Taquisara

e family generally spent the evening. Gregorio was presumably in his study, busy with his perpetual accounts or otherwise occupied. He very

d carving about the doors and the corners of the big panels in which the damask was stretched, while the low, vaulted ceiling was a mass of gilt stucco, modelled in heavy acanthus leaves and arabesques, from the centre of which hung a chandelier of white Venetian glass. There were no pictures on the walls, and there were no flowers nor plants in pots, to relieve the strong colour which filled the eye. Neve

ack of the sofa, and her head with its thick, brown hair was bent down. She had fixed her eyes upon a point of the carpet and had not moved from her position for a long time. The folds of her black

knees, staring at the fire. Neither had spoken for several minutes.

a," she said slowly; "n

t he turned deliberately and looked at the countess before he answered her. Th

e," he said i

ith an almost imperceptibl

. Then Bosio started violently and turne

cried; "what

mooth red l

name. Crimes are murder, stealing, forgery-such things. Who would say that it was criminal for Bosio Macomer to marry Veronica Serra? There is no reason against it. I daresay that many people wonde

ready to give you all I have. Take it. I can live somehow. What do I care? I have given you my life-what is a little m

rt, I make no pretences. But the trouble is desperate, Bosio. I do not know what

would be of no use, then?

est for a few months lo

re we are now, or sha

you and to lend you money," suggested Bosio. "She

But, in the first place, you do not know her

regorio's hands, he will not begin to ask questions a

onica sees him. She would tell him of our trouble, if we went to her. If not, she would certainly tell Bianca Corleone, who is his niece. If he suspected anything, let

asked Bosio, with a bitt

not know half there is to tell," she continued, speaking rapidly after a moment's pause. "We are ruined, and worse than ruined. We have been, for years. Gregorio got himself into that horrible speculation years and years ago, though I knew nothing about it. While Veronica was a minor, he helped himself, as he could-with her money. It was easy, for he controlled everything. But now he can do nothing without her

stopped short, turning an emerald

asked Bosio, in

ou know-very young. It pleases Providence to do strange things. Of course it would be most dreadful, if she were to die, would it not? It

nd then stared at Bosio with frighte

id of you,

or a fever in this horrible weather and might die of the one or the other? And just because I am fond of her, and said that I

houghtfully, and turning once more to the fire. "You are overwrought, Matilde-you are

case is desperate, an

ot sa

, and save us all, and bring peace int

n her knee in something like a gesture of

impossible, Matilde. Besides, she would not marry me. She would laugh at th

ot the right to ask anything o

e-under your roof! No-no-no! I ca

uelly close together, fastened themselves

e much better for her?" she asked v

rted and shr

evival of manhood and honour. "You shall not hurt her!" he cried, as fiercely as his voice could speak. "You shall not hurt a hair

f this goes on! You are mad to believe that I could do such things-I, a woman! And yet, I know I say words that have no reason in them! A

iousness that she could say with safety whatever came first to her lips helped to weaken her. She half expected that Bosio would rise, and come to her

tilde Macomer. And now his weakness showed itself, to himself and to her, in what he felt, and in what he did, respectively. A strong man, having once felt that revival of manly instinct, would have turned upon her and terrified her and mastered her; and, within himself, his heart might have broken because he had ever loved such a woman. But Bosio sat still in

nd she suddenly felt that she was strong again, and that there was hope, and that he might marry Veronica, af

my knowledge. But no judge living would believe that I, being a guardian with my husband, could be so wholly ignorant of his affairs. There are severe penalties for such things, Bosio-I believe that we should both be sent to penal servitude; for no power on earth could save us from a conviction, any more than anything but Veronica's money can save us from ruin now. Gregorio has taken much, but it has been, nothing compared with the whole fortune. If you marry her, she will never know-no one wi

imed Bosio, pressing both his

likes you, she is half in love with you-what other man does she know? And if she did-she would not repent of marrying you rather than any one else. You will make her happy-as for me,

s had fallen from his face, and he was looking at her almost quietly, not yielding so much as s

tly, and a servant appe

your Excellency to receive him for

countess, instantly, and

w the folds of her black gown away from her feet, so that she might rise to meet the

in a low voice. "Your forehead is we

e a skull in the yellow reflexion from the damask hangings. His gait was not firm, and as he passed Bosio in order to reach the countess, he had an uncertain movement of head and hand, as though he were inclined to speak to him first

as he took the outstretched hand, and sl

ght her face anxiously. "But my son insisted that I should come this ev

tess, suddenly assuming an

t well at all. It is natural with the young. It is passion. What else can I tell you? He is impatient. His nerves shake him,

e least, d

a looked up, and his head shook involuntarily, as he at once began the slow process of getting upon his legs. But Macome

?" he said, with an interrogation

It is passion. That is why I have come at this hour, and I ha

promptly. "We are delight

uiry upon his wife, and she answered by

Duca's visit. Not heeding them, his heart full of his son, the

sara has been with him to-day, and Pietro Ghisleri-but Taq

e countess, encouragin

dge, "The only son of the old Baron of Guardia. But every one calls him Taquisara, thoug

iend, and he comes to see him every day. The boy is ill-very ill." He shook his head, a

before, and wondering at Matilde's power of seeming at her ease in such a desperate situation; wondering, too, at his brother's hard, cold face-the mask that had so well h

after the short pause, the old m

another, and I can do nothing. You do not believe? Go and see! One day follows another-he is always in his room, consuming himself for love! He is pale-paler than a sheet. He does not eat, he does not drink, he does not smoke-he, who smoked thirty cigarettes a day! As fo

e, with firm-voiced sympath

ill not-but not that you are sorry! And Heaven knows it is not for Donn

ve found for her than your dear son? But I told you that the girl's inclinations must be consulted, and that we had little hope of satisfying you. And now-" She looked earnestly at her husband, as though to secure his consent beforehand-"and n

a surprise for him on the spur of the moment, it must be for their joi

untess, calmly, "Veroni

tell you, knowing how

ged to be marrie

lashed into sight brightly from beneath the drooping, concealing lids. A dead silence followed, which lasted several seconds. Matilde had l

spared me-oh, my son! My poor Gianluca!" His voice broke, and the weak, sincere tears broke from the watery eyes and t

ning," said Matilde. "We should ha

and, gravely. "It was our du

d shed, and too much shaken to take leave with any formality. Bosio stood quite still, when he

Gianluca!" he repeated

accompan

new that the count would return at once. They stood still,

ugh only Matilde should have understood the protest. She, on her side, slowly nodded her approval of his conduct, and in her dark eyes there was a yellow reflexion from the predominating colour of the room; there was triumph and satisfaction,

a low tone, when she heard her husband's

back and closed t

voice was hard, it was trembling with the anticipa

er," answered Bosio, be

ied the countess, with contem

ontracted with an ex

ace between the furniture of the small sitting-room, bending his head between his high shoulde

e loves her," she added, and her smooth lips smiled. "You need not deny it

ale face redde

a, she will talk to no one else. They are made for eac

d them upon her brother-in-law's face, and he shuddered

hey are married, the better. Save her life, Bosio!

s. Then he suddenly turned away and left the room, still drily chuckling to himself.

not come back. Bosio sank into his chair again, and pressed the

groaned, in the bittern

hair where it was streaked with grey. He moved im

grew as soft as velvet. "It

d rose to his feet w

" he cried, walking away fr

r Veronica, too," she said softly

ing from something which he is not strong enough to face, he reache

a few seconds before she left the room. Her eyes wandere

here. The smooth lips were drawn in and tightly compressed; and she held her breath, while her right hand strained upon her left with all her might. Then the lips parted with a

that night. In the next room she could hear Gregorio's slow and regular footsteps, as he walked up and down without ceasing. In his own room