Saracinesca

hich had just ended; and, having nothing better to do while he waited for Corona, he thought about what had happened. He was not altogether pleased at the interest his

man's advice would not only have failed signally in preventing the match, but by the very opposition it would have aroused in Giovanni's heart it would have had the effect of throwing him into the arms of a party which already desired his adhesion, and which, under his guidance, might have become as formidable as it was previously insignificant. But the great Cardinal was probably well informed, and his words had not fallen upon a barren soil. Giovanni had vacillated sadly in trying to come to a decision. His first Quixotic impulse to marry Madame Mayer, in order to show the world that he cared nothing for Corona d'Astrardente, had proved itself absurd, even to his impetuous intelligence. The growing antipathy he felt for Donna Tullia had made

r by principle rather than by any sort of enthusiastic devotion; not desirous of any great change, because any change that might reasonably be expected would be bad for his own vested interests; not prejudiced for any policy save that of peace-preferring, indeed, with Cicero, the mos

and loyal, unselfish and devoted, instinctively sympathizing with the weak and hating the lukewarm. He had told Del Ferice that he believed he would

is earnest look, and saw that it was Anastase Gouache, the painter. Giovanni knew him slightly, for Gouache was regarded as a rising celebrity, and, thanks to Donna Tullia, was invited to most of the great receptions and balls of that season, though he was not yet anywhere on a footing of intimacy. Gouache was proud, and would perhaps ha

onsieur Gouache,

a somewhat formal bow-after which both men relaps

of our Roman world?" as

t into society till I came to Rome. I think it is at once brilliant and sedate-i

paradox?" inqu

Les lois sont-e

r ton champ pill

son toit, et l'ou

set's lines in answer to Giovanni's question. Giovanni himself

g under the sword of Damocles-dan

at such a large society should be wholly unconscious of its own imminent danger-and yet these men and women go about to-nig

to be; that the laws are sufficiently respected; that no one has hitherto thought it worth while to plunder my acres; that I have a modest roof of m

ur belief?" asked

ns, and good citizens will respect them; if bad citizens do not, that is their loss. My acres are safe, possibly because they are not

of talk in Rome about misery

h better cause, if people who think like you succeed in bringing

n is not to be thought of. As for me I am a foreign

overcome by a great power from without, we shall have no choice but to yield, i

ghtfully. "I hear such opposite opini

o paint Cardinal Anton

his Eminence will h

e is the clevere

-whoever they may be-

a man of immense inte

r I will paint his po

ua

wish to be

l for the present. I would not excha

as are?" inquired Giovann

answered Gouache, qui

hol

than the whole of our Roman society put tog

s the most beautiful

which he wore in rotation, thus sustaining the impression that his hair was cut from time to time. In his eye a single eyeglass was adjusted, and as he walked he swung his hat delicately in his tightly gloved fingers. He wore the plainest of collars and the sim

tal for her loveliness, and the Astrardente jewels that clasped her waist and throat and crowned her black hair, collected the radiance of the many candles, and made the light cling to her and follow her as she walked. Giovanni saw her enter, and his whole adoration came upon him as a madness upon a sick man in a fev

boldly for the cotillon-he never knew how he had dared; she assented, let her eyes rest upon h

t there were yet nearly two hours before the preliminary dancing would be over; he needed some time to collect himself. The air see

him. It did not strike him, in his strange bewilderment, that it was Donna

l Ferice's oily voice. "He has probably been ill si

urned shar

rude in not letting me know that you were going out of town when you had promised to dance with me at the Valdarno ball?" She

in the urgency of the case, I forgot all other engagements. I real

ed," answered Madame Maye

ardly thanking heaven for his good fo

desired effect upon him. "Let me look. I believe I have one waltz left

Giovanni, greatly anno

d be wholly indifferent to her. She thought that in telling him she had no dances she had given him a little wholesome punishment, and that in giving one after all she had conferre

illon, she said; and she sat down in a high chair in the picture-gallery, while three or four men, among whom was Valdarno, sat and stood near her, doing their best to amuse her. Others came, and some went away, but Corona did not move, and sat amongst her little court, glad to have the time pass in

e cause of his absence. Each of the men had something to say, and each, knowing the popular report that Giovanni was in love with Corona, said his say with as m

ments upon the estate, and they gave laughable portraits of the village sages with whom he had been engaged. Others said he had only stopped there a day, and had

" asked Corona, seeing a cunning

will call him, and we will ask him directly what he has been doing. There he stands with old Cantalor

gallery and was already speaking to Giovanni. The latter bowed his head as though obeying an order, and came quietly back with the youn

, Duchessa?" he asked,

d. "Some one suggested calling you to settle a dispute, and he w

hted at having been called, and had found time to recover fro

lking about you

g where you had b

ou had gone

o Nap

" Three or four sp

business, spending my days in the woods with my steward, and my nights in keeping away the cold and the ghosts. I would have invited you all to join the festivity,

oducing a man who had the power to interest her, whereas they could only afford her a little amusement. Valdarno was still standing,

a," he remarked. "I suppose y

er tired this even

ld prince died, were you not?" asked Giovanni, reme

t we danced together; and the accident t

e little circle dropped away, and Giovanni was left alone by the side of the Duchessa. The distant

re is a crash of broken glass some time in the course of the evening. Nobody could ever explain why that window fell in, five years ago-five years ago this month

e-day of the present prince. That was probably the reason why it was cho

It is strange that we should have met here the first time,

in each other's gaze. Suddenly the blood mounted to Corona's chee

dance for which she was engaged to Giovanni Saracinesca had begun, and was already half over, and still

well knew that he himself had brought about the omission, but none could have guessed it

our arm. We will go and find him." She almos

She never spoke; but her movement was impetuous, and she resented being delayed by the hosts of men and women who filled the way. As they ent

you see him?-his back is turned-h

have let her go alone, and to have witnessed from a distance the scene

was turned away from them, noticed their approach until they came and stood still beside them. S

ni, in considerable agitation

ones trembling with rage, "it is already o

humiliation itself, which was bad enough, as for the annoyance the scene caused Corona, who

ssure you tha

ntrol. "There is no excuse, nor pardon-it is the second time. Do

his great rudeness, and would gladly have attempted to expla

l glance at the Duchessa d'Astrardente. Then she laid her hand upon Del Ferice's arm, and swept angr

g a moment, with a puzzle

d Corona, very gravely. "She will never f

ting himself again. "It is dreadful-unpardonab