian." "Good night." "Countess Serpieri..." "We walked together for a long time... through the deserted streets." "My earlier prejudices were dispelled." "Time no longer existed." "There existed only a secret and unspoken pleasure" "I experienced in hearing him speak and laugh, and in hearing the echo of our footsteps in that silent city." "Where are we going?" "Wherever you'd like." "I don't even know where we are." "Though here we are just the same." "These are my billets." "This is where I live." "Alone?" "No, with some fellow officers." "We sit around half dressed and drink beer and talk about girls." "But now I'm through with all that." " Why?" "Because I've met you." " What did you find?" " A piece of broken mirror." "Why do you look at yourself so intently?" "You enjoy looking at yourself that much?" "Yes, I do." "I never pass by a mirror without looking at myself." "Why do you enjoy it so much?" "I like to look at myself to make sure I'm... me." "Is that the only way you can be sure?" "No." "Also when a woman looks at me the way you're looking at me right now." ""It is Judgment Day." "The dead rise again to eternal joy or eternal suffering." "Yet still we embrace." "We care nothing for heaven or hell."" "You like those lines by Heine?" "Why not?" "I don't like what they mean." "What a shame." "With war about to break out..." " You think there'll be war?" " Oh yes." "Though I don't see why people should kill each other over matters that don't concern them." "Do you believe in war?" "I believe that the freedom of a people must be defended at the cost of one's own liberty... or life." "Then we'll be enemies, won't we?" "I don't believe that for a minute." "I suppose it's a serious failing of mine that I've never taken any interest in war, politics, losing or gaining territory... all those serious matters for which a man ought to be prepared to die." "You see, I believe that even if one man was born on this side of this river and another on the other side of that mountain, it doesn't mean God put the river and the mountain there to keep them apart." "You talk like a child." "I don't understand how a military man could have such ideas." "The thought of you as an officer is absurd." "I agree with you." "It is absurd." "It's all quite absurd." "I must go now." "It's almost morning." "Livia?" "That is your name?" "Yes." "When may I see you again?" "Tomorrow?" "It's impossible." "I'll be waiting." "By now it was dawn." "The city was beginning to come to life... and I felt almost a sense of shame." "How could I have passed an entire night with someone I hardly knew... an Austrian officer?" "I... an Italian woman, married... a woman who had never before in her life committed the slightest indiscretion." "And yet, four days later... four days spent in the vain hope of accidentally meeting him again... four days later I found myself running to him." "I'd managed to persuade myself that only he could do something to help Roberto and that it was my duty to ask him." "Quite a doll, eh?" "Want to play?" "I've waited and waited... and now you've come." ""We care nothing for heaven or hell."" "From that day on we met often." "We saw one another in a rented room" "Franz had found in the Old Quarter." "You know... in a room of this kind there's always some kind of little noise like this:" "the curtains rustling, or a moth or fly beating against the windowpane." "Have you noticed it?" "No, Franz." "You never really hear it until afterwards." "But then you remember it was going on all the while you were so close together." "Do you, Franz?" "You remember that you heard this little sound all the while... without really noticing it then." "It's only later... that it becomes a detail of the experience." "Can a detail... be that important?" "A part of the adventure." "Almost as important as..." "As what?" "As the color, odor, and softness of her hair... on the pillow." "Haven't you noticed that before, my sweet?" "No, Franz... never." "Oh yes..." "I keep forgetting." "What?" "I keep forgetting that the past doesn't exist for Countess Serpieri." "There's only this moment... and tomorrow." "Only this moment, Franz." "Only this moment?" "No tomorrow?" "Will you hand me that brush?" "You know, if someone told me..." ""There's only the present moment." "There's no tomorrow beyond this very instant..."" "I'd feel as if a doctor had informed me" "I was fatally ill... that I had only a number of hours to live." "Yet now I know it's true." "There's only now." "Only now, Franz." "There is no tomorrow." "Whenever you leave, you say," ""Good-bye, Franz." "I won't see you again."" "But I expect you just as confidently as ever." "You may not expect to see me again, but I expect to see you." "Perhaps you do." "But you've had so many "adventures"" "during which the room was filled with the sound of a moth... or the buzz of a fly beating against the windowpane, which you only remembered afterwards." "At that point you rose and set that poor insect free just as gracefully as you freed yourself from the woman's heart." "But don't worry." "In our adventure... you won't have to make even that little effort." "I will make it for you, Franz." "I will get up and open the shutters... for your butterfly heart to fly back to the light it came from." "Would you hand me those hairpins, please?" "Madame, I have retired from your service as chambermaid." "You'll have to get your own hairpins." "Franz... take this to remember me by." "What a lovely medallion!" "Here, next to your heart." "Now I must go." "I must go." "Good-bye." "Good-bye, my sweet." "Franz, would you let me go off like this?" "Of course not, my dearest." "I knew you wouldn't go." "One afternoon, as I waited in vain for him in that room, for the first time I realized, in terror, that I was no longer in control of my feelings, as I'd mistakenly believed." "I must go out, and no one else is here." "Shall I leave the door open, or will you go down?" "Are you sure the lieutenant left no message for me?" "No letter?" " Quite sure, ma'am." "But perhaps you'd gone out and no one else was here." "What can I say?" "Maybe he's gone." "A captain who used to come here often was suddenly transferred once." "Which reminds me:" "Would you know anyone who could help me?" "They want to requisition my house for military quarters." "Don't they have barracks for that?" "Ma'am, see if you can help me." "It's for your sake too." "I know you can do anything..." "Countess." "I know you very well." "My sister spent many years working for..." "You're leaving?" "What if the lieutenant should arrive?" "Besides, Countess... what if the lieutenant really is gone?" "Who'll pay the bill here?" "I've never said anything, because I know him well, but just the linens alone..." "Thank you, ma'am." "That's better." "Excuse me." "ls Lieutenant Mahler in?" "He's still in Venice, isn't he?" "Yes, he's still in Venice." " Do you know whether he's coming back?" " No, I don't, ma'am." " I'll wait." " Please." "Make yourself comfortable, miss." "Do you like our little place?" "Won't say she likes it, but she comes all the same." "Two pairs of shorts... three shirts... two dress shirts... and two sheets." "There." "The gentleman will come by tomorrow to pay his bill." "The lieutenant didn't say where he was going?" "How should I know?" "He didn't come home last night." "He was out... all night long?" "Certainly all night long, no." "But this morning he came here." "I mean, you saw him." "No, I didn't." "Maybe he was with Kati, or Nena." "With whom?" "Well... if you want to wait, suit yourself." "But you're sure he's not somewhere nearby?" "In the barracks?" "He's not around here." "I can assure you of that." "It's about the only thing I can assure you of." "But if you're patient..." "and since you're a friend of Franz's, you certainly must be." "Ludwig left Franz an hour ago." "They'd been playing billiards." "Where he went after that no one knows." "Just can't keep your mouth shut, can you?" "Don't pay any attention." "He doesn't know what he's talking about." "Why don't you sit down?" "Franz oughta be here in a few minutes." "We never know what he's doing or where he is." "He's always on the move." "He's hard to pin down." "But what can you do?" "That's the way he is." "Once before, we shared an apartment for three months." "In Innsbruck." "My days were spent receiving the girls who came to look for him." "And even when he was home, he often wouldn't see them." " Countess, we're leaving!" " Who says so?" "The count has given orders to pack everything." " You must be mistaken." " Oh no, ma'am." "What's happening here?" "You might have at least told me." "Or don't you think I..." "The Prussians have occupied Austrian Holstein." "This means that war has begun, and I think it would be wise..." "No, it's impossible!" "Just like that..." "on a moment's notice?" "What do you want?" "I'm awaiting orders from the countess." "There's time, Laura." "My husband's decision stunned me." "But I managed to persuade him to delay our departure at least 24 hours." "Lieutenant Mahler, please, of the Eighth Company." "The Eighth Company is not here any longer." "They're at the barracks at Misericordia." "Countess!" "The count told me to find you and bring you an umbrella, though you didn't tell me where you were going." "I thought I'd start out at Countess Marcello's or..." "You're all wet!" "What weather!" "Even the sky has gone mad, all because of the war." "I remember back in '59 as if it were today." "The count was worried." ""She had something to do," I said." ""When one is going away..."" "Also, a man came looking for you..." "one I'd never seen." "No, I didn't say anything to the count." "The man said it was urgent, that you should go to 349, Campo San Geremìa and ring three times." "When did he come?" "Who was he?" "I didn't know him." "You'd just gone out." "I wanted to come and look for you." "I'll be back later." "Give me the umbrella." "What should I tell the count?" "Whatever you like!" "It doesn't matter." "I don't care what you say, understand?" "Go on, spy on me!" "Tell him everything!" "It wasn't necessary to follow me, to spy on me." "I would have told you myself." "I don't want to keep on lying." "Yes, I have a lover." "I love him." "I want to live with him, you understand?" "Livia, finally!" "We've been waiting." "Come in." "Livia!" "Livia, how wonderful to see you at last!" "Oh, it's you!" "I didn't know you'd returned." "You might have let me know." "We managed to cross the border last night." "I must get in touch with our friends here." "There's no time to lose." "Why didn't you confide in me?" "She wanted me to think that..." "You can't understand." "I've been very clear with Livia." "Now I should tell you what I told her." "I have absolutely no intention of accepting the duties the Austrian government has recently insisted on offering me." "I was born and raised here in Venice." "All my business affairs and all my loved ones are here." "It's clear that whatever the outcome of this war," "Venice will certainly become part of Italy." "The French emperor has guaranteed it." "For all these reasons, I wish to help you." "You can trust me." "As you see, mine is a very practical offer, not dictated by passions or ideals or beliefs that I don't share." "I understand." "And what do you want in return?" "I told you: to go on living undisturbed in my native city no matter what happens." " I can't promise anything." " Of course." "But one day you might speak in my defense." "...And one ruby ring." "One gold watch and chain." "Livia, could you be ready to leave tomorrow for Aldeno?" "Nothing would please more more." "For days I've been telling Livia..." "Yes, it was I. I wanted to wait." "I was certain that you would return." "Very well, Livia." "But now there's no more time to lose." "Even I am leaving Venice tomorrow." "I must reach the headquarters of the Italian forces." "They'll have instructions for all the volunteer troops." "The liaison is organized fairly well." "Luca is already at Aldeno." "I'll soon be there too..." "in four or five days, if all goes well." "You must take along the money contributed to our cause." "Hand me that." "They need it urgently." "Our volunteers are living off charity, like beggars." "It's a healthy sum." "Of course, you probably helped collect most of it." "We've waited a long time for this moment... yet now it's caught us almost by surprise, hasn't it?" "It stuns you." "But now all of us must behave as if the life of every fighting man depended upon what we're doing." "We no longer have rights, Livia..." "only duties." "We must learn to forget about ourselves." "I don't care if it sounds bombastic." "Italy is at war." "It's our war!" "It's our revolution!" "Roberto's words... and his faith in me... gave me the courage to leave Venice." "Those first quiet days in our villa at Aldeno reminded me of the convalescent period that follows a violent childhood illness." "Laura!" "Laura!" "I'm coming." "Just a minute." "Keep your voice down." "When the dogs started barking," "I saw someone on the balcony." "The window's open." "I didn't hear a thing." "Be quiet now!" "The countess is sleeping!" "Who is it?" "It's me..." "Laura." "What is it?" "Forgive me, Countess, but the guard is here." "Yes?" "He says they saw someone on your balcony." "Countess!" "They say they saw someone on your balcony!" "Yes, it was me." " Have you gone mad?" " Yes... in Venice, when you left!" "Is the door locked?" " The door..." "Laura?" " Yes, Countess." "It was me." "Go to bed now." "See, stupid?" "Waking the whole house!" "Did they see me?" "Whatever possessed you to come here?" "What made you do it?" "Are all those dogs to keep away your enemies or your lovers?" "Why did you decide to come here, Franz?" "I didn't decide to come." "I just came." "I just suddenly knew I had to see you again, so I came." "Shall I go now and let your dogs tear me to pieces?" "Go there and hide." "Go on." "Over there." "I... don't believe you risked your life to see me." "I might have believed it before... before all those missed rendezvous... before those agonizing days... when I couldn't find you anywhere." "I'm younger than you are, Countess Serpieri... and I'm not as clever as I try to appear." "When I began to realize I'd fallen in love... with a woman who could never love me, all I could think of doing was running away." "That's why you didn't see me again." "But even that was useless." "When I found out you had run away from me, that you had left Venice, all I could think of was how to see you again." "You must have some reason that I can't guess." "Why else would a man risk his life to come here?" "Don't you know?" "War has been declared!" "War..." "I'm so tired." "I only want to look at you, be with you." "That's why I came." "I think of nothing else." "I might have believed you... once." "If you don't believe me, I'd better go at once." "No, wait!" "Wait." "Franz, come here." "Franz, stay here." "Here?" "All right." "Please, keep quiet... please... and wait." "There are thieves on the grounds!" "Thieves!" "Countess, what's going on?" "Be quiet, you fools!" "Countess, what a scare!" "I knew something was going to happen." "All night long I was restless." "I just couldn't get to sleep." "Was that really you on the balcony?" " Certainly." "Simone, search everywhere!" "See if you can find any tracks!" "Yes, sir, the gravel's all been scattered!" "Make sure no one's hiding on the grounds!" "Yes, sir!" "Good, Simone." "Keep on searching with the dogs." "Do you need me for anything, ma'am?" "No." "I don't need anything." "Go back to bed now." "Keep on with the search." "He must have escaped when he heard the dogs bark." "I'm going back to bed." " Good night, sir." "Giuseppe!" "Have a good look behind the stables!" "I'm sorry." "You must forgive me." "We're not in Venice any more." "I've changed." "I can think straight again." "My mind is clear once more." " Livia, listen..." " No!" "We're not in Venice any more." "You made me forget every shred of decency and dignity." "It's true." "Every shred of dignity... for a wretched and illicit love... that brought nothing but shame." "Livia, my dearest." "We're not in Venice any more." "All right." "We're not in Venice any more." "The fact has been established." "May I sit down?" "Yes." "You can't go until they've tied up the dogs." "Thank you." "I'm so sleepy." "I haven't slept for three nights." "I love the smell of summer... the smell of dry, golden wheat that's cut and gathered." "It's full of that fragrance here." "I'm so tired." "There's such a lazy sweetness in the air." "What is it?" "Did you say something?" "The dogs have gone away now." "You spoke so softly." "I couldn't hear you." "I couldn't understand you." "Didn't you say something like... something like..." ""Franz... dear Franz..." "I'm lonely." "Please... stay with me."" "You misunderstood me." "Forgive me." "I misunderstood you." "I said you had to leave now." "You must go... you must go." "I beg your pardon?" "I said it's safe now." "You can go." ""It's been such a long time... since we last saw each other, my sweet"... that's what I dreamt you would say." "I said go now." "Go... go... go." "Are you sure?" "Is that what you really want?" "I was hoping you'd ask me to stay." "Yes, Franz." "I beg you... stay." "Franz, wake up, my love." "It's almost morning... and you said you had to be in Verona before nightfall." "Who... who is it?" "It's me..." "Livia." "Franz, wake up." "It's light out." "What did you say?" "You must leave at once." "The sun will be up soon, and if they see you..." "Close your eyes." " I didn't close them all night." " Why?" "I watched you as you slept." "That's why I slept so well." "I dreamt I was home... a little boy playing soldier with a wooden sword." " I must go." " Oh, I wish you didn't..." "I wish I could..." "You wish you could what?" "Keep you, hold you close, as I did last night, for all my life." "Good-bye." "I must go now." "The sun's coming up." "It's already late." "You wouldn't want them to see me climbing out your window, would you?" "No, don't go yet." "I'll hide you." "I'll keep you with me for one more day." "Wait." "We have to hurry!" "Come quickly." "Livia." "Come." "Stay with me a while." "No, I have to be in my room when the maid comes." " It's still early." "There's time." " Don't talk so loudly." "I'll be still." "This really isn't so bad here." "I'd love to stay here all my life." "Then why don't you stay?" "You don't realize that I'm expected to go out and become a hero now." "Try to forget about that." "It would be wonderful to be able to forget... everything." "A friend of mind did something that shocked me." "Who?" "A comrade." "An officer." "What did he do?" "He managed to bribe a doctor to declare him unfit for military service." "He went for an examination, you see... and the doctor certified there was some defect in his heart which made a quiet civilian life necessary." "So he went home..." "a free man." " How could that be?" " I told you:" "He bribed the doctor!" "Gave him a large sum of money." "I thought certain things just weren't done." "But after all, the men of my class are rather spoiled, like children." "We like the uniforms that flatter our manly figure." "The gold braid and buttons, the fanfare of brass, the postures and attitudes of heroes." "But then there's the other side of the coin." "The separation from women." "Hunger... cold... fatigue." "Oh yes, we're ready to raise our glasses to future victories... but we don't want to pay what those victories sometimes cost:" "the missing arm, the leg cut off at the hip." "Don't!" "The hideously disfigured face so horrible it makes you scream." "And why?" "War!" "Tens of thousands of soldiers ready to slaughter each other for no reason or purpose." "Reason has nothing to do with war." "What is war anyway, except a convenient method of forcing people to think and behave in the way most beneficial to the rulers?" "Why so quiet, my dear?" "What's on your mind?" "War is horrible!" "I'll come back just as soon as I can." "So many of them passed by last night." "Even heavy artillery." "The whole house shook." "They've come from Innsbruck, headed for Verona." " Verona..." " Count!" "Should I report last night's incident?" "No, better not." "But I bet it was someone spying on our grain supply, trying to get us in trouble." "The men wouldn't say anything." "They all stand to benefit." "Nevertheless, put someone on guard at night." "Wha..." "Look over there!" "Isn't that Le Ronghe?" "That fire is at Le Ronghe!" "There's a fire at Le Ronghe, and a big one too!" "Let's go see." "Sir, look at that thick black column of smoke!" "I'd say the hayloft has caught fire!" "We'd better send someone down there at once!" "To Le Ronghe!" "Look, sir!" "It starts at Mangini's house." "It can't be." "His house is behind the hill." "It's further off." "I'll bet it's the stables at Piovene." "Come on." "Let's go look from the granary." "They're probably just burning some underbrush." "Can't you see the column of smoke, ma'am?" "That's Mangini's house!" "Oh yes." "You can see perfectly." "Perhaps it's a military encampment." "It's better we make certain." "Come with me, you two." "I don't like this at all." "Let's look from the window." "Let's hope the wind doesn't change." " With all that grain stored..." " Let's hope not!" "Hear that, sir?" "The bells at Le Ronghe!" "They finally made up their minds!" "Were they waiting to set fire to the whole countryside first?" "You can't see much from here, sir." "We'd better look from the other side." "What's happened?" "This door has been locked!" "The grain's holding it shut, sir." "You can see perfectly from here." "It may be a skirmish between the Austrians and the patriots in Romagnano." "Sometimes, to get revenge..." " Are they camped in the center of town?" "This is crazy!" "Dangerous for everyone!" "They're not very close, but sometimes reinforcements come up." "And for that all our farms should burn?" "Antonio!" "Call Giuseppe." " Yes, sir." "Antonio!" "Tell him to hitch the carriage." "Hurry up!" " Yes, sir!" "We can be there in 15 minutes." "No use wasting more time here!" "Countess..." "What is it?" "That... person is there." "And Luca's here too, from Romagnano." "Good morning, Countess." "Good news." "Marquis Ussoni reached Italian headquarters on the Mincio." "It's only a matter of hours now." "Our orders should arrive any moment." "Garibaldi is in Salò." "Two of our representatives met the general's envoy in Trento." "General Garibaldi praised our patriots." "He didn't realize we had so many men." "Just watch." "When his troops arrive, they'll find the job already done." "We don't need anybody's help to free our land." "Yes, of course." "You'll tell me all about it." "Come back later." "This evening, perhaps." "Countess..." "Marquis Ussoni also sent word that you should give me the money collected in Venice." "It should be more than 3,000 florins." "I don't know." "I didn't check." "It must be as you say." "This evening, I said." "Come back this evening, all right?" "It takes time for a fire to spread like that!" "And nobody tells you anything, of course!" "Not a single word." "I may be a fool, but..." " Sir, the carriage is almost ready." " Good." " I'll go, sir." " Try and hurry." " Good morning, Count." " Good morning." "Antonio, my hat." "Hurry up!" " Show Luca to the door." " Good-bye, Countess." " See you this evening." " Very well." "How did you get here?" "Laura... isn't that her name?" "Your maid." "I thought you sent her." "She's wonderful." "She came and got me, put me in here, brought me breakfast." "My goodness!" "She knows that you're here now!" "What's wrong with that?" "Isn't that what ladies' maids are for?" "Countess, the count is looking for you." "We're leaving." "Don't wait for me for lunch." " Very well." " What?" "I said very well." "My respects, Countess." "Good-bye." "What are you thinking?" "I was thinking..." "something terrible." "Tell me what." "This morning, in the granary... you told me about that friend of yours who was sent home... because a doctor said he had a bad heart." "So?" "Why can't you do the same?" "Me?" "Yes, Franz, you." "Pose as a cripple and bribe some rotten quack doctor to say there's something wrong with me?" "Yes." "Do you think me capable of such a contemptible act?" "And even if I was so contemptible... there's a matter of cost." "How much?" "Two thousand florins." "Two thousand florins?" "Impossible!" " Is it more than I'm worth?" " Oh, if I only could... you could stay here near me, maybe in Trento, couldn't you?" "Regulations demand that soldiers unfit for battle must remain near their own regiments." " If I only could!" " I have to leave." "It's late." "If I'm not in Verona, I'll be considered a deserter." "I can be shot." "Of course, that would solve all our problems." "I have no more time!" " Wait, Franz!" "Wait." "Close that door." "Come here, quick." "My sweet, is this yours?" "Your husband's?" "Well, whose?" "I can't tell you!" "You'd think I'd gone mad!" "I have!" "I have gone mad!" "Oh, my sweet!" "My sweet!" "My poor, desperate love!" "My darling... my poor, frightened sweet..." " Who is it?" " May I come in, ma'am?" "Stay out!" "Don't come in!" " But I must, ma'am!" "Stay out, I tell you!" "Did you count it?" "You think it's enough?" "What you've given me is your heart, and not only your heart." "Isn't it strange..." "it doesn't seem wrong to take it." "It would feel wrong not to take it." "Countess!" "Ma'am, I think the count is returning." "Very well." "I understand." "Tonio saw him down in the village, and he told him..." "I told Tonio to stay in the kitchen." "I also called the gardener in too." "He must avoid the terrace because Ada's there gathering the laundry." "I tried to call her inside, but..." "And Luca's here too." "I had him wait in the drawing room." "All right." "Write to me as soon as you can." "I wrote the address here." "Get some civilian to take your letter to Luca." "I'll get it immediately that way." "I must have news of you." " Yes, I'll write you." "As soon as you can." "Go now." "Send word when it's all arranged and I'll join you at once." "I can't live like this." "You shouldn't love me." "Nobody should." "Now I was irrevocably tied to him." "For his sake I'd forsaken and betrayed everything for which the others were so desperately fighting... those dreams which they had struggled so long to make reality." "Marquis Ussoni." "I'd advise you to reach Oliosi by avoiding the left flank of our front, as soon as you're out of Valeggio." "But you'll run into serious obstacles." "It won't be easy." "Thank you." "Best of luck to you, sir!" "Stop!" "Can you take me to Oliosi?" " It's dangerous." "Don't worry." "We'll find another route." "Come on." "What's the best route to Oliosi?" "Oliosi?" "Those roads are blocked." "There's fighting going on." "Try to reach that hill, then turn left." "You'll come to a large farmstead called Ca' Pasquale." "Right here." "Keep left from there." "Then we take the road to Maragnote and Menso." "Good." "We bypass Oliosi and still get to Sant'Ambrogio." "Thank you, Lieutenant." "Are you from the south?" " Naples." " Good luck, Lieutenant." " I'll take the reins now." " Just take her slow." "I must get beyond that hill." "It's urgent!" "I have a pass signed by General La Marmora in person." "Sound the alarm!" "I received a letter from Franz." "He'd received his exemption and was in Verona." "But he urged me to stay where I was." "The journey was dangerous, and he feared for my safety." "Battle had commenced all along the front, and the news that reached Aldeno seemed to confirm our hopes of an Italian victory." "You can see the cannons from Sant'Ambrogio." " The Germans are leaving Verona." " No, they left yesterday." "Now we'll get rid of those Germans for good." "Quiet, everyone!" "Luca's here!" "Let's hear what he has to say." "Here he comes." "What did he say?" "The Germans have fled Verona!" "We'll get every last one of them!" "Long live Italy!" "Good day, Countess." "The Austrians are leaving Verona?" "Yes, Countess." "We're advancing all along the front." "The Austrians sent for reinforcements, and they're leaving Verona." "This time they'll drive 'em all into the sea!" "Long live Italy!" "But will we be cut off?" "The time has come for us to act as well." "Marquis Ussoni..." "We've had no word about him." "No news." "Nothing." "We can't make a move yet." "We must wait for orders." "But Countess, we can't wait any longer." "Even if we've received no word, our troops must move in and occupy the area." "There's no time to lose." "We'll be cut off." "Garibaldi himself is coming!" "Just think, ma'am." "Garibaldi, for heaven's sake!" "What's going on?" "What are you doing?" "Lieutenant, what's happening?" "Where's everyone going?" "We've been ordered to retreat." "All right, keep firing!" "Who are you?" "Are you wounded?" "Everyone's retreating, Lieutenant." "Haven't you heard?" "It's a disaster." "Well, we're not running away, are we, boys?" "No, sir!" "Nobody here's running back!" "Lieutenant, your orders are to retreat!" "Understood, Lieutenant!" "You'll see how we retreat!" "Huh, boys?" "Come on, boys!" "I decided to leave at dawn, before the patriots could occupy the countryside around Aldeno and before Italian troops could reach Verona." "I knew I was leaving my home and my people forever, yet I felt no remorse or regret." "The sides of the carriage were burning hot, and I felt suffocated by the sweltering air." "I had Franz's letter with me, and I read it over and over again, though I knew it by heart." ""My darling Livia... you have saved my life." "The money was sufficient..." "for now at least... to fill the doctors' greedy bellies." "They exempted me, and I'm stationed in Verona." "I have a nice room overlooking the Adige on Via Santo Stefano, No. 149." "I long for you day and night." "But don't come just yet." "Stay where you are." "The journey would be too dangerous." "Love me always as I love you."" "Do you have a pass to enter Verona at this hour?" "No, but I am Countess Serpieri." "My husband's an Austrian official." "I came to stay with relatives in town." "Very well, ma'am." "You may pass." "But I warn you:" "The streets of Verona are not very safe for a lady tonight." "Thank you." "Quickly!" "No. 149 Via Santo Stefano." "Quickly!" "Well, well." "What a lovely surprise." "What?" "I'm here." "Has something happened?" "I'm here, Franz." "I told you in my letter not to come." "Didn't you get my letter?" "But I had to come." "I couldn't live with the anxiety any longer." "What anxiety?" "Anxiety about what?" "What might happen to you." "You knew I was safe." "And you knew why I was safe... your money." "You knew I'd bought my way out of danger... into security, comfort... peace, pleasure." "But I had to be sure." "I had to see for myself." "Well, now you've seen." "You shouldn't have come." "You were wrong to come, and you'll be sorry you did." "You see..." "I'm not an officer now." "I'm not a gentleman now." "I am a drunken deserter." "And I stink to high heaven of cowardice and vice!" "I'm here now, Franz." "I'll stay with you always." "I've given up everything for you." "Take me in your arms, Franz." "I haven't washed or shaved in a couple of days." "I don't want to disgust you by coming too close." "You'd get dirty." "Franz!" " You're not alone." " Pay no attention to her." "She comes in every night for an hour or two to keep me company." "Would you like to meet her?" "Don't be shy." "After all, she belongs to you." "I pay her with your money." "Clara, come here." "I want you to meet a great lady." "Countess Livia Serpieri." "She's traveled a long way." "As you see, she's quite exhausted." "She drove through the troops returning from battle." "Men who weren't lucky enough to have what I have:" "a wealthy patroness." "Clara, get her something to drink." "Wash it first!" "Stupid girl!" "It's for a lady." "Ladies don't drink out of unwashed glasses, do they?" "One must be polite to one's guests." "She doesn't want it." "She doesn't feel well." "What are you waiting for?" "Help her, you fool!" "Take off her veil and hat and gloves!" "Countess Serpieri is a lady of fashion and of high degree!" "Can't you see that?" "She's an Italian aristocrat." "I told you about her." " No, you didn't." "You just don't remember." "You didn't listen because you thought I was bragging." "You thought I was bragging when I told you that a real lady like Countess Serpieri had fallen in love with me." "Really." "She said she'd never have known what love was if it hadn't been for me." "Why do you say those things?" "Is it to hurt me or to make yourself suffer?" "I'm sorry." "I couldn't hear." "You speak so softly." "Did you hear what she said, Clara?" "No, I didn't hear anything, and I don't want to hear." "I'm going home." " You're mad!" "Livia... you can't let her go out at this time of night." "Invite her to join us at our table." "Do it." "Please, will you stay?" "Pay no attention." "He's drunk." "Who the hell do you think you are?" "Do you have such a high opinion of yourself that you can't sit at a table with a tart?" "What's the difference between you two?" "I'll tell you." "She's young and beautiful, and men are willing to pay for her." "You, on the other hand..." "Why are you looking at me like that?" "I don't like being looked at in that way!" "You think I'm losing my mind?" "I haven't lost my mind." "I've never been more sane in my life." "Listen." "Try to understand... and see me as I really am, not as a figure of your imagination." "The idea you have of me is pure fantasy... invented by you!" "It has nothing to do with the real me." "What am I?" "How do I live?" "How do I get by?" "I live on two kinds of money:" "the money I get from women, and the money I get by cheating at cards." "I'm a master at both." "Those are my assets." "I also have a few liabilities." "I'm a deserter because I'm a coward." "And I don't mind in the least being a deserter or a coward!" "What do I care if my compatriots won a battle today in some place called Custoza when I know they'll lose the war..." "and not only the war." "Austria will be finished in a few years... and a whole world will vanish... one to which we both belong, you and me." "This new world your cousin talks about holds no interest for me." "It's far better not to get involved in these things... and enjoy yourself as much as possible." "And you think the same way I do." "Otherwise you wouldn't have given me money to buy yourself an hour of love." "That's enough!" "It's too late!" "It's over!" "I'm not your romantic hero!" "And I don't love you any more." "I needed money and I took it..." "that's all." "Oh, I nearly forgot:" "I'm also an informer." "It was I who denounced your cousin to the police." "Of course, you always knew that but pretended not to for the sake of our little romance." "Go on!" "Run, lady!" "Run, run, you trollop!" "Get out of here!" "Break your neck!" "Don't stop!" "...With devastating precision." "Afternoon report of the Fifth Corps." "Santa Lucia was taken after heavy fighting." "By 7:00 p.m. we had taken Custoza." "The enemy certainly put up an admirable fight." "The first of their offensives was particularly forceful, and their officers set a fine example for their men." "I came to carry out my duty as a loyal subject." "Ah, the countess is Austrian?" "Venetian." "Here." "I don't understand." "ls this letter addressed to you?" "Now, then, I'm in a hurry." "Explain." "The letter is from..." "Franz Mahler of the Third Artillery Regiment." "And so?" "The letter is very clear." "He paid a doctor to certify him as unfit." "He's a deserter from the battlefield." "Ah, now I understand." "The lieutenant was your lover, and now, for revenge, you'd like to see him shot." "Think it over, Countess." "To be an informer is despicable, and your present action amounts to murder." "Lieutenant Schneider!" "General, you must do your duty." "Show that woman the way out." "See that this order is carried out immediately!" "It's highest priority!" "You understand?" "Highest priority!" "To be carried out immediately." "Officer, you are to immediately arrest First Lieutenant Franz Mahler, residing at No. 149 Via Santo Stefano." "Franz!"