A Siren

's Op

r of the saint, as has been said. But he found himself unable to concentrate his attention as usual, not on the meaning of the words of the litanies he uttered,-that, it may be imagi

is own past, which her name had recalled to him; of her very manifest emotion at the sight of the couple in the bagarino, and the too

cowl had been drawn for more than three-score years; she was a fellow-Venetian too,-and that with Italians, who find themselves in a stranger city, is a stronger tie of fellowship than the people of less divided nations can readily appreciate; and, above

strolled out and along the road, till he came in sight of the house on the border of the forest. But there was no human being to be seen. Then, apparently having taken a resolution, he went into the dilapidated remains of the old convent, and ascended a stair to the room where his sole companion, the lay brother, was

esolutely, thus sauntered off in the direction of the forest; but it was

th which he had set forth. He came back hurrying, with a haggard, wild terror in his eyes, shaking in every limb, and with great drops of perspiration standing on his brow. One would

k handed him his draught. And it was true enough that not only Father Fabiano's hands were shaking, but he was, indeed, trembling all over; and any one but a sick man, lying

ave not got the fever yet," said the monk, making an eff

e do not fall ill before I am able to ge

ague this time, years, and many a former touch of the fever. I am

very well able to tell that the rope was pulled by a very uncertain and unsteady hand. "Poor old fellow! he's goin

ll his forehead touched the marble flags of the altar-step, spent before it most of the remaining hours of that day. Nevertheless, it was true that, be the cause what it might, the aged friar was ill, not in mind only, but also in the body. And before the hour of evensong came,-his coadjutor, Fra Simone,

inger. But they had lived together in the relationship first of teacher and pupil, and then of father and daughter, by mutual adoption ever since the first beginning of the singer's public career; and they mutually represented to each other the only family ties which either of them knew or recognized in the world. The old man had been several hours in bed, when Bian

another frolic of the brilliant Diva in former days, as to cause any very great surprise to the old singing-master-for such

man, with an oath; "it is just the last thing she ought to h

nun couldn't have lived a quieter life, nor more shut up than she has. With the ex

the Marchese Lamberto. "And where's the use of never seeing a single

the harm? Isn't the Signor Ludovico the old

ke it for that. It is just the very last thing she should have do

ery sure. He is safe enough in bed and asleep after his late hours, you may swear. Besides, it's both best and honestest

ould be as well for Bianca to make su

uppose, I should think, that he's going to marry a woman like my mistress

is not likely to be, if this morning's work were to come to the ears of the Marchese. It is just the very worst thing she could

tuous toss of the head, "she would

what I am afraid of. I tell you, Gigia, that if the Marchese Lamberto hears of her go

understood-"You will excuse me, if I tell you that I know a great deal better than that. There's men, Signor Quinto, who are i

is one of those who can't help himsel

can't budge, I tell you-hand nor foot, body nor soul! Lord bless you, I know 'em. Why, do you think he'd ever have come near my mistress a second time if he could have helped himself? He's not lik

ng! But that don't make it wise in Bianca to drive him to the wall more than need be. Limed and caught as he is, he's one that may give her some trouble yet. For my part, I wis

e was the impresario

e you are back, Signor

whenever he comes, you can let him understand, you know, that your mistress is in he

ough you seem to think so," returned Gigia,

potion of so-called "rhum" in it, and the morsel of dry bread, which constituted his accustomed b

tle matters. I have not seen you, I think, since Sunday night. The bustle of these last days of the Carnival! Ho

ou were contented

. There never was such a success. You hav

e paper signed a

rchese. We shall want it, you know, just to put all in order. We can c

hour, after last nigh

ose the Marchese has ever been in bed after eight o'clock the last quarter of a cent

the paper on our way to my lodgin

eminent qualities and virtues of the Marchese Lamberto; and when they reached the door the impresario desired the servant wh

eceived no answer to his knock; so that it was evident that his master was still sleeping. He had been very la

been well of late. He very often does me the honour of conversing with me,-I may say indeed of consulting me on

pose, like the rest

he's not above fifty, and a very young man of his years; at least he was so a month or two ago. But changed he is. Every

other time?" said Quinto. "Shall we say to-morrow, at the same hour? And I w

well; to-morrow, then, at my

to present my most distinguished homage to the divina Cantatrice," said the little impresario, ta

" replied old Quinto, as he returned the impresario's

ejoined the impresario;

bed this morning. It gives a chance that he may never hear of this mad scappata with the Signor Ludovico. Lose the Marchese Lamberto! No,