A Creature of the Night

to the room. There was a wrathful look on her strongly marked features, and Bianca trembled in expectation of a storm. Both she and the Maestro were terribly afraid of Petr

sfied that her entrance had produced an effect, spoke with

to accept this tread-on-the-tail-of-my-coat challenge, so Petronella looked from one to the

ly Saints! you ask why. Because you sit there like a statue in the Duoma. Wi

ung man," cried Bianca, r

ied like I was? No! Then let me speak, child that you are

rtion of the human race, and I, seeing an opportunity of finding out what was the matter,

don't know what you

no ears? I speak of

nor at the Te

he engaged one of the

anca, her face flushing. "Do not troub

quickly. "Perhaps I can help you,

ong heads, piccola. Tell him all and he will find out what oth

s left alone with Bianca, who had retreated to the window, whe

rina, if you would rat

I thought you wou

I will be y

o foolish. We know none in Verona, and

ver, Sig

erona, but--now--ah now!--but perhaps yo

a since my arrival here. What is

I know not!

os

pe has disappeared and n

and the death of that young man I had seen in the fatal chamber? The

e one to look for

s,

ll undertak

cried joyfully; "wil

sit down, and tell me all about your lover and his disapp

of this young man with the curious events of two nights before, and, l

za for some months. He was a pupil of the Maestro, and we loved each other when we first me

tenor Pallanza, but have n

the New Mario, and he is so handsome--like an angel. After La Scala he went to Florence, to Naples, and then to Rome, where he sang in 'Fau

d, impatient as I was to hear the particulars of the affair, I did not dare

ing about our marriage; and on Monday he sang in 'Faust' at the Ezzelino. I

ling my heart begin to beat rapidly with excitement, for it was

ou know how anxious the Maestro is over his pupils, but he never came, nor the next day e

it. The disappearance of a popu

t him not coming to the theatre yesterday; but this morning they sent to his lodgings,

ill be full o

little Bianca in a melancholy tone, shaking he

e of Guiseppe Pallanza, and doubtless the young man I had seen in the deserted palace was the

ve with any o

which angered Bianca, who threw back h

loved me and

reason for d

gno

n a deprecating tone; "but indeed, Sign

she replied petulantly. "It was most st

w s

zzelino in his

A

saw at once that I was on the right track. The antique dress was

ary," I said, pausing in my walk; "no one would

at the Apollo. I was told at the Ezzelino that just before the last act of the opera, Guiseppe received a note saying that his friend was dying, so

the friend

t know,

came from the woman I had followed, asking him to meet her at the deserted Palazzo Morone, and he had gone there innocently enough to be poisoned as I had seen. This explained a great deal, but it did not explain why the meeting should have taken place at such an extraordinary spot, and why the

m on the table, brought me a cabinet portrait. "This is G

ashed with white satin; the azure silk cloak, the poniard and the high riding-boots--nothing was wanting; the successful tenor of the portrait was the man who had taken poison from the hand of the lady of the sepulchre. Still it was no use telling Bianca of my suspicions until I had discov

aust in riding

designed his own dresses. He said that as Faust in the last act was going to fly with Marguerite,

d to go, when another idea entered my head, and, going over to the piano, I began to play by ear the strange air I had heard at th

gnorina?" I said, tu

the music of the Maestro, to which Guiseppe set words. He is very fond of it and sings it

had heard it; and now being quite certain that I would be able to unravel the whol

her my hand. "When I see you agai

d ne

tronella appeared at the door. "Do not anticipate evil

so! Addio! Signor Hugo,

row, Si

e ushered me out. "What do you think of this evil one going away, Signore? I was

think he is de

ccola so much that nothing bu

ept-

t a woman. Well, maybe men are all bad. I'

nk I'm particularl

retorted Petronella, closing the argument a