Authors: Federico De Roberto
On the day arranged, before the arrival of notary, judge, witnesses or other relations, appeared Don Blasco, chewing his nails. On entering, he began wandering round the house, looking at everything, his ears alert as a cat's, his nostrils open as if sniffing for prey. Immediately after, appeared Donna Ferdinanda, and down in the court the servants began observing that the dead woman's relations by marriage, for whom the Will had no interest, were more impatient to hear it than her own children. But now curiosity was making everyone tense and almost irritable. The hangers-on, as they arrived to help the prince receive, were exchanging exclamations of âNow for it! In half an hour or so â¦' The Prior came with Monsignor the Bishop, protesting again that his presence was useless, while the prince repeated that he wanted all there. The judge arrived with Rubino the notary at the same time as the marchese with his wife and Don Eugenio. Then came the President of the High Court with the Prince of Roccasciano, other witnesses, then Cousin Graziella with her husband, then the Duchess Radalì, then more distant relatives, the Grazzeri, the Costante, and finally the last witness,
Marchese Motta. But Ferdinando had not yet appeared. And Don Blasco, taking the marchese by an overcoat button, said to him: âWhat d'you bet they forgot to warn him again?'
There was a painful wait. No one spoke of the Will again, but all looks were turned to the notary's brief-case. Most indifferent of all, however, seemed Count Raimondo, who was chatting with the ladies, and the prince, who was talking to the President of the High Court about a law case connected with his wife's dowry. But whereas the younger brother was hopping carelessly from subject to subject, the prince was making long pauses, during which his eyes were fixed in a frown and worry veiled his forehead.
When finally Ferdinando did appear, with his eyes staring, looking stunned as if fallen from the clouds, there was a scandal. With even the servants dressed in black, he was still wearing a coloured suit, and when Don Blasco said to him, âWhat the devil d'you think you're doing?' he stuttered out in reply, âOh excuse me â¦Â excuse me â¦Â I wasn't thinking â¦'
At the prince's invitation all passed into the Gallery. The prince, the duke, the count, the marchese, the cavaliere, Signor Marco, the judge with the notary and four witnesses took places at the table. The others sat on sofas all around, the princess apart in a corner, Donna Ferdinanda with Chiara and Cousin Graziella on one side, Lucrczia with the duchess and the Countess Matilde on another. The Prior sat on a stool, crossed his hands in his lap and raised his eyes to the ceiling with an air of resigned indifference. Don Blasco, leaning against the mullion of the central window, dominated the meeting like a sceptical onlooker at a display of conjuring.
âWill your Excellency allow me?' asked the notary, and at the prince's gesture of assent he took from the brief-case an envelope on which all eyes settled. Having ascertained that the seals were unbroken, and verified the signatures, he opened the envelope and took out two or three sheets bound together. After a short exchange of ceremonies with the judge, the latter, amid a religious silence, finally began the reading:
âI, T
ERESA
U
ZEDA
, born Risà , Princess of Francalanza and Mirabella, widow of Consalvo VII, Prince of Francalanza
and Mirabella, Duke of Oragua, Count of Venerata and Lumera, Baron of La Motta Reale, Gibilfemi and Alcamuro, Lord of the lands of Bugliarello, Malfermo, Martorana and Caltasipala, Chamberlain to His Majesty the King, (whom may God ever bless).
âOn this day, the 19th of March, in the year of Grace 1854, feeling healthy in mind but not in body, I commend my soul to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the glorious saints of Paradise, and dispose as follows:
âMy beloved children are not unaware that on the day in which I entered the Francalanza House and assumed the administration of the family property, so many mortgages were outstanding on my husband's fortune that it could be considered to be, and actually was, destroyed and on the verge of dismemberment among his numerous creditors. Urged meanwhile by maternal affection to sacrifice myself for the good of my beloved children, I set myself from that day onwards to restoring this fortune, a labour which has lasted my whole life. Assisted by the prudent councils of good friends and relatives, supported by the intelligent labours of Signor Marco Roscitano, my administrator and general agent, today, with the help of Divine Providence to which I render all my heart-felt thanks, I find myself in the position not only of having saved but even increased the family fortunes â¦'
At the passage referring to him Signor Marco had respectfully bowed his head. Don Blasco, still standing, changed his position; he left the window and went and stood behind the judge, in such a way that he could not only hear better but verify the true fidelity of the reading with his own eyes. The prince kept his arms crossed on his chest and his head a little bent. Raimondo was tapping a foot, and looking about with a bored air.
âThe whole of this fortune belongs only and exclusively to me: both in the part representing my dowry invested in it, and also because the remainder is from my own jointure and labours, as is proved amply and fully by the Will of
my beloved spouse, Consalvo VII, which goes thus â¦'
The judge paused a moment to observe:
âI think we can skip this part â¦'
âQuite â¦Â it's useless â¦' replied many voices.
But the prince unfolded his arms and protested, looking around: âNo, no, I wish all things to be done in full order â¦Â Do read everything, please.'
â⦠which goes thus. “On the point of rendering my soul to God, having nothing to leave my children because, as they will know one day, our ancestral patrimony was destroyed by family misfortunes, I leave them this precious advice; always to obey their mother, my beloved wife, Teresa Uzeda, Princess of Francalanza, who, ever hitherto inspired by the good of our House, will thus continue in the future to have no other aim but that of assuring along with the glory of the family, the future of our beloved children. May the Lord preserve her for a thousand years yet, and on the day when the Almighty is pleased to grant me her company again in a better life, may my children faithfully carry out her wishes, as ones which could be directed only to their good and their fortune.”
âTherefore,' went on the princess's Will, âmy dear children can give no better proof of their affection and respect towards the memory of their father and towards mine, but scrupulously to respect the dispositions which I am about to dictate and the wishes which I shall express.
âI therefore name â¦'
All eyes were set on the reader, Don Blasco bent farther down to see the writing better,
âas universal heirs â¦'
the prince's lips suddenly imperceptibly contracted,
âof all my possessions, excluding those which I intend shall be distributed in the manner herein contained, my two sons Giacomo XIV, Prince of Francalanza, and Raimondo, Count of Lumera â¦'
The judge made a brief pause, during which the Bishop and the President nodded and looked at each other with amazed approval. The prince recrossed his arms, and put on his sphinx-like air again; he was only a little pale; Raimondo did not seem to notice the smiles of congratulation given him; Donna Ferdinanda, with her lips tight-set, was passing in review the ancestors hanging on the walls.
âI instruct, however,' went on the reader, âthat in the division between the two said brothers there be assigned to Prince Giacomo the Uzeda family estates ransomed by me, and to Raimondo, Count of Lumera, the Risà properties and those acquired by me in the course of time. The family palace goes to the eldest son; but my other son Raimondo will have the use, during his lifetime, of the apartments facing south, with their attached stables and coach-houses.'
By repeated nods of the head the President and the Bishop went on expressing their approval; and the marchese was also heard murmuring, âVery proper.' Cousin Graziella, who had been silent for a quarter of an hour, glanced rapidly from one to another, as if not knowing what attitude to take. The reading went on:
âNext, using my right to make legacies to my other legitimate children and wishing to give each of them a proof of my particular affection, I assign to each legacies superior to the quota assigned to them by their legitimate rights of law, in the following manner:
âI except, first of all, those who have entered Holy Orders, for whom I repeat, confirm and complete the dispositions made by me at the time of their profession, which are:
âFirst; in favour of my beloved son Lodovico, in religion a Benedictine Father of the Cassinese Congregation, a deacon in the Monastery of San Nicola dell'Arena in Catania, the income of 36 (thirty-six)
onze
yearly, assigned by the Act of 12 November, 1844.
âSecondly; in favour of my eldest daughter Angiolina, in religion Sister Maria of the Cross, nun in the Convent
of San Placido in Catania, as sign of my particular satisfaction and pleasure at the obedience shown by her in agreeing to my desire to see her embrace the religious life, I complete my disposition of 7 March 1852, ordering that from the total of my possessions be deducted the sum of 2,000 (two thousand)
onze
, the value of the property named La Timpa situated in the Etna Woods in the Belvedere district, ordering that with the income from this there be celebrated three Masses daily in the Church of the said convent of San Placido, and precisely at the Altar of the Cross, such celebrations to begin after the death of my beloved daughter Sister Maria of the Cross, intending that during her lifetime the income should go to her by right of perpetual lease as a life annuity. On my daughter departing this life, I order that the administration be entrusted to the Mother Abbess
pro-tempore
of the said convent, on which Superior and on no others I intend to be conferred the faculty of selecting the celebrating priests.
âNext I come to my other children, and in accordance with the legitimate division, I leave to my well-beloved Ferdinando â¦'
And Ferdinando, who had been following the flight of flies, finally turned towards the reader,
â⦠the full and absolute ownership of the estate called Le Ghiande, situated near Pietra dell'Ovo, in the territory of Catania, as I know the particular affection in which he holds this property, granted to him by lease by an Act of 2 March 1847. And that my said son may have special proof of my maternal affection, I wish to condone, and hereby do condone, all past rentals due by him to me on the aforesaid estate in virtue of the above-quoted Act, whatever sum these past rentals may total at the moment of succession.'
Witnesses and courtiers, in gestures, looks and whispered words, expressed ever-growing admiration.
âThus there remain my two beloved daughters, Chiara, Marchesa of Villardita, and Lucrezia; to each of whom,
in order that the real estate be left to their brothers and my male heirs, I desire should be paid, always as part of their legal share, the sum of 10,000 (ten thousand)
onze
 â¦'
Almost all now turned towards the women with expressions of pleasure,
â⦠three years after succession and with interest, from the day of succession, of five per cent; it being of course understood that my daughter Chiara should take her grant of two hundred
onze
a year from the capital of her marriage dowry. Furthermore as token of my pleasure at the marriage contracted by her with the Marchese Federico Riolo of Villardita, I leave to her all the jewels brought by myself into the Uzeda family, to be found listed and described apart; I desire that the ancestral jewels of the Francalanza, ransomed by me from the hands of creditors, should remain to my beloved daughter Lucrezia during her lifetime; but as she well knows the state of marriage to be neither conducive to her health nor suitable to her character, I wish them to go to her as a life interest and at her death to be divided in equal portions between Prince Giacomo and Count Raimondo, my universal heirs as above.
âHaving thus provided for the future of my beloved children, I pass to the assignation of the following alms and pious legacies to be paid by my above heirs, as follows:
âTo Monsignor the most Reverend Bishop Patti, five hundred
onze
, in outright gift, for him to distribute to the poor of the city or to cause Masses to be said by needy priests of the diocese, according as may seem proper to his great judgement â¦'
The Bishop began nodding in sign of gratitude, admiration, regret and modesty all at once; but above all of admiration as the judge read out the pious bequests of the following paragraphs:
âTo the Chapel of the Blessed Ximena Uzeda, in the
Church of the Capuchins in Catania, fifty
onze
a year, for a perpetual votive lamp and a weekly Mass to be celebrated for the repose of my soul. To the Church of the Dominican Fathers in Catania, twenty
onze
a year for alms and to celebrate another weekly Mass as above. To the Church of Saint Mary of All Graces in Paternò, twenty
onze
as above. And to the Church of the Convent of Saint Mary of the Holy Light at the Belvedere, twenty
onze
as above.
âI also desire my heirs to see that the following legacies are carried out in favour of dependants who have served me faithfully and assisted me during the course of my illness, as follows:
âI except before all else my administrator and general procurator, Signor Marco Roscitano, whose excellent services, bearing no comparison to those of a domestic, are not to be bought with money.'
Signor Marco had gone as red as a tomato, either at the words of praise or at getting nothing but words.
âI leave him therefore all the golden objects, snuff-boxes, brooches and watches which came into my possession by inheritance from my maternal uncle the Cavaliere Risà , a list of which will be found among my papers; and I make it an obligation for my heirs to continue to avail themselves of his help, there being no one with more knowledge of the state of our affairs and of pending law-cases, or who has greater influence for their success.'