DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61479#0059
THE SISTER OF CHARITY.
23
must be some mistake.” “I will,” answered Viletti, whose blood began
to mount with his sense of the injustice shown him ; and he forthwith
repaired to the Hotel de Ville, which was already crowded by persons
preferring similar complaints. Nevertheless, by exercise of some
patience, he succeeded in disencumbering himself of two of his
unwelcome inmates. Having accomplished this, he ran home again,
a little appeased by his partial success; but what was his surprise-
what his indignation—to find, on his entrance, six fresh grenadiers,
who had been quartered upon him during his absence! Rage and
despair took possession of the man : all the violent and malignant
passions of the oppressed, revengeful Italian rose within his soul.
Wholly incapable of restraining his fury, his first impulse led him to
direct it against the Austrians ; he lavished imprecations upon their
entire nation, until at length one of the soldiers lifted his arm towards
him in a menacing manner. Seeing this, Viletti caught up a sabre
which had been laid down by another of the party, and inflicted a
sharp wound upon the man who had threatened to assail him.
In an instant the rash householder was seized and disarmed by
the comrades of the wounded man. He was then conducted into the
presence of Count Raimbach. It was, unluckily, not the first time
such an occurrence had taken place. Several Austrian soldiers had pre-
viously been maltreated; and the exasperation manifested by the
citizens generally caused still graver mischief to be apprehended. An
example, in fine, was necessary, and poor Viletti was selected to afford
it. The Count determined to show no mercy, and ordered him to
be shot in twenty-four hours—namely, at sunset next day.
It speedily became bruited throughout Verona that a citizen was
to be sacrificed merely for having resisted the insolence of the soldiery.
Of course, in these reports, the truth was generally distorted, and often
23
must be some mistake.” “I will,” answered Viletti, whose blood began
to mount with his sense of the injustice shown him ; and he forthwith
repaired to the Hotel de Ville, which was already crowded by persons
preferring similar complaints. Nevertheless, by exercise of some
patience, he succeeded in disencumbering himself of two of his
unwelcome inmates. Having accomplished this, he ran home again,
a little appeased by his partial success; but what was his surprise-
what his indignation—to find, on his entrance, six fresh grenadiers,
who had been quartered upon him during his absence! Rage and
despair took possession of the man : all the violent and malignant
passions of the oppressed, revengeful Italian rose within his soul.
Wholly incapable of restraining his fury, his first impulse led him to
direct it against the Austrians ; he lavished imprecations upon their
entire nation, until at length one of the soldiers lifted his arm towards
him in a menacing manner. Seeing this, Viletti caught up a sabre
which had been laid down by another of the party, and inflicted a
sharp wound upon the man who had threatened to assail him.
In an instant the rash householder was seized and disarmed by
the comrades of the wounded man. He was then conducted into the
presence of Count Raimbach. It was, unluckily, not the first time
such an occurrence had taken place. Several Austrian soldiers had pre-
viously been maltreated; and the exasperation manifested by the
citizens generally caused still graver mischief to be apprehended. An
example, in fine, was necessary, and poor Viletti was selected to afford
it. The Count determined to show no mercy, and ordered him to
be shot in twenty-four hours—namely, at sunset next day.
It speedily became bruited throughout Verona that a citizen was
to be sacrificed merely for having resisted the insolence of the soldiery.
Of course, in these reports, the truth was generally distorted, and often