then among the élite of the society of Rome, then among the Italian public at large; eventually it was translated in French, and became the rage in Paris and other cities; finally it was done into English, and cheapened, and there was a heavy run upon it in London, and at all booksellers; and all this in less than a month. The book was a success, and a tremendous slap in the face to clerical authority, and to orthodoxy, clerical and lay.
The breach was now complete between Madame Pisa-Vitri and her once beloved Catholic Church; the work was put on the Index Expurgatorius, and the lesser excommunication was launched at the authoress herself. This was no more than she had calculated upon; but it roused the female society of which she was the brilliant centre; and enthusiastic meetings were held, where it was resolved that unless the papacy drew in its horns, and virtually apologised, the Roman ladies and women in general would henceforth refuse to attend mass or the confessional, and to visit or receive at their houses any of the clergy. Her brother expostulated with her, but all he got for his pains was being sternly forbidden the premises. Denunciation now raved from every pulpit against the rebellious daughters of the Church, but it was left for the present to rave away; for no one, as a rule, went to hear it, except scoffing males, who enjoyed it with grinning faces, and made scandalous scenes in the churches by lighting cigars in full view of the energetic preacher, which brought on a by no means sotto voce altercation with the suisses who attempted to turn them out.
Things had already reached this pass, when, as Madame Pisa-Vitri was passing in an open carriage through a crowd, a man shot at her with a revolver. The ball carried away a part of her mantilla, and then lodged harmless in the wall. Madame Pisa-Vitri did not start or utter a sound, but calmly turned her head with a nod and smile, indicating with out-
