The tailor hosted Lucia at his home in the district of Chiuso in Lecco after the Unnamed’s conversion.

Lucia, kidnapped and hold imprisoned at the Unnamed’s Castle, moves back to freedom thanks to the pity and conversion of the Unnamed, after his meeting with Borromeo Cardinal at the church of Beato Serafino in the district of Chiuso in Lecco.

Don Abbondio and a good woman came to the castle where Lucia was imprisoned to set her free. The chariot on which were travelling left the Unnamed castle and descended into the valley until it turned to reach a square where the parish priest’s house was and very close to it we find the house of the village’s tailor, a modest but educated person Alessandro Manzoni mentions about the tailor’s house in the first draft of the romance called Fermo and Lucia.

The district of Chiuso still maintains the original characteristics. The house is a typical rural architecture of the 17th century.
Currently converted into an accommodation facility, it is not open to visitors.

Illustration darft for the edition of The Betrothed dated 1840 Library Braidense
Cover image: © eccoLecco

Chapter XXIV

All this bustle, the moment of expectation, and the first appearance of strange figures, made Lucia’s heart bound with agitation; for, if her present condition was intolerable, every change was an additional cause of alarm. She looked up, and beheld a priest and a woman; this somewhat reani mated her; she looked more closely; is it he, or not? At last she recognized DonAbbondio, and remained with her eyes fixed, as if by enchantment. The female then drew near, and bending over her, looked at her compassionately, taking both her hands as if to caress and raise her at the same time, and saying: “Oh, my poor girl!come with us, come with us.”

“Who are you?” demanded Lucia; but, without listening to the reply, she again turned to Don Abbondio, who was standing two or three yards distant, even his countenance expressing some compassion; she gazed at him again, and exclaimed: “You! Is it you? The Signor Curate? Where are we? . . . . Oh, poor me! I have lost my senses!”

“No, no,” replied Don Abbondio, “it is indeed I: take courage. Don’t you see we arehere to take you away? I am really your curate, come hither on purpose on horseback .. . .”

As if she had suddenly regained all her strength, Lucia precipitately sprang upon her feet; then again fixing her eyes on those two faces, she said, “It is the Madonna, then,that has sent you.”

“I believe indeed it is,” said the good woman.

“But can we go away? Can we really go away?” resumed Lucia, lowering her voice, and assuming a timid and suspicious look. “And all these people? . . .” continued she, with her lips compressed, and quivering with fear and horror. “And that Lord . . . . that man! . . . . He did, indeed, promise . . .”

“He is here himself in person, come on purpose with us,” said Don Abbondio; “he is outside waiting for us. Let us go at once; we mustn’t keep a man like him waiting.”

At this moment, he of whom they were speaking opened the door, and showing himself at the entrance, came forward into the room. Lucia, who but just before had wished for him, nay, having no hope in any one else in the world, had wished for none but him, now, after having seen and listened to friendly faces and voices, could not restrain a sudden shudder; she started, held her breath, and throwing herself on the……

Articolo aggiornato il 28 April 2023 da eccoLecco