 Part 1 Chapter 1 of After the Divorce This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tom Denham After the Divorce by Grazia de Leda Translated by Maria Horner-Lansdale Part 1 Chapter 1 1907 In the stranger's room of the Poro house a woman sat crying. Crouched on the floor near the bed, her knees drawn up, her arms resting on her knees, and her forehead on her arms, she wept and sobbed continuously, shaking her head from time to time as though to indicate that there was no more hope, absolutely none at all. While her plump shoulders and straight young back rose and fell in the tightly fitting yellow bodice, like a wave of the sea, the room was nearly in darkness. There were no windows, but through the open door which gave upon a brick gallery, a stretch of dull grey sky could be seen, growing momentarily darker, and far, far away against this dusky background gleamed the yellow ray of a little solitary star. From the courtyard below came the shrill chirping of a cricket and the occasional stamp of horses' hoofs on the stone pavement. A short, heavy woman, clad in the nuire's dress with a large, fat old woman face, appeared in the doorway. She carried a four-branched iron candlestick in one socket of which burned a wick soaked in oil. Giovanna era, she said in a gruff voice, What are you about, all in the dark? Are you there? What are you doing? I believe you are crying. You must be crazy. Upon my word that's just what you are, crazy. The young woman began to sob convulsively. Oh, oh, oh! said the other drawing near, and in the tone of one who was deeply shocked and amazed, I said you were crying. What are you crying for? There's your mother waiting for you downstairs, and you up here crying like a crazy creature. The young woman wept more violently than ever, whereupon the other hung the candlestick on a large nail, gazed vaguely about her, and then began hovering over her disconsolate guest, searching for words wherewith to comfort her. She could only repeat, however, but, Giovanna, you are crazy, just crazy. The stranger's room, the name given to that apartment, which every nuire's family, according to immemorial custom, deserves for the use of friends from the country, was large, white, and bare. It had a great wooden bedstead, a table covered with a cotton cloth, and a dawned with little glass cups and saucers, and a quantity of small pictures hung close to the unpainted wooden ceiling. Bunches of dried grapes and yellow pairs hung from the rafters, filling the room with a faint fragrance, and sacks of wool stood about on the floor. The stout woman, who was the mistress of the house, laid hold of one of these sacks, dragged it to another part of the room, and then back again to where she had found it. Now, then, said she, panting from her exertion, Do stop, what good does it do? And why should you give up anyhow? What the devil, my dearie, suppose the public prosecutor has asked for the galleys, that doesn't mean that the jury are all mad dogs like himself. But the other only kept on crying and shaking her head, moaning, No, no, no, between her sobs. Yes, yes, I tell you, urged the woman, Get up now and come to your mother, and, taking hold of her, she forced back her head. The action revealed a charming countenance, rosy, framed in a thick mass of tumbled black hair, the big dark eyes swollen and glistening with tears, and surmounted by heavy black eyebrows that met in the middle. No, no, will Giovanna, shaking herself free. Let me cry over my fate, Aunt Poreda. Fate or no fate, you just get up. No, I won't get up, I won't get up. They'll sentence him to thirty years at the very least. Do you hear me? Thirty years, that's what they'll give him. That remains to be seen. And after all, what is thirty years? Why, you carry on like a wildcat. The other gave a shrill cry and tore her hair in an excess of wild despair. Thirty years? What is thirty years? She shrieked a man's whole lifetime, Aunt Poreda. You don't know what you're talking about, Aunt Poreda. Go away, go away, and leave me alone, for the love of Christ don't leave me to myself. I'm not going away, said Aunt Poreda. The idea, in my own house. Get up, you child of the devil. Stop this before you make yourself ill. Tomorrow will be time enough to pull your hair out by the roots. Your husband isn't in the gullies yet. Giovanna dropped her head and began to cry again in a subdued, hopeless way, heartbreaking to listen to. Constantino, constantino, she moaned in the tone of one bewailing the dead, I shall never see you again, never again. Those mad dogs have seized you and bound you fast and they will never let you go. And our house will be empty and the bed cold and the family scattered. Oh, my beloved, my lamb, you are dead for this world. May those who have done it die the same death. Aunt Poreda, distracted by Giovanna's grief and unable to think of anything more to say, went out on the gallery and began calling, Bacchissia era, come up here, your daughter is losing her mind. A step was heard on the outer stair. Aunt Poreda turned back into the room and behind her appeared a tall, tragic-looking figure all in black. The gaunt, yellow face shaped like that of some bird of prey was framed in the folds of a black handkerchief. Two brilliant green spots indicated the eyes deep-set overhung by fierce, heavy brows and surrounded by livid circles. Her mere presence seemed to exercise a subduing effect upon the daughter. Get up, she said in a harsh voice. Giovanna rose. She was tall and lithe, though cast in a heavy mould and having enormous hips. Beneath the short circular petticoat adorned below the waist with a band of purple and with a broad green hem appeared two little feet shod in elastic gaiters and the suggestion of a pair of shapely legs. What are you worrying these good people for? demanded the mother. Have done now. Come down to supper and don't frighten the children or throw a wet blanket over the happiness of these good people. The happiness of these good people was in allusion to the arrival of the son of the house a law student home for the holidays. Giovanna, recognizing that her mother meant to be obeyed quieted down without more ado, pulling the woollen kerchief from her head and thereby disclosing a cap of antique brocade from whence escaped waves of cold black air she turned towards a basin of water standing on a chair and began to bathe her face. The two women looked at one another and Aunt Porre da taking her lips between her right thumb and forefinger in sign of silence noiselessly left the room. The other, accepting this hint, said nothing more and when Giovanna had finished bathing and had set her hair in order silently led the way down the outer stair night had fallen warm still profound. The solitary yellow star had been followed by a multitude of glittering asterisks and the milky way lay like a scarf of gauze embroidered with silver spangles. The air was heavy with the penetrating odor of pneumone hay. In the courtyard the crickets hidden away in the trellis work kept up their shrill chirping. The ruminative horse still stamped with his iron-short hoofs upon the stones and from afar floated the melancholy note of a song. The kitchen opened on the courtyard as did a ground floor bedroom sometimes used as a dining room. Both doors were standing open. In the kitchen beside the lighted stove stood Aunt Porrada engaged in preparing the macaroni for supper. A child clad in a loose black frock fair untidy and barefooted was quarrelling with a stout little urchin fat and florid like his grandmother. The girl was swearing roundly naming every devil in turn while the boy tried to pinch her bare legs. Stop it, said Aunt Porrada. There now. Will you leave off, you naughty children? Mama Porru, she's cursing me, she said. Go to the devil who gave you birth. Menia, what a way to talk. Well, he stole my purse, the one with the picture of the pope that Uncle Paolo brought me. It's not so, I didn't, shouted the boy. You'd better not be talking about stealing, Menia. He added with a meaning look. The girl became suddenly quiet as though a spell had been cast over her but presently her tormentor, seizing a long stick, tried to hook the curved handle around her legs. Menia began to cry and the grandmother faced about ladle in hand. I declare I beat you with this ladle, you wretched children. Just you wait a moment. She cried running at them. The children made a dash for the courtyard and collided violently with Giovanna and her mother. What's all this? What's all this? Oh, those children, they'll drive me wild. I believe the devil is in them, said Aunt Porega from the doorway. At this moment a slim little figure in black emerged from the main gateway leading into the street, calling excitedly, they're coming, grandmother, here they are now. Well, let them come. You would do better, Grazia, to pay some attention to your brother and sister. They have been fighting like two cocks. Grazia made no reply, but taking the iron candlestick from Aunt Paquicia, she blew out the light and hid it behind a bench in the kitchen, saying in a low voice, you ought to be ashamed, grandmother, to have such a looking candlestick now that Uncle Paolo is here. Uncle Paolo? Well, I declared, you suppose he was brought up on gold? He has been to Rome. To Rome, the idea, they only don't have lights like that there, because they have to buy their oil by the Pennyworth. Here we can use as much oil as we want. You must be green if you believe that, said the girl. Then suddenly catching the sound of her grandfathers and uncles' voices, she flew to meet them, trembling with excitement. Good evening, Giovanna. Aunt Paquicia, how goes it with you? said the hearty voice of the student. I, very well, the Lord be praised. I was sorry to hear of your misfortune. Never mind, courage, who knows? Sentences to-morrow, is it not? He led the way into the room where the supper-table was laid, followed by the two women and the children, whom their uncle's presence filled with mixed terror and delight. He was short and limped slightly, one foot being smaller than the other, and the leg somewhat shorter. This circumstance had earned him the nickname of Dr. Pedeidu, a jest which he took in very good part, declaring that it was far better to have one foot smaller than the other, rather than a head smaller than those of other people. His fresh, round, smiling face with its little blond mustache was surmounted by a big, tattered black hat. He proclaimed himself a socialist. Sitting down on the side of the bed with both legs swinging, he threw an arm around each staring open-mouthed child and drew it to him, giving his attention meanwhile to Aunt Paquicia's recital of their misfortunes. From time to time, however, his gaze wandered to Grazia, the angles of whose girlish, undeveloped figure were accentuated by an ill-fitting black frock much too small for her. Her own hard, light-coloured orbs never left her uncle's face. "'Listen,' said Aunt Paquicia in her harsh voice, "'I will tell you the whole story. "'Constantino Leda had an uncle by blood "'his own father's brother. "'His name was Basile Leda, "'but they called him the vulture. "'May God preserve him in glory "'if he's not fast in the devil's clutches already, "'because he was so grasping. "'He was a wretch, a regular yellow vulture. "'God may have forgiven him, but there, "'they say, he starved his wife to death. "'He was Constantino's guardian. "'The boy had some money of his own, "'his uncle spent it all, "'and then began to ill-use him. "'He beat him, and sometimes he would tie him down "'between two stones in the open field "'so that the bees would come and sting him on the eyes. "'Well, one day Constantino ran away. "'He was sixteen years old. "'For three years nothing was heard of him. "'He says he was working in the mines. "'I don't know, but anyhow, that's what he says. "'Yes, yes, he was working in the mines,' "'interrupted Giovanna. "'I don't know,' said the mother, "'percing up her lips with an air of doubt. "'Well, anyway, the fact remains that one day, "'during the time that he was off, "'someone fired at Basile the vulture "'out in the field. "'It is true he did have enemies. "'When Constantino came back, "'he admitted that he had run away for fear "'he might be tempted to kill his uncle. "'He hated him so. "'Afterwards, though, he tried to make his peace with him "'and succeeded, too. "'But now listen to this, Paolo Porro. "'Dr. Porro, Dr. Porredo!' shouted the small nephew, "'correcting the guest. "'The latter, turning on the boy angrily, "'started to box his ears, whereupon Giovanna laughed. "'On beholding their heartbroken guest, "'she, who up to that moment had been surrounded "'by a halo of romance and tragedy, "'actually laughing, the pale Lanca Grazia "'broke into a nervous laugh as well, "'then many a laughed, and then a boy, "'and then the student. "'Aunt Paquicia, glared about her, "'and lifting one lean yellow hand "'was about to bring it down on some one. "'She had not quite decided whether her daughter or the boy, "'when Aunt Porreda appeared in the doorway, "'bearing a steaming dish of macaroni. "'She was followed by Uncle Efe's Maria Porro, "'a big, imposing-looking man whose broad chest "'is comfortably contracted in a narrow blue velvet jacket. "'He was a peasant, but affected a literary turn. "'His large, colourless face resembled a mask of ancient marble. "'He wore a short, curling beard, "'and had thick lips always parted, and big, clear eyes. "'Come, sit down at once,' said Aunt Porreda, "'in a dish in the centre of the table. "'What, laughing, are you? "'The little doctor is making you all laugh.' "'I was just about to give your grandson "'a box on the ear,' said Aunt Paquicia. "'And why were you going to do that, my soul? "'Come now, sit down, all of you. "'Giovanna here, Doctor Porreda, over there.' "'The student threw himself back full-length on the bed, "'stretched out his arms, lifted his legs high in air, "'dropped them again, sat up, "'and jumped to his feet with a yawn. "'The children and Giovanna began to laugh again. "'A little gymnastic exercise does one good. "'Great Lord, how I shall sleep tonight. "'My bones feel as though they had lost all their joints. "'How tall you have grown, Grazia, you look like a beanpole!' "'The girl reddened and dropped her eyes, "'while Aunt Paquicia thrust out her lips, "'annoyed at the student's lack of interest, "'as well as at the general indifference to Constantino's fate. "'To be sure Giovanna herself had apparently forgotten, "'and it was only when Aunt Porreda placed before her "'a bountiful helping of macaroni covered with fragrant red gravy, "'that she suddenly recollected herself, "'her face clouded over, and she refused to eat. "'There, now, what did I tell you?' cried Aunt Porreda. "'She is crazy, absolutely crazy. "'Why can't you eat? "'What has eating your supper tonight to do with the sentence tomorrow?' "'Come, come,' said Aunt Paquicia crossily. "'Don't be foolish, don't go to work "'and spoil these good people's pleasure.' "'A brave heart,' said Uncle Efes Maria pompously, "'fastening his napkin under his chin, "'and seeing an opportunity for a learned observation, "'a brave heart defies fate, as Dante Alleghiere,' he says. "'Come now, Giovanna, prove yourself a true flower of the mountains, "'more enduring than the rocks themselves. "'Time softens all things.' Giovanna began to eat, but with a lump in her throat that made swallowing a difficult matter. Paolo, meanwhile, had not spoken a word, but sat bowed over his plate, which by the time Giovanna had managed to get down her verse mouthful, was entirely clean. "'Why, you are a perfect hurricane, my son,' said Aunt Porrena. "'What a ravenous appetite you have to be sure. "'Do you want some more, yes, and more still, yes?' "'Well done,' cried Uncle Efes Maria. "'It looks as though you had found "'very little to eat in the eternal city.' "'Hey, that is precisely what I was saying just now,' said Aunt Porrena. "'Beautiful streets, if you will, "'just to buying anything, the pennies have to be counted down. "'I've been told all about it. "'On my word they say there are no provisions "'stored in the houses as there are here. "'And you all know for yourselves "'that with no provisions in the house "'it is not easy to satisfy one's appetite.' And Bacchissia nodded affirmatively. "'She knew only too well what happens "'when there is nothing in a house to eat. "'But true or not,' talked to Porredu. "'True, perfectly true,' said he, "'loughing and eating and waving his large white hands "'with their long nails in the air. "'Is that what makes him such a leech, a regular vampire?' said Uncle Efes Maria, turning to his guests. "'I'll not have a drop of blood left in my veins. "'Body of the devil, how the money must go in Rome!' "'Ah, if you only knew,' sighed Paolo, "'everything, every single thing is so frightfully dear, "'twenty sandeams for a single pitch. "'There, I feel better now.' "'Twenty sandeams!' exclaimed all the company and chorus. "'Well, Aunt Bacchissia, and then?' "'After Constantino came back,' asked Paolo. "'Well, Paolo Porredu, you see I go on addressing you familiarly, "'even though you will be a doctor soon. "'When you were a little chap, I used to go so far as to give you a cough now and then. "'I have no recollection of it, but go on with your story,' said the young man, while Grazia's nostrils fairly dilated with anger. "'Well, as I said, Constantino disappeared for three years, "'and he was working in the mines, all right. "'Then he came back and was reconciled to his uncle. "'What then?' "'He met my Giovanna here, and they fell in love with each other, "'but the uncle made objections because my girl was poor. "'Then they began to hate one another worse than ever. "'Constantino was working for the vulture, "'and he would never let him have a centime. "'So then, one day, Constantino came to me and said, "'I'm a poor man. "'I haven't got any money to buy trinkets for the bride "'or to provide a feast, "'and all the rest for the Christian wedding, and you are poor too. "'Now then, suppose we do this way. "'We will have the civil ceremony and all live and work together. "'Then, when we have saved enough, we will be married by God. "'A great many do it that way, why shouldn't we?' "'So we did. "'We had the civil ceremony very quietly, "'and afterwards we all lived together and were happy enough. "'But the vulture was furious. "'He used to come and yell things at us even in our own street, "'and he tried to interfere with Constantino in every way he could. "'But we just kept on working. "'So at last, when the vintage was over last autumn, "'we began preparing the sweets and things for the wedding. "'And then Basilileda was found dead one day, "'murdered in his own house. "'The evening before, Constantino had been seen going in there. "'What he went for was to tell his uncle about the wedding "'and to try and make his peace with him. "'Ah, poor boy, he would not run off and hide somewhere "'as I begged and implored him to do. "'So, of course, they arrested him. "'He would not go because he was innocent, Mama. "'My, there you go, you simpleton, beginning to cry again. "'If you don't stop, I'll not say another word, so there.' "'Well, then, Constantino was arrested "'and now the trial is just over "'and the public prosecutor has asked to have him sent to the galleys. "'But he's a dog, that public prosecutor. "'They have evidence, to be sure. "'Constantino was seen on the night of the murder "'entering his uncle's house, where he lived all by himself, "'like the wild beast that he was, "'and then their relations in the past all true enough, "'but there are no proofs. "'Constantino was very contradictory "'and full of remorse about something. "'He kept repeating, it is the mortal sin. "'For you must know that he is a good Christian "'and he thinks that this misfortune has been sent "'by the punishment because he and Giovanna lived together "'before they were married by religious ceremony. "'But tell me one thing, just wait a moment. "'I should add that now they have been married "'by religious ceremony in prison. "'Yes, my dear, in prison, fancy what a horrid thing that was. "'Now don't begin crying again, Giovanna. "'If you do, I'll throw this salt cellar at your head. "'There she is, the goose. Everyone told her not to do it. "'Don't be married now,' they said. "'If he's found guilty and sentenced, you can marry someone else?' "'How contemptible,' began the young woman, with flashing eyes. "'But the mother merely turned a cold, penetrating look upon her "'and she broke off at once. "'Did I say so?' demanded the other. "'But no, it was other people, and they said it for your own good. "'For my good, for my good!' moaned Giovanna, "'burying her face in her hands. "'There is no more good for me ever again, ever again.' "'Have you children?' asked Paolo. "'Yes, one, a boy. If it were not for him, alas, alas. "'If Constantino is sentenced and there were no child there, "'oh, misery, misery!' "'And she seized her hair by the roots "'and began to drag her head violently, "'from side to side, like an insane person. "'You mean that you would kill yourself, my beloved?' asked Aunt Paquicia, ironically. "'To the student, there was something artificial in the action. "'It reminded him of a famous actress whom he had once seen in a French comedy "'and this open display of grief only aroused his cynicism. "'After all,' said he, "'the new divorce law has been approved "'and any woman whose husband is serving a sentence "'can regain her freedom. "'Giovanna did not appear so much as to take in what he said "'and continued to rock her head from side to side. "'Aunt Pareda, however, spoke up in a decided tone. "'What an idea, as though anyone but God could undo a marriage!' "'Yes, I read about that in the papers,' said Uncle Efes Maria jocularly. "'Those are the divorces they get on the continent "'where men and women marry over and over again "'without troubling themselves about priests or magistrates, either, "'for that matter, but here? Shame!' "'No, Daddy Poru, that's not on the continent. "'It's in Turkey,' said Grazia. "'Here, too, here, too,' said Aunt Paquicia, "'who had eagerly followed every word. "'As soon as supper was over, the two eras went off to see their lawyer. "'What room have you given them?' asked Paolo. "'The stranger's room?' "'Why, of course, why? "'Because I really thought I should like to sleep there myself. "'It is suffocating down here. "'What better stranger could there be than I?' "'Be patient just till tomorrow, my boy. "'Remember, these are poor guests.' "'Oh, Lord, what barbarous customs! "'Will there ever be an end to them?' he exclaimed impatiently. "'That's just what I should like to know,' said Uncle Efes Maria. "'These women are draining my pockets.' "'Well, what do you think of the new ministry?' "'I don't think anything of it at all,' laughed the student, "'recalling a character in the damn Sheim Maxim, "'a favourite play at the Manzoni Theatre, which he frequented. "'Then he sauntered off to look at some books "'he had left on a shelf at the other end of the room. "'Minia and the boy had run out into the courtyard. "'Grazia seated at the table with both cheeks, "'resting on her closed fists, was still gazing at her uncle. "'He turned towards her. "'You read novels, don't you?' "'I—' "'No,' she answered, turning red. "'Well, I only wanted to say that if I ever catch you "'reading certain books, I'll wrap you over the head with them.' Her underlip began to tremble, and not to let him see her cry she jumped up and ran out. In the courtyard she found the two children still quarreling over the purse with the picture of the pope. "'As for stealing,' the boy was saying, "'you had better keep quiet about that. "'You and she there, the beanpole? "'You two sold some wine today and kept the money.' "'Oh, what a lie!' cried Grazia, "'falling upon him and dealing him a blow, "'but crying herself bitterly all the while.' The courtyard was filled with the chirping of the crickets and the noise of the horses' hooves, and the warm, starlit air was heavy with the scent of the hay. "'You must not be hard on her. "'She is a poor orphan,' said Aunt Poreda, speaking in Grazia's behalf. "'They were the three children of an older son of the poor "'who's a well-to-do shepherd whose wife had died the year before. "'And why not let her read if she wants to?' "'Yes, yes, let her read by all means,' said Uncle Efes Maria pompously. "'Ah, if they had only allowed me to read when I was young, "'I would have been an astronomer as learned as a priest.' "'To Uncle Efes Maria an astronomer represented "'the height of learning and cultivation, "'the philosopher as it were.' "'Have you seen the pope, my son?' asked Aunt Poreda "'an astronomer and association of ideas. "'No? What? You have never seen the pope. "'Oh, what do you expect? "'The pope is kept shut up in a box if you want to see him. "'You've got to pay well for it.' "'Oh, go along,' said she. "'You are an infidel!' "'And going out to where the children were still fighting, "'she made a rapid descent upon them, "'and sent each flying in a different direction. "'On my word,' she cried, "'you are just like so many cocks. "'The Lord have mercy on me. "'Here they are, the chicken cocks, bad children, "'every one of you, bad, bad children!' "'And the lamentations of the youngsters arose "'and mingled with the noises of the summer evening. End of chapter one Recording by Tom Denham Chapter two of After the Divorce by Grazia de Leda translated by Maria Horner Lansdale this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Tom Denham The next morning Giovanna was the first to awaken through a pane of glass set in the door came a faint rosate sunrise glow and the early morning silence was broken only by the chattering of the swallows. Not yet fully aroused, her first sensations were agreeable. Then all at once it was as though a terrific clap of thunder had sounded in her ear. She remembered. This was the day that was to decide her husband's fate. She knew for a certainty that he would be condemned and yet she persisted in hoping still. It mattered very little to her whether or no he were guilty. Probably she had not at any time troubled herself much with that aspect of the case and what wholly concerned her now were the consequences. The thought of being parted perhaps forever from this man, young, strong and active as a greyhound with his caressing hands and ardent lips was agony and as the full consciousness of her misery came over her she jumped out of bed and began drawing on her clothes saying breathlessly It is late, late, late! Aunt Bacchissia opened her little firefly eyes and then she also got up but she realized too clearly what that day and the next and the year following and the next two and five and ten years would probably be like to be in any haste to begin them. She dressed deliberately plunged her hands into water passed them across her face and dried it then carefully arranged the folds of her scarf about her head. It is late, repeated Giovanna, dear Lord, how late it is! But her mother's calm demeanor presently quieted her and Bacchissia went down to the kitchen and Giovanna followed and Bacchissia prepared the cafe au lait and bread for Constantino the two women were allowed to take food to the prisoner placed them in a basket and started for the jail Giovanna still following. The streets were deserted the sun just appearing above the granite peaks of Otho Benne filled the atmosphere with fine rose-gold dust the sky was so blue the little bird so gay and the air so still and fragrant that it was like the early morning of some festal day before the human bustle and the ringing of the church bells have disturbed the stillness and charm. Giovanna crossing the street that leads from the station near which the porous lived to the prison gazed upon her own violet-coloured mountains in the distance hemming in the wild valleys below like a setting of amethysts. She inhaled the delicious air filled with the perfume of growing things a little slate-rock house of her child of her lost happiness and it seemed as though her heart would burst the mother walked briskly on in front poising the basket on her head presently they reached the great round white desolate pile in which are the prisons the sentry stood mute and immovable looking in the morning light like a statue carved out of stone a single green shrub growing against the blank expanse of wall seemed the rather to accentuate the dreariness of the spot a huge green door which from time to time opened and shut like the mouth of a dragon now opened and swallowed up the two women everyone in that dismal abode had come to know them from the florid, important-looking head-keeper who might have been a general at the very least down to the junior custodian with his pale face his straight-blonde moustache and his pretensions to elegance the visitors were not allowed to penetrate beyond the gloomy passageway whose fettered atmosphere, however gave some idea of the horrors that lay beyond the pale and elegant guard coming forward took their basket and Giovanna asked in a low voice if Constantino had slept yes he had slept but he kept dreaming all the time he did nothing but repeat over and over again the words the mortal sin ah, may he go to the devil with his mortal sin exclaimed Aunt Paquicia angrily he ought to stop it Mama dear, why need you swear at him has not fate cursed him enough as it is murmured Giovanna the women now left the building and stood outside waiting for the prisoner to be brought forth when Giovanna's eyes fell upon the group of carbonaires who would escort him to court she fell to trembling violently although on all the preceding days she had seen precisely the same thing and her big black eyes stretched to their widest extent fastened upon the great doorway with the unseeing stare of a crazy woman slowly the minutes lagged by then the dragon-mouth opened and once more surrounded by stony-faced guards with fierce black moustaches the figure of Constantino appeared he was tall and as light as a young poplar tree a long lock of lustrous black hair hung down on either side of a face beardless, pallid from prison confinement and almost feminine in its beauty the eyes were large and chestnut brown in colour the mouth small and as innocent as a child's and there was a little cleft in the middle of the chin he looked like a young Apollo the moment his eyes fell upon Giovanna although he too had been waiting for that moment he grew whiter than ever and stopped short resisting the guards Giovanna rushed forward sobbing and seized hold of his manacled hands forward said one of the carbonaires then gently to her you know my girl, it is not allowed Aunt Bacchissia now stepped forward as well darting rapid glances out of her little green eyes the escort halted for an instant and Constantino smiling bravely said in a voice that was almost cheerful courage, courage the lawyer is waiting for you said Aunt Bacchissia the guards pushed the women gently aside stand back good people out of the way said one and they led the prisoner off still smiling back at Giovanna his gleaming white teeth showing between lips that were still round and full albeit colourless thus he disappeared from view between his stony-faced conductors Aunt Bacchissia now in her turn dragged off Giovanna who wanted to follow her husband and insisted that she should return first to the porous for breakfast they found the courtyard bathed in sunlight it played upon the shining leaves of the grape vines from which hung bunches of unripe grapes like pale green marble the swallows desporting in it were moved to pour forth floods of song and it tricked out Uncle Efes Maria preparing to set out for the country on his chestnut horse how full of light and cheerfulness seemed that little enclosed spot with its low stone wall beyond which could be seen a broad expanse of open country stretching away to the distant horizon the children sat on the threshold of the kitchen door devouring their breakfast of bread soaked in café au lait Grazia had taken hers to a retired corner possibly in order not to be seen engaged upon anything so prosaic by the student uncle he meanwhile stood in his shirt sleeves in the middle of the enclosure gulping down the contents of a great bowl how large is St. Peter's? asked Aunt Pareda who was polishing the doctor's shoes and marvelling the while to hear of the wonderful things he had seen how large? why as large as a tanka a big open pasture you can't even pray there no one could say his prayers in a tanka the angels are as large as that gateway the littlest ones those that hold the holy water basins ah, then you have to go upstairs to reach the water no, they're on their knees I think give me a little more café au lait mama is there any? of course there is it seems to me you have come back very hungry my little Paolo, you're a regular shark you know how much this breakfast would cost in Rome one franc, not a cent deem less and then the milk is all water the Lord preserve us why that is frightful what do you think? I saw some dolphins at sea the strangest looking creatures oh, here are our guests good morning, what have you been about? Giovanna described the meeting with her husband and was beginning to cry again when Aunt Pareda took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen you have need of all your strength today, my soul said she, setting before her a large cup of café au lait a little later the two women started out again for the court of her size Paolo promising to join them there courage, said Aunt Pareda as she took leave of Giovanna and the latter heard her husband's sentence in the kind hostess's tone and went off with the look of a whipped dog Paolo followed her with his eyes then limping across the courtyard to his mother she said a singular thing listen to me, mamma before two years have gone by that young woman will be married to someone else what do you mean by saying such a thing? Dr. Pareda cried the mother who always addressed her son by his nickname when she was angry with him upon my word you must be crazy oh, mamma, I have crossed the sea he replied, let us hope at all events that she will engage me as her lawyer that young man devours his food like a dog, said Giovanna to her mother as they descended the steep little street may the lord have mercy on him Aunt Paquicia walking along plunged in thought and said through her clenched teeth he will make a good lawyer he will gnaw his clients to the bone and then swallow them whole then the two walked on in silence but a moment later Aunt Paquicia stumbled and as she did so for some reason that she could not fathom it flashed into her mind that should it ever so fall out that Giovanna were to apply for a divorce she would ask Paolo to be their lawyer it was eight o'clock when they reached the cathedral square and the small windows of the courthouse close by were sending back dazzling reflections of the early morning sun the little granite paved square was already crowded with country friends and neighbours witnesses in the trial some of these immediately approached the two women and greeted them with the inevitable commonplace courage, courage oh courage yes we have plenty of it thank you said Aunt Paquicia now leave us in peace and she continued on her way as proud and erect as a racehorse the road was only too familiar already and she followed it straight to the fateful hall behind her came Giovanna and behind her the others heavily bearded roughly clad men a handful of idlers last of all a near-sighted old woman with no teeth the jury most of them old and fat were already in their places one of them had an enormous hooked nose two others fierce-eyed, thickly bearded men looked like bandits three sat in a little group with their heads close together laughing over something in a newspaper in a few moments the judge appeared his rosy face surrounded by a straggling white beard then came the public prosecutor a young man with a fair drooping moustache flushed and tyrannical looking then the registrar, the ushers all of these functionaries looking to Giovanna in their black robes like so many evil genii come to weave their fatal spells about poor Constantino and there he was himself erect in the cage like some frightened animal held in leash by two stony-faced carboneers his gaze was fastened upon Giovanna but now there was no smile he seemed overpowered by the weight of his misery and as his glance fell upon those men the orbiters of his fate his clear child-like eyes contracted and grew dark with terror Giovanna too seemed to feel the grip of an iron hand on her heart and at times the sensation was so acute as to give her actual physical pain the lawyer for the defence a little pink and yellow man with a high-pitched mouth voice began his speech his defence had been sufficiently unfortunate from the first now he merely repeated what had already been said and his words seemed to fall into space like drops of water dripping into a great empty vessel the public prosecutor with his drooping moustaches maintained an air of insolent indifference a few of the jury appeared to take credit to themselves for sitting through it with patience while the others so far as could be observed did not so much as pretend to listen the only persons present in fact who really took any interest in the summing up of the defence were Aunt Bacchicia, Giovanna and the prisoner and the longer their advocate talked the more did these feel that their case was hopelessly lost from time to time some new arrival would take one of the seats behind Giovanna and whenever this happened she would turn quickly to see if it were Paolo for some reason she found herself ardently wishing for him she felt as though his mere presence in the courtroom might help him in some way at last the lawyer ceased instantly Constantino arose and growing very red in the face asked if he might speak the the said he pointing in the direction of the advocate the gentleman lawyer has spoken he has defended me and I thank him kindly but he has not spoken the way I could have wished he did not say well he did not say he stopped breathing hard add anything to your defence that occurs to you said the judge the prisoner stood for a moment with his eyes cast down in an attitude of deep thought the flush died out of his face leaving it whiter than before presently he passed his hand across his forehead with a convulsive movement and raised his head this is it he began in a low tone I I but again his voice failed then suddenly clenching his fists he turned towards the lawyer and burst out in a voice of thunder but I am innocent I tell you I am innocent the lawyer hastily motioned with his hand to quiet him the judge raised his eyebrows as though to say and suppose he had said so a hundred times is it our fault that we are not convinced and a woman's sob was heard throughout the courtroom Giovanna had broken down and Aunt Paquicia at once dragged her towards the door reluctant and tearful everyone but the public prosecutor watched the struggle between the two women a little later the court withdrew to deliberate and Paquicia followed by two of the neighbors hauled Giovanna into the square where instead of trying to comfort her she felt her scolding her roundly was she quite mad? did she want to be removed by force? if you don't behave yourself she concluded I declare I'll give you a good beating mama oh mama sob the other they are going to condemn him they are going to take him from me and I can do nothing I can do nothing what do you expect to do? asked one of the neighbors as sure as I am alive there is nothing for you to do be patient though and wait a little longer at this moment three figures in black appeared one of them laughing and limping they were Paolo Poro and two young priests friends of his there she is now said the student it looks as though he had been sentenced already upon my word remarked one of the priests she is indeed a young colt one that knows how to kick too she looks the other one meanwhile was staring curiously at Giovanna and as they all three approached the eras Paolo asked if the argument had closed it's the man who murdered his uncle isn't it inquired one of the priests the other continued to stare at Giovanna who had begun to regain her self-control he has murdered no one at all sedan pacicia hotally murder yourself black crows that you are crows are we well you are a witch retorted the priest upon which the bystanders began to laugh Giovanna meanwhile at the solicitation of Paolo had become quite calm and she now promised not to make a scene if they would let her return to the courtroom they all accordingly went in together and found that the jury after a brief deliberation were already taking their seats a profound silence fell upon the dim hot room Giovanna heard an insect humming and buzzing against one of the windows her limbs grew heavy she felt as though her body her arms her legs were strung on rods of ice-cold iron then the judge pronounced the sentence in a low careless voice while the prisoner looked at him fixedly and held his breath Giovanna kept hearing the buzzing of the fly and was conscious of a feeling of intense dislike for that rosy white bearded man not so much on account of what he was saying but because he said it with such an air of indifference and this is what it was a sentence of twenty-seven years imprisonment for the homicide who after long premeditation had at last committed the crime upon the person of his guardian and own uncle by blood Giovanna had so entirely prepared her mind to expect thirty years that for the first moment twenty-seven seemed a respite but it was only for a moment then swiftly realising that in thirty years three count for nothing she had to bite her lips violently to keep back the shriek that rose to them everything grew dim before her by a desperate effort of the will she forced herself to look at Constantino and saw or thought she saw his face old and grey his eyes dim and vacant wandering aimlessly about him ah! he was not looking at her he was not even looking at her anymore already he was parted from her forever he was dead though still among the living they had killed him those fat self-satisfied men who sat there in perfect indifference awaiting their next victim she felt her reason forsaking her and suddenly a succession of piercing shrieks rent the air someone seized her and she was dragged out again into the sunlit square daughter, daughter do you know what you're doing you must be mad you are howling like a wild beast cried Aunt Bacchissia grasping her by the arm and what good will it do there is the appeal still the court of cassation do be quiet my soul all this had happened in a few moments the witnesses, the lawyer Paolo Poru and the others now came crowding around the women trying to think of something to say to comfort them Giovanna, dry-eyed and staring was sobbing in a heartbroken way disjointed sentences falling from her lips expressions of passionate tenderness for Constantino and wild threats and implications addressed to the jury she begged so hard to be allowed to remain until the condemned man should be brought out that they agreed at last he appeared bent, livid, sunken eyed grown prematurely old Giovanna rushed forward and as the carboneers made no motion to stop she went ahead of them walking backwards smiling into her husband's face telling him that it would all be set right in the court of cassation and that she would sell everything to the very clothes on her back in order to save him but he only stared back at her wide eyed, unseeing and when the carboneers pushed her gently aside one of them saying go away my good woman go off now and try to be patient he too said yes, go away Giovanna try to get permission to see me before I am taken away and bring the child and take courage so Giovanna and her mother went back to the house and Portaida embraced and wept over them then however appearing to repent of such weakness she set about to remedy it well said she twenty-seven years what is that after all suppose it had been sentenced to thirty would not that have been worse what you are going away in this heat why you must be crazy both of you upon my word we can't let you go yes said Aunt Bacchissia we must get off the others are all going back now and will be company for us but if it won't be putting you out too much Giovanna will return in a few days and bring the boy why bless you is not this house the same as your own they sat down to dinner but Giovanna though now perfectly calm would touch nothing two or three times Aunt Portaida attempted to talk on different subjects she asked if the boy had cut his first teeth remarked that travelling in such heat might make them ill and inquired about the barley crop in their neighbourhood profound peace brooded over the courtyard the sun poured down on the grape vines overhead and traced delicate lacework patterns on the paving where it filtered through the leaves the swallows flew hither and thither singing joyously Paolo sat reading the newspaper as he ate his dinner Grazia and Minna the boy had gone off with his grandfather in their sparse tumble little black dresses kept falling asleep over theirs overpowered by the noontide somnolence Aunt Portaida's words floated dreamily out into all this sun-lighted peace into which Aunt Paquicia's tragic mean and Giovanna's mute air of woe seemed to strike a note of discord the moment the meal was ended the visitors packed their wallet saddled their horse and said farewell Paolo promised to see their lawyer about the appeal of the court of Cassation and as soon as they were well out of sight began to play with Minna forcing her to shake off her drowsiness and pretending that he was crazy he would first laugh uproariously shaking in every limb then suddenly become perfectly silent staring ahead of him with wild fixed gaze then break forth once more into peals of laughter the girls were highly diverted they too felt a laughing immoderately and the sun-bathed courtyard and tranquil house freed at last from the gloomy presence of the guests was filled with sunshine and merriment and peace End of chapter 2 Recording by Tom Denon Chapter 3 of After the Divorce by Grazia de Leda translated by Maria Horner Lonsdale This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Tom Denon Meanwhile the eras pursued their journey under the burning July sun the road at first led downwards to the bottom of the valley then crossed it and ascended the violet coloured mountains that shutting in the horizon above lost themselves in the haze that rose from the heated earth it was a melancholy progress the two women rode one horse a dejected looking beast tractable and mild their travelling companions had gradually drifted away some riding on ahead others falling behind but all alike were silent and depressed overpowered by the suffocating heat the stillness and the sad outcome of their journey they felt Constantino's misfortune almost as keenly as the women themselves and out of respect for Giovanna's dumb agony either remained silent or if they spoke did so in undertones that awoke no echoes failed even to break the intense silence thus they travelled on and on descending steadily towards the bed of a torrent whose course ran through the bottom of the valley the path though not very steep was rugged and at times difficult to follow as it wound its way between rocks stretches of barren dusty ground and yellow stubble at long intervals a scraggy tree would raise its solitary head lifeless, immovable in the breathless atmosphere like some lonely hermit of the wilderness its shadow falling a thwart the sun-baked earth like that of a little wandering cloud lost and frightened in the great expanse of light its presence alone seems to mar occasionally the shrill note of a wild bird would issue from one of these oases of shade only to die away instantly choked and overpowered by the weight of the all-embracing silence big purple thistles pink-belled convolvuluses and lilac mallows rearing themselves here and there in defiance of the sun seemed only to enhance the general air of desolation while below and above stretched endless lines of ancient grey stone walls covered with dry yellow moss fields of uncut grain with spears like yellow pine cones closed in the distance on and on they went Giovanna's head was burning beneath her woollen kerchief upon which the sun's rays beat mercilessly and big tears coursed silently down her cheeks she tried to hide them from her mother who was riding on the saddle and she was seated on the cropper but Aunt Bacchissia heard Aunt Bacchissia saw even out of the back of her head and presently she could contain herself no longer look here my soul she said suddenly as they traversed the bottom of the valley between great thickets of flowering oleanders well you have the goodness to stop what are you crying for anyhow haven't you known it for months and months? instead of stopping however Giovanna only burst forth into loud sobs and Bacchissia glanced around the others had all gone on ahead and they were quite alone haven't you known all along how it would be she repeated in low even tones that seemed to Giovanna to come from an immeasurable distance and sweeping by them to be swallowed up in the surrounding void are you such a fool my soul as not to have known it from the first? did he or did he not kill that infamous vulture if he killed him but he never said he had done it interrupted Giovanna well that was all that was needed for him to be crazy enough to say so my soul just think for a moment nothing more was wanting for my own part I always expected that some time or other he would crush that vulture as one crushes a wasp that has stung him you say Constantino is a good Christian my soul one would have thought that by this time you would begin to have some idea of what it means to hate would you yes or no if you had the chance murder those men back there who condemned him very well then he murdered the vulture and to a certain extent I sympathize with him because I know the human heart but I have not forgiven him and I will never forgive him for taking the risks he did no that I will not not for the love of God he had a wife and a child and if he were going to do it he should have gone about it more carefully and now that's enough of it let the whole matter drop you are still young Giovanna you must think of him as of one who is dead but he is not dead will Giovanna desperately very well then go and hang yourself there do you see that tree over yonder well go and hang yourself from it but don't torment me anymore you have always been a torment if you had married Bronto de Jas everything would have been right but no you must have that beggar very well the best thing for you to do now is to hang yourself Giovanna made no reply in the bottom of her heart she too believed Constantino to be guilty but she had long ceased to care in her present misery all she took note of was the central fact of his condemnation and she could not understand why ordinary mortals should have the power so to dispose of a fellow creature ah how she hated that mysterious invincible power she felt towards it as she had done towards those horrible spirits unseen but felt which fly abroad on stormy nights on and on they went now they had crossed the valley and were slowly ascending the mountain on its further side the sun began to sink towards the west the horizon to open the sky grew soft and the landscape lost its look of utter desolation the shadows of the mountain peaks stretched down now clear into the dim depths of the valley where a few late dogros are still bloomed a little breeze sprung up and filled the air with the odor of wild growing things insensibly everyone's spirits revived under the influence of this unlooked for shade and coolness one of their companions joining the two women began to recount an adventure a friend of his had had close to that very spot at one point the story became so entertaining that even Giovanna smiled faintly on and on now the sun was setting and from the height they had attained they could make out the sea a bluish circle bounded by the horizon finally beyond the thick growing mass of trees and bushes so sturdy as to withstand the like the wild winter blasts and the scorching heats of summer lying in the midst of the melancholy uplands like an island in a sea of light and solitude they described their own village the eerie of a strong handsome and primitive people shepherds for the most part or peasants occupied in raising grain and honey green rocky pastures gay in the springtime with daffodils and fragrant with mint and thyme and fields of grain hemmed in the little group of slate stone cottages that gleamed in the sun like burnished silver here and there a good-sized tree cast its shadow a thwart this quail's nest hidden away as it were amid the billows of ripening grain lines of green tamarisks and a wilderness of thyme and arbutes lay beyond further still there were the limitless stretches of the uplands and above all spread a sky of indescribable softness and beauty on the right against this sky the lonely mountain peaks reared themselves like a company of sphinxes blue in the morning, lilac at noonday and purple or bronze colored at evening their rugged sides covered with forests the home of eagles and vultures it was nearly dark when the eras at last reached the village Mount Bealu the colossus of that company of sphinxes had enveloped itself in a cloak of purple mist and stood out against the pale grey sky the street was already silent and deserted and the clatter of the horses' hoofs on the rough stone paving resounded like the blows of a hammer one after another their companions turned off so that when they reached their own home the two women were quite alone the era cottage stood on a little flat clearing above the level of the street higher up on the hillside overlooking it was another house, a white one a large almond tree growing beside a piece of crumbling wall that extended from one corner of the cottage over hung the street which beyond this point merged into the open country scuttered about on the level stretch of ground between the two houses the grey cottage of the eras and the white dwelling of the Dejasas beneath the shadow of the almond tree lay a quantity of great boulders convenient and comfortable resting places hence the spot had come to be used by the villagers as a sort of common or place of public resort hardly had the horse stopped before the cottage when Giovanna slid down and with lagging steps and hanging head advanced towards a woman a relative left in charge during their absence who came forward to meet them with the baby in her arms taking the child from her Giovanna clasped it closely to her breast and began to weep burying her head on the chubby little shoulder her tears were now flowing quietly enough a feeling of numbness and of utter despair crept over her and the unhappiness of the preceding months seemed as nothing in comparison with the misery and desolation of the present moment the baby hardly yet five months old had clear violet eyes and little unformed features set in a stiff red cap with fringe hanging down over the forehead he recognized his mother and began pulling with all his strength on the end of her kerchief kicking both little feet and crying ah ah ah Malthy knew my little Malthy Ned knew my soul comfort in all the earth your daddy is dead sob Giovanna the woman understanding that Constantino had been found guilty began to cry as well suddenly Aunt Bacchicia descended swiftly upon them pushing Giovanna into the cottage she asked the woman to help her unload the horse are you stark, mad, both of you? she demanded in a low voice what need is there to carry on like that right out here in sight of the White House I can see the beak of that old godmother Malthyna now ah she will be delighted when she hears of our bad luck no said the woman she has come several times to ask for news of Constantino and she always seemed to feel very sorry she told me she had dreamed that he was condemned to penal servitude oh yes that is the kind of sorrow that an ill-tempered kerf feels I know her she's a venomous snake and she can't forgive us after all she added a few minutes later walking towards the cottage with the wallet on her back she's right, we can't forgive ourselves Aunt Martina Dejas was the owner of the White House on the hill and the mother of that Bronto Dejas whom Giovanna had refused to marry she was very well off but a miser and Aunt Bacchissia was quite mistaken in supposing that she hated them as a fact the refusal had affected her very little either one way or the other see here, said Aunt Bacchissia when they had finished unloading the horse will you do me one favour more Maria Chica will you take back the horse and tell her that Constantino is to get 27 years in prison then watch her face the woman took hold of the bridle the animal having been hired from the Dejasas and led it towards the White House this house, formerly the property of a merchant who had failed, had been bought at public sale a few years before it was large and commodious with a portico in front that gave it an almost senorial air but which was used as a promenade by Aunt Martina's chickens and pigs it was an inappropriate dwelling for rough shepherds like the Dejasas as was shown by its rude furnishings composed mainly of high clumsy wooden bedsteads roughly fashioned chests and heavy chairs and stools Aunt Martina was seated on the portico spinning she could spin even in the dark when Maria Chica approached leading the horse the house was entirely unlighted Bronto and the men being off at the sheepfolds while Aunt Martina never kept a servant she had other sons and daughters all married with whom she lived in a constant state of warfare on account of her miserly habits whenever there was any special stress of work she got in some of the neighbors to help often Giovanna and her mother were hired in this way being paid in stale or injured farm produce the eras however were too poor to refuse anything they could get well, what was the result? asked the old woman laying the spindle and a little ball of flax on the bench beside her she had a thin nasal voice round light eyes placed close together a delicate aquiline nose and lips that was still full and red you are crying Maria Chica I saw those two poor women arrive but I was afraid to go and ask because I dreamed last night that he had been sentenced to penal servitude ah no, they have given him 27 years imprisonment Aunt Martina appeared to be disappointed not indeed that she bore Constantino any ill will but because she had a firm belief in the infallibility of her dreams she took the horse by the bridle saying I will go to the eras this evening if I possibly can but I'm not sure there's a man coming he who worked for Basililèda he is going to hire out to us he was one of the witnesses but I believe he's back isn't he? yes, I think he is further and returning to the cottage she began at once to relate how Aunt Martina felt very sorry and how she had dreamed that Constantino had got penal servitude and that Jaco be de jas he was a poor relation of the other de jasas was going to work for them Giovanna, who was nursing the child and gazing down at it sorrowfully did not so much as raise her eyes and Paquicia, on the contrary, asked innumerable questions had she found the old de jas alone was she spinning, spinning there in the dark etc etc listen, she said to Giovanna she may be here this evening Giovanna neither moved nor looked up my soul, do you hear me? cried the mother angrily she may come down this evening who? asked Giovanna in the tone of a person just awake Martina de jas well let her go to the devil who is to go to the devil? asked a sonorous voice from the doorway it was Isidoro Panne an old leech-fisher related to the eras he had come on a visit of condolence tall with blue eyes and a yellow beard a bone rosary about his waist and clasping a long staff with the bundle fastened to the top Uncle Isidoro looked like a pilgrim he was the poorest and the gentlest and the most peaceable inhabitant of Orlé when he wanted to swear all he said was may you become a leech-fisher he and Constantino were great friends often and often had the two sung the holy lords in church together and the eras had named him as a witness for the defense because no one could testify better than he to the blameless character of the accused man his name had however been rejected what indeed would the testimony of a poor leech-fisher amount to when confronted with the majesty of the law the moment she saw him Giovanna gave way and began to sob the will of God be done said Isidoro leaning his staff against the wall be patient Giovanna era you must not lose your trust in God you know asked Giovanna yes I have heard well he is innocent and I tell you that even though he has been condemned today tomorrow his innocence may be proved ah uncle Isidoro said Giovanna shaking her head your confidence doesn't impress me any longer up to yesterday I believed in you but now I have lost faith you are not a good Christian this is Bacchissia eras doing not Bacchissia who regarded the fisherman with scant favour and was always afraid of his bringing vermin into the house turned on him angrily and was about to launch forth into abuse when another visitor arrived he was presently followed by others and still others until at last the little cottage was filled with condoling neighbours while Giovanna who was really tired by this time even a weeping felt it incumbent upon her to continue to sob and lament desperately all the time Aunt Bacchissia kept watching for the rich neighbour but she did not appear instead there came Giacobigias the man who was about to enter her service he was a cheerful soul about fifty years old ordinary looking short thin smooth shaven and bald with no eyebrows and a decided squint the eyes small and cunning were of a nondescript colour something between yellow and green he had worked for Basile Ledda for twenty years and had been called as a witness for the defence in his testimony he had alluded to the ill treatment Constantino had received from his uncle but told also how the old miser had maltreated everyone his women and servants as well why the very day before his death he had struck and kicked him Giacobigias Maltina Dias is expecting you said Aunt Bacchissia you had better go on up there the devil cut off her nose replied Giacobig I'll go presently what I'm afraid of is falling out of the frying pan into the fire she's a worse miser even than he was if she pays you what you earn you've no right to judge her said the ringing voice of Uncle Isidoro ah you are there are you said Giacobig mockingly how are the legs pretty well punctured Isidoro regarded his legs which were wrapped about with bits of rag it was his habit to stand in stagnant water until the leeches attached themselves to him that need not concern you he answered quietly but it is not well to curse the woman whose bread you are going to eat I shall eat my own bread not hers and that is our affair come now Giovanna take heart what a devil do you remember that story I was telling you on the road from Nuoro be sensible now for this little chap's sake Constantino is not going to die in prison I can tell you that myself give me the baby he added, stooping down to take it but finding the little fellow asleep he straightened himself and placing a finger on his lips Aunt Parquicia he said he always used the aunt and uncle even with people younger than himself do me a favour send your daughter to bed she has come to the end of her forces and you good people he continued turning to the company let us do something as well let us take ourselves off one by one accordingly they all departed Aunt Parquicia seizing the stool upon which Isidoro Panne had been seated took it outside and wiped it vigorously when she came in she found Giovanna falling into a sort of a doze and had to shake her in order to arouse her the young woman opened her eyes which were red and glassy then she got up with the child in her arms go to bed commanded the mother she looked at the door murmuring never again he will never never come back again for a moment I thought I was waiting for him go to bed, go to bed said the mother her voice harsher than ever she gave Giovanna a push and then taking up the old brass candlestick opened the door the cottage consisted of a kitchen with the usual stone fireplace in the centre and the oven in one corner and two bedrooms furnished in the most meagre way Giovanna's bedstead was of wood very high and provided with an extremely hard mattress and a red cotton counterpane Aunt Bacchissia took the little Martino who was whimpering in his sleep and laid him down cradling him between her two hands while Giovanna got ready for bed when she was undressed at her head bare the beautiful hair wound around it somewhat in the fashion of the ancient Romans the mother covered her carefully and went out no sooner was she left to herself however than she threw off the covers and began to moan and lament she was completely worn out with sorrow and fatigue and her eyes were heavy with sleep yet she could not rest confused pictures kept crowding through her brain and as though her mental anguish was not already suffering enough sharp pains shot through her teeth and temples every time she had one of these twingers it was as though someone had poured a jug of boiling water down her spine and she shook with nervous terror altogether the night was one long horror from the adjoining room the door of which stood open Aunt Bacchissia could hear Giovanna muttering and raving now addressing Constantino in terms of extravagant endearment then the jury with threats and implications she herself meanwhile lay wide awake her brain clear and active going over every detail of what had taken place and laying plans for the future the sound of Giovanna's grief only aroused a dumb sense of resentment in her breast and yet after a while she too found herself weeping End of Chapter 3 Recording by Tom Denham Chapter 4 of After the Divorce by Grazia de Leda translated by Maria Horner Lansdale this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Tom Denham On the evening of the following day a Saturday Boronto de Jasse returning from the sheepfolds was hardly off his horse before he began to grumble among themselves the de Jasses were notorious grumblers though with outsiders they were always extremely suave apart from this trait he was a good natured devil young and handsome very dark and thin of medium height with a short curling red beard he had beautiful teeth and when talking to women smiled continually in order to show them coming home on this particular evening he began to grumble because he found neither light nor supper awaiting him it must be admitted that there was some justification for after all he was a working man and week after week he would return from six days of toil to find a house as dark and squalid as a beggar's hovel hey hey he said as he began to unharness his horse this might as well be a Zidoro Pane Shanti let us have some light at any rate so we can see to swear what is there for supper? bacon and eggs there now be patient said Aunt Martina did you know that Konstantino Leda had been sentenced to 30 years? 27 well all those the eggs my dear mama that bacon is rancid why don't you give it to the chickens the chickens dear here and he snapped his handsome teeth angrily they won't eat it answered Aunt Martina tranquilly yes 27 ah 27 years that is a long time I dreamed he had got penal servitude have you been to see the women yet? how pleased they must be now with their fine marriage miserable beggars he had asked the question with evident curiosity yet the moment his mother told him that she had been and the Giovanna was tearing her hair and quite beside herself while it was plain to see that Aunt Bakissia wished now that she had strangled her daughter before allowing her to make such a match he turned on her furiously what business had you to go near the den of those wretched beggars ah my son Christian charity you don't seem to have any idea of what that is Aunt Martina liked indeed to pretend that she was a charitable person Priest Elias was there too this morning yes he went to comfort them Giovanna wants to take the baby to Nuoro for Constantino to see before they carry him off I told her she was crazy to think of such a thing in his heat Priest Elias told her to go and he nearly cried what does he know about children he is barren like all the rest of them Snarls Bronto who hated the priests because his uncle who had been rector in the village before Priest Elias Portolou came from Nuoro had left all his property to a hospital he had not forgiven this outrage either but the old she-wolf knew how to disguise her feelings and when Bronto railed against the priests she always made the sign of the cross what makes you talk that way you fool said she hastily crossing herself you don't know where your feet may carry you Priest Elias is a saint if he were to hear such evil talk as that beware he has the holy books and if he chooses to he can curse our fields and bring the locusts and make the bees die a fine saint exclaimed Bronto then he insisted upon hearing all the particulars about the eras how Giovanna had cried out what that old kite and Bacchissia had said well Giovanna's sobs were enough to melt the very stones and Aunt Bacchissia was in despair because now, in addition to all the rest the lawyer's fees and other expenses of the trial have stripped them of everything they possessed even to the house the young man listened intently his face beaming with satisfaction and his white teeth gleaming in his undisguised pleasure he was simply and purely savage listen said Aunt Martina when she had finished Giacobi de Gias will be here presently to see you too he wanted to begin his term of service tomorrow but I told him to wait till Monday tomorrow is a holiday and there is no sense in our having him eat at our expense beautiful saint Constantino you are close mama oh you you're just like a child what use is there in wasting things life is long and it takes a great deal to live and how are those two women going to live asked Bronto after a short silence seating himself before the eggs and bread they will catch snails I suppose said Aunt Martina scornfully she had taken up her spindle again and was spinning close to the open door you take a great interest in them Bronto de Gias silence within the room the only sounds were the rattle of the spindle and the noise of Bronto's strong teeth as he munched the hunks of hard bread outside though beyond the portico the crickets were chirping incessantly and from the far away deserted woods through the warm dim atmosphere of the falling night came the melancholy cry of an owl Bronto poured out some wine raised the glass and opened his mouth but not to drink there was something he wanted to say to his mother but the words would not come he drank the wine brushed some drops off his beard with the back of his hand and again opened his mouth but still the words died away a sound of heavy boots was heard tramping across the open space before the house Aunt Martina still spinning a rose told her son that Giacobi de Gias was coming and taking the food and wine put them away in the cupboard Giacobi saw the action as he entered and at once understood that she was hiding something in order not to have to offer it to him but as he himself would have put it he was too much a man of the world to allow any expression of resentment to escape him he advanced therefore smiling and cheerful I will wager said he laying one finger on his nose that you were talking about me no we were speaking of poor Constantino Leda ah yes poor fellow returned Giacobi becoming serious at once and when you think that he is innocent as innocent as the son no one can be more sure of it than I Bronto threw himself back in an easy attitude crossed his legs and turning slightly around showed his teeth as he did when talking to women as to that opinions may differ he said sharply there for instance is my mother she dreamed that he had got the death sentence oh no Bronto what are you talking about peal servitude well it amounts to the same thing now we will talk business very well let us talk business by all means assented Giacobi crossing his legs as well a little later the two men having settled the matter in hand went off together Bronto leading the way to the tavern he himself was not in the least close and if he never offered a visitor a glass in his own house it was only not to irritate Aunt Martina at the tavern though he was superb and on this particular evening he made Giacobi drink so much and drank so much himself that they both became tipsy coming out at last into the silent deserted street filled with the odor of the dry fields they began talking again of Constantino and Bronto said with brutal frankness that he was glad of the sentence go to the devil shouted Giacobi you have no heart all right that's it I have no heart just because Giovanna wouldn't have you you are glad to hear of the death or worse than death of a brother he's not dead and he's not a brother and it was I who would not have Giovanna era if I had wanted it too she would have licked the souls of my shoes boom boom look out or you'll have a tumble my little spring bird you lie like a servant maid I am not a servant maid Stammered Bronto furious if you say anything like that again I'll take you by the crown of your head and choke you boom I tell you you'll fall down little spring bird repeated Giacobi at the top of his lungs their voices rang out through the quiet street then they suddenly ceased talking and stillness reigned once more in the distance under the light of the stars which overhung the mountain crests like garlands of golden flowers the owl still sounded his melancholy note all at once Bronto began to cry in a strange drunk and fashion with neither sobs nor tears well what is the matter now demanded Giacobi in a low tone are you drunk yes I am drunk with poison you galley refuse I only hope you will be strangled yet at this the other fell very indignant not only had he never been to prison but he had never so much has been accused of any offence against the law yet mingled with his resentment there was a vague feeling of terror you are going crazy said he in a still lower tone what's the matter with you why should you talk to me like that have I ever done anything to you where upon the other became confidential and groaning as though he were in physical pain he declared that he was in truth madly in love with Giovanna and that he had hoped and prayed the devil from the beginning that Constantino would be found guilty even if the devil would again my soul it wouldn't matter because you see I don't believe in him said he breaking into a foolish cackling laugh more disagreeable to listen to even than his previous maudlin distress I intend to marry Giovanna he presently added Jacoby was greatly astonished at this but he pretended to be still more so what you take my breath away how what on earth do you mean how can you marry her she will get a divorce that's all well what of that there's a law that gives a woman the right to marry again if our husband has been sent to prison for a long sentence Jacoby had heard some talk of this but no case of legal divorce still less of remarriage how does he had been heard of poorly nevertheless not to appear ignorant he said oh yes I know but it is a mortal sin Giovanna era will never do it that's just what I am worrying about Jacoby Dijaz will you talk to her on the subject tomorrow oh yes of course tomorrow you're an ass brought to Dijaz rich but you are a stupid as a lizard stupider than one here when you might marry a maid some rich young girl as fresh as a rose with a juice still upon it you want instead to have that woman upon my word it will give me something to laugh at for the next seven months all right you can laugh till you split in two like a right pomegranate but I'm going to marry her said Bronto angrily there's no other woman like her and I shall marry her you will see well to marry her my little spring bird cried the other bursting into a loud laugh Bronto joined in and they continued on their way up roriously till they saw a tall figure with a staff silently approaching them there was a door of pan did you have good sport shouted Jacoby and your legs have they plenty of punctures you had better turn leechfisher yourself said the other coming up to them whew what a smell of brandy someone must have broken a cask near here do you mean that you think we are drunk the old man demanded Bronto in a bullying tone the only reason you don't get drunk yourself is because you haven't anything to do it with get away get away I tell you or I'll crush you like a frog the old man laughed softly and walked on idiot said Jacoby in an undertone don't you know he could have helped Giovanna he's a friend of hers here here shouted Bronto turning around and gesticulating with both arms come back come back I tell you may the dog bite you he laughed delighted with his rhyme but Isidoro did not stop do you hear me yelled the tipsy Bronto stammering somewhat I tell you to come here you won't do it little toad I'll tell you but Isidoro silently pursued his way don't talk to him like that what sort of way is this to carry on remonstrated Jacoby Bronto thereupon adopted a new method little flower come here come here come listen to what I have to say you may tell her that friend of yours well yes Giovanna that is who I mean you may tell her that if she gets a divorce I'll marry her this had the desired effect the old man stopped short and turning around called a distinct voice Jacoby de Jas what is it my dear answered the herdsman mockingly make him keep quiet returned Isidoro in the tone of a person who means to be obeyed for some unexplained reason Jacoby felt a sudden sense of chill as he heard the tone of the four emphatic words taking his new master by the arm he drew him quickly away murmuring you are a dunce you behave as though you had no sense at all what a way to talk didn't you tell me to yourself I you're dreaming am I crazy they continued on their way staggering along together on the portico they found Aunt Martina still spinning she saw at once that her son was tipsy but said nothing knowing by experience that to irritate him when he was in that condition was only to arouse him to a state of fury when he asked for wine though she said there was none ah there is none no wine in the de Jas house the richest people in the neighborhood what a miserly mother you are then he began to bluster I am not going to make a scandal but I can tell you I am going to marry Giovanna era yes yes you're going to marry her said Aunt Martina to quiet him but in the meantime go to bed and don't make such a noise if she hears you she won't have you he quieted down but made Jacoby unroll a couple of rush mats and spread them on the floor then throwing himself down nothing would do but the herdsman must lie down as well and sleep beside him and rather than have any trouble Aunt Martina was obliged to agree thus it fell out that instead of beginning the service on the Monday Jacoby entered his new place on Saturday evening End of chapter 4 Recording by Tom Denham