Juana

na di Mancini. He recognized the blood of the Maranas in the glance the girl had given from behind the blinds, in the trick she had jus

e wakeful sleep of the aged, the echoing sonority of the old mansion, the close surveillance of the girl in the day-time,-all these things were obstacles, and made success a thing well-nigh impossible. But Montefiore had in his favor against all imp

nt and his wife had hidden the love and joyfulness of their old age. The ware-room of the "entresol" separated him from the rooms on the ground-floor. The captain therefore could not have recourse to noises significantly made from one floor to the other, an artificial language which all lovers know well how to create. But chance, or it may have been

thout danger, lower a letter filled with coin and stri

captain of equipment. Then he made a cord of whatever he could find that was capable of being turned into string, f

vant is with her," thought Montefiore. "If she

ter the style of the old romances, his heart and hand to the Signorina Juana di Mancini-a common trick, the success of which is nearly always certain. At Juana's age, nobility of soul increases the dangers which surround youth. A poet of our day has said: "Woman succumbs only to her own nobility. The lover pretends to doubt

, if she resists; on the other hand, she loses a marriage if she is imprudent. Casting a glance over the vicissitudes of social life in Paris, it is impossible to doubt the necessity of religion; and yet Paris is situa

ntion of the captain were concentrated on that luminous circle where, without perhaps knowing it herself, the young girl would, he thought, innocently reveal her thoughts by a series of gestures. But no! The singular motions she proceeded to make gave not a particle of hope to the expectant lover. Juana was amusing herself by cutting up his missive

ot yet asleep, perhaps, in the shop? and the servant in her hammock? Besides, this old house echoes the s

; but a virgin is an angel on whom he can bestow naught but his own vices. She is so grand, so beautiful, that

question the silence, putting forth his hands, measuring the stairs, peering into the darkness, and ready at the slightest incident to fly back into his room. The Italian had put on his handsomest

merchant and his wife had gone to make room for the officer who was billeted upon them, did not allow of her going with them. Dona Lagounia had therefore left the young girl to the guardianship of lock and key, under the protection of religious ideas, all the more efficacious because they were partly superstitious, and also under the shield of a native pride and sensitive modesty wh

d to him. Montefiore entered, palpitating, but he recognized in the expression of the girl's face complete ignorance of her peril, a sort o

ttle bed where Juana dreamed. Above the bed were three pictures; and near the pillow a crucifix, with a holy water basin and a prayer, printed in letters of gold and framed. Flowers exhaled their perfume faintly; the candles cast a tender light; all was calm and pure and sacred. The dreamy thoughts of Juana, but above all Juana herself, had communicated to all things her own peculiar charm; her soul appeared to shine th

of voice so peculiarly Italian, "I loved you. My soul and my life are

osphere the sound of these words whic

to inhabit the palace of a prince, to live in the midst of fetes, to feel the joys which love bestows, to see the world at you

e wished to know i

ght of escaping to fling myself into the sea! Why? I don't know why,-little childish troubles, but very keen, though they are so silly. Often I have kissed my mother at night as one would kiss a mother for the last time, saying in my heart: 'To-morrow I will kill myself.' But I do not die. Suicides go

e alone, without amusem

s without sin and able to communicate every week-I loved God then. But for the last three years, from day to day, all things have changed. First, I wanted flowers here-a

ry in heaven? Listen. I swear to you," he continued, kissing her hair, "I swear to take that forehead for my altar, to make you my idol, to lay at your feet all the luxuries of the w

band. Mio caro sposo!" she said, as if it were impossible to give in any other language the infinite tenderness, the loving el

I should find in him my dear religion, him and God-God and him. Is he to be you?" she said. "Yes, surely

ore, and showed him at the foot of her be

all me to prayer, I have so gazed at that picture, that angel, that I have ended by thinking him my husband-oh! heavens, I speak to you as though you were myself. I must seem crazy to you; but if you onl

elf. I have suffered all that you have suffered. Between us two few words are needed to make us comprehend our past, but there will never be enough to express our coming happiness. Lay

ring!" she sa

ontefiore, uneasy

t upon my finger in childhood by a beautiful lady who t

ou cannot

t is; take it. You, are

he looked at Montefiore with a clear and penetrating eye that questi

g her in his arms. "I should be a monster inde

virtue rather than from desire, postponed all further action to the future, relying on his beauty, of which he knew the power, and on this innocent ring-marriage, the hymen o

lked to her of household details always attractive to the mind of girls, giving her a sense of the rights and realities of love. Then, having agreed upon the hour for their future nocturnal interviews, he left her happy, but changed; the pure and pious Juana existed no longer; in the last glance she gave him, in the pretty movement by which

ceiving his kisses on her forehead. "But stay in the salon, a

sfied with himself for restraining his desires because he saw that it would

ed him to do so; but he always refused her from an instinct of prudence. Besides, he had used his best powers and fascinations to lull the suspicions of the old couple, and had now accustomed them to see him, a soldier, stay in bed till midday on pretence that he was ill. Thus the lovers lived only in the night-time, when the rest of the household were asleep. If Montefiore had not been one of those libertines whom the hab

-table, he thought it wise to inform old Perez, under seal of secrecy, that the reason of his separation from his family was an ill-assorted marriage. This false revelation was an infamous thing in view of the nocturnal drama which was being played under that roof. Montefiore, an experienced rake, was preparing for the finale of that drama which he foresaw an

his family, who consent to receive his wife;

of Juana; but he had studied her character, its nobility, can

ue Italian, was enchanted with such boldness; it argued ardor! For herself she did not fear discovery. To find in the pure love of marriage the excitements of intrigue, to hide her husband behind the curtains of her bed, and say to her adopted father and mother, in case of detection:

t venerable salon rushed a woman, magnificently dressed in spite of the mud upon the wheels of her travelling-carriage, which had just crossed Italy, France, and Spain. It was, of course, the Marana,-the Marana who, in spite of her thirty-six years, was still in

a before the town is taken!" she c

urnished with an almost imperial safe-conduct; furnished too with g

y daughter!" cr

n of their solitude, the prayer-book

ered from the emotion caused by the abrupt entrance, and the look and voice of th

y harm come to h

ell," said D

es thee!" cried the Marana, dropping,

e suffering, but none to bear this joy. Joy was more violent in her soul than suff

have you kept her safe

g why do you ask that question? Should I not h

nd kissed it, wetting it with the tears that flowed from her eyes-she

ast. "But have you had no sold

of men; a Spaniard by birth, but now an Italian who hates Bonaparte

n! What is

tefi

he Marquis d

nora, he

e seen

id Dona

een her for a moment, a short moment, it is true; but I think

me see my

is now asleep. If she has left the

ar gleam of light upon the black wall of the inner courtyard. Within that circle he saw th

aid to the Marana, "w

ery pale,"

izing his dagger and rapping its hilt v

pen! ope

iore. She knew nothing of what was passing in the salon;

from a sideboard. "But it is useless. Juana's key is in the lock; her door is barricaded. We ha

l salvation I say it is i

ding motionless, blasted by his words, "this woman has the right to despise us. She saved our life, our fortune, and o

roof. He was cold and calm. The life of Montefiore was in his h

our wife and servants! There will be murder here. You might be shot by the French. Have nothing to do with this; it is my affair, mine only. Between my daughter and me there is none but God. As for the man,

ry eyes on them. She had lost all, but

With his old invincible Spanish honor he was determined to share the vengeance of the betrayed mother. Ju

want with m

d not repress a

ed, "has this ro

e; confiding in that gesture

y situation in which I could reveal myself to you. You have come down to me, you, who

but my husband," answered the girl

Perez, in a grave voice.

aring aside the curtain and revealing the

r in the Marana's hand, and he knew her well. With one boun

chman. Soldiers of the 6th of the line

ying to gag him with his large hand,

o, all of you.-As for you," she said, addressing Montefiore, "shout, call for help if you choose

oor, scarcely a step from Juana, saw nothing but the

said Juana, slowly. "H

married," repeated Per

!" murmured

id the Marana, in a low voice, b

ter-" began

interrupted the Marana. "I have no daughter; do

t last, striving to gain time, "

e!" said Juana, dra

empt to fly and cry f

, reveal

wrung her hands and went t

the room. A soldier of the 6th, hearing Montefiore's cry for help, had summoned Diard

of his friend. "Because I told you the truth; I am m

time to strike her dagger into the guilty man; but anger hindered her aim, the blade slipped upon the Italian's epaulet, though she struck her blow with such force tha

by my mother, by all there is most sacred in the wo

he arm of th

o base that I will not have him for my h

my daughter!" c

manded the quartermast

of this girl; she says I am her lover. She inveigled

nd indignation had given to the girl, already so beautiful. "Then you are hard to please. If

the side of her daughter's bed

this, if your tongue ever injures my daughter you will see me again.

housand gold piastres,

the Marana, turning to Diard. "Who are

atement of gold piastres, ca

really

om Juana si

lly free to

ent imme

d, "I thank you with admiration. But my husband

sping her in her arms. Then she whispered in t

rself from her mother and sat d

r?" repeated the Mara

for such a wife I have the heart to make myself a marshal of France. My na

our children without a blush upon your face" (her voice faltered slightly). "I have sworn that you shall live a virtuous life; expect, therefore, many troubles. But, whatever happens, continue pure, and be faithful to your husband. Sacrifice all things to him, for he will be the father of your children-the father of your children! If you

, her tears

r than you knew in this dull home.-Do not allo

necessary to explain how it happened that the quartermaster Diard married Juana di Mancini, that Montefiore and