At Verona, the romance of Claudia's character found some scope. She
raved at the so-called tomb of Juliet, was never tired of rambling
among the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, and made herself ill with
the fresh figs and grapes presented in such abundance in the
picturesque old market-place. I confess I should as soon have dreamed
of danger from some ancient volcano of the Alps, as from the political
system of the country which we were traversing. Indeed, it never could
have occurred to us that a quiet lady of a certain age, and a young
one just emancipated from frocks, were persons about whom a great
empire could have been in any alarm. It was destined that we should
find ourselves of much more consequence than we gave ourselves credit
for.
On returning from our ramble, and entering the great _sala_ of the
_Due Torre_, I remember experiencing a slight sense of alarm at sight
of the large proportion of Austrian officers amongst those sitting
down to dinner. Still, as the feeling sprung from no definite cause, I
readily gave up my wish for a separate dinner; and, yielding to the
solicitations of an officious waiter, allowed myself and niece to take
seats at table. My first feeling returned in some force when I saw a
tall, bearded officer, after depositing his sword in a corner of the
room, seat himself next to Claudia.
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