Martindale again excited, and without waiting for the conclusion
of the sentence, interrupted it by exclaiming: "Ah! what! do you know
that old woman? Is she living? Where is she?--Stop--no--let me
see--impossible!--Why I must be nearly seventy--yes--are you sure? Is
not her name Bianchi?"
To this hurried and confused mass of interrogation, the colonel replied
that her name was Bianchi; but that she had died nearly twenty years
ago, at a very advanced age, being at the time of her death nearly
ninety years of age. Hearing this, the old gentleman assumed a great
calmness and composure of manner, though he trembled as if in an ague;
and turning to the astonished clergyman, who was pleasing himself with
the anticipation of some catastrophe or anecdote which might form a fine
subject for town-talk, he very deliberately said:--"Mr. Denver, I beg I
may not intrude any longer on your valuable time. This gentleman, I
find, can give me some account of an old acquaintance of mine. The
inquiries may not be interesting to you. Make my best compliments to
Mrs. Denver."
When this good man was withdrawn, Mr. Martindale requested the stranger
to be seated; and unmindful of the guests whom he had left to amuse
themselves and each other, he commenced very deliberately to examine the
foreigner concerning those matters which had so strongly excited his
feelings.
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