A Creature of the Night

the morning fell into an uneasy slumber, during which I had fragmentary dreams in

aw the pallid shade of Donna Renata pointing towards the watchful face of her husband, filled with ghastly meanings in the dim shadows. No wonder, after these terrific visions which blended the real and the ideal, I awoke

ung man, flattered by the attentions of a great lady, had yielded readily enough to the charm of the situation, but, growing tired of the intrigue, had come to Verona, where Bianca awaited him, with the intention of breaking it off. With a

ing for the whole affair. Two points, however, remained to be cleared up before the reading of the riddle could be successfully a

tombed his guilty wife as a punishment for her crimes. Doubtless, from tradition or from old family papers, Madame Morone knew of this secret hiding-place, and having killed Pallanza, had put his body therein so as to destroy all evidences of her criminality. No one had seen Pallanza enter this deserted

and the whole affair would be revealed. I never thought, however, of going to the Veronese police and telling them what I had seen, as in their suspicions of foreigners they would doubtless regard me as an accessory, and

y, I determined upon telling her a pious lie. To do this it was necessary to leave out the Contessa Morone altogether, as the least mention of a woman's name would arose Bianca's suspicions, and for the Contessa I substituted a robber, who had decoyed Guiseppe to the deserted palace by means of a false l

pressed and downcast, as the state of nervous excitement which I had been in for the last few days had told terribly on my system. However, having once put my hand to the plough I could not, with satisfaction to myself, turn back; and

taken it into his head that he would like a walk in the sunshine, and had gone out under the care of Petronella; but, as Bianca kne

erfully large and star-like. She had a bunch of delicate lilies-of-the-valley in the bosom of her white dress, and she looked as pale and blanched as the frail flowers themselves. Lying back on

after the lapse of years, by simply closing my eyes I can recall the whole scene with the utmost truthfulness. The dull red of the terra-cotta floor, the heavy time-worn furniture, covered with faded green rep, the small ebony piano with its glistening white keys alternating with the black, the mirror-fronted press in which Petronella kept everything from food to clothes, the many photographs of operatic celebrities, and the gaudil

vously together, "you have something to tell me of Gu

face tell yo

does not smile! Oh, tell me quickly what yo

lmost terrified me by the fear expressed in them, and, dreading the effect

fearful, I pray you. He is not dead

ave not fou

im, but I think I know

all--tell me all. See, I am strong, I

allanza received at the Ezzelino was

en

was from his dying friend, he obeyed the letter

alazzo, Signor. I am

allanza go into it alone. Knowing the evil reputation of the place, I followed him, although

-for the love of t

e left that room again. I believe he is there still, perhaps held captiv

this ridiculous story I had manufactured of brigands in the heart of Verona wa

ue!" she cried vehemently. "W

t deceiv

ce! held captive! Oh, I cannot believe it.

and, rendering me insensible with chloroform, bore me away from th

is that of a dream.

ue, never

. Now that I had to some extent quieted her fears by telling her that Guiseppe was alive--a thing, alas! that I could not be certain of myself--I hoped to get away at once to the Palazzo Morone and make one last effort

ared, and she looked at me

ou know th

Sign

e you think Guisepp

Signo

e me to i

ppealing gesture. As for me, I sat still, transfixed with astonishment at the spirit displayed by t

at once!" she r

ot. You are mad to th

true or false

es, it i

my own eyes. Wait, I will put on my hat, an

orina

d. You promised to be my friend, Signor

iled. She knew nothing about the implication of the Contessa Morone in the affair, the palazzo would be quite deserted during the daytime, so I would be able to take her there, let her examine the room, and if by chance the truth was revealed that Guiseppe was dead, it would be a more merciful way than by the

re you ready--are you

my heart,

! come,

il. I feared that fatal chamber, which held so many impure memories--I feared the discovery of the