20
Samh 10.14.1342
Fifteen days after the sudden departure of Viscount Elwynalam, Beritha was walking to his residence on a mission to ascertain if he was ill, absent from the city, or any other facts about why he had not come to visit that she could gather and which would interest the Gillfillians.
The first five days of his unusual absence had caused a stir of conjecture and discussion about it. By the tenth day, they believed he had left the city but were puzzled as to why Jeanilotta at least was not notified of his trip. Mrs. Gillfillian already had a storm brewing on her brow, and Jeanilotta had begun to be extremely repulsive. That Abaledina continued in her quiet way to soothe the others made Beritha think she knew more than what the rest of the household had.
This morning, Jeanilotta's nervous impatience exceeded all else. After a brief consultation with her mother, Beritha had been summoned and found herself on this happy mission. She had long desired to get a peep behind the clouds of mystery in which this impenetrable man enveloped his domestic life. Not only was she going to find out just how wealthy he was, she hoped to have several morsels of gossip to bring back with her and spread around the neighborhood.
Lobo answered the smart ring of the bell, but he only opened the door to show a fraction of his face: stern and obscure as ever.
“May I see Viscount Elwynalam?" she asked pertly, hoping to awe him into a more complaisant manner.
“Doubtless,” he replied gravely without opening the door an inch wider.
“Well, you don’t seem to know whether or not I can see him. I wish to do so,” she continued, seeing that he did not move to admit her. She had as yet only obtained the least possible glimpse of a well-polished staircase. It was no small part of her errand to carry to Mrs. Gillfillian an accurate account of the interior of the mansion. The mother anticipated Jeanilotta's installment in it soon as viscountess. Beritha was playing different odds and wanted to know just how much to ask for the information she had.
"I understand," replied the man slowly, monotonously pronouncing the syllables.
“You do! Well, will you not say to Viscount Elwynalam that I am commissioned to see him immediately?”
“He could not hear me.”
“What do you mean?” she exclaimed, the rage showing itself in her flashing eye and flushed cheek. “Where is your master?”
“I have not been informed.”
“I have not been informed!" she repeated contemptuously. “Don’t you see him every day?”
“When he is to be seen.”
“Then he is at present invisible?”
“Not to those near him.”
“Once for all," she demanded fiercely, “is Viscount Elwynalam in or out of the city?”
“My orders do not enable me to say.”
“You are a most provoking fool!” she exclaimed by way of revenge for her want of success and turned to depart.
"Doubtless, madam," responded Lobo, bowing and closing the door.
Beritha returned to the anxiously waiting mother and daughter in a high rage.
“I declare,"' she said after exhausting her abuses of Lobo, “I will disguise myself this very evening and gain admittance into the servants' hall, where I shall be sure to learn everything you wish to know.”
Her plan was approved, and with the first shades of evening, she presented herself at the door of the basement completely disguised as a man. "The statue," as she now called Lobo, was doomed to be her tormentor everywhere.
“Good evening, my dear sir," said Beritha in the blandest deep tones. “We moved in a few houses down and like to form acquaintances among our neighbors. So, I have ventured here to introduce myself. My name is Ashixandria.”
“I wait your commands, Mr. Ashixandria," replied the unflappable Lobo, shutting the door behind him, and seating himself upon the stone steps. He invited Beritha to follow his example.
“Do you not receive visitors in your hall or kitchen?”
“I have no orders to that effect.”
“But do you never enjoy yourself?"
“Doubtless, sir.”
“Well, friend, are you or are you not disposed to admit me to chat with you and your companions for an hour?”
“My orders don’t allow it.”
With surprising quickness, she sprang up. Before Lobo realized what was happening, Beritha had gained entrance to the home. A single glance was sufficient to reveal several men, an elderly woman, and a young girl.
“Giovana—Marcellus” Lobo called, and in an instant, she felt herself clasped in the arms of the giants and thrown into the street. Completely baffled and somewhat frightened, she angrily raced home where she was greeted with frowns and harsh words from her employer for not having learned more.
“The gratitude of these selfish people!" Beritha exclaimed indignantly as she slammed the door of Mrs. Gillfillian's dressing room and retired to her own.
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