This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By George Meredith
Anna von Lenkenstein was one who could wait for vengeance. Lena punishedon the spot, and punished herself most. She broke off her engagementwith Wilfrid, while at the same time she caused a secret message to beconveyed to him, telling him that the prolongation of his residence inMeran would restore him to his position in the army.
Wilfrid remained at Meran till the last days of December.
It was winter in Milan, turning to the new year—the year of flames forcontinental Europe. A young man with a military stride, but out ofuniform, had stepped from a travelling carriage and entered a cigar-shop.Upon calling for cigars, he was surprised to observe the woman who wasserving there keep her arms under her apron. She cast a look into thestreet, where a crowd of boys and one or two lean men had gathered aboutthe door. After some delay, she entreated her customer to let her pluckhis cloak halfway over the counter; at the same time she thrust a cigar-box under that concealment, together with a printed song in the Milanesedialect. He lifted the paper to read it, and found it tough as Russ.She translated some of the more salient couplets. Tobacco had become adead business, she said, now that the popular edict had gone forthagainst 'smoking gold into the pockets of the Tedeschi.' None smokedexcept officers and Englishmen.
"I am an Englishman," he said.
"And not an officer?" she asked; but he gave no answer. "Englishmen arerare in winter, and don't like being mobbed," said the woman.
Nodding to her urgent petition, he deferred the lighting of his cigar.The vetturino requested him to jump up quickly, and a howl of "No smokingin Milan—fuori!—down with tobacco-smokers!" beset the carriage. Hetossed half-a-dozen cigars on the pavement derisively. They werescrambled for, as when a pack of wolves are diverted by a garment droppedfrom the flying sledge, but the unluckier hands came after his heels infuller howl. He noticed the singular appearance of the streets. Bandsof the scum of the population hung at various points: from time to time ashout was raised at a distance, "Abasso il zigarro! "and "Away with thecigar!" went an organized file-firing of cries along the open place.Several gentlemen were mobbed, and compelled to fling the cigars fromtheir teeth. He saw the polizta in twos and threes taking counsel andshrugging, evidently too anxious to avoid a collision. Austrian soldiersand subalterns alone smoked freely; they puffed the harder when the yellsand hootings and whistlings thickened at their heels. Sometimes theywalked on at their own pace; or, when the noise swelled to a crisis,turned and stood fast, making an exhibition of curling smoke, as a muteform of contempt. Then commenced hustlings and a tremendous uproar;sabres were drawn, the whitecoats planted themselves back to back. Milanwas clearly in a condition of raging disease. The soldiery not onlyaccepted the challenge of the mob, but assumed the o