ONCE A WEEK.
KB. 20, 1SC4.]
"We
"'Of the same?' " raised my eyes,
ami saw that my interrogator held in his hand a plain miniature, which he had taken from the table. bowed my head in answer to his question, and ho went on, " How long have you worked at this L
I
—
'
V
picture " Since
last saw you.' But not always from the model
'
"
'
"
I
V
" u
I dare scarcely ask you, my father, to accept this trust, but if you can so far pity me you will relieve my thoughts from a great
'
'
l
u Her name ?' " This abruptness
irritated
me, and I
re-
to
and
fro across the
upon
He room,
and then pausing abruptly, spoke in a low, sad voice.
" I will tell you.' " What 1 " Her name.' You know her, then '
'
'
'"I am
'
?
her husband.'
"
Calmly as these words were uttered, they me with the force of twenty daggers. I reeled and gasped. He did not notice me, but walked on steadily,' muttering to struck
himself.
"
It is not every painter for a model. You
chioness
who has will
a mar-
forget the
You will be garret that I saved you from. happy among these golden cornices and silken think of me ? curtains. Of me ? I am
Why
—
her husband that is all.' " For a long time I heard nothing but the beating of my heart. " ' But for all For that, this is not justice. my praise you bring humiliation for my gold
you give me
tears
for
my trust
you briug
dis-
honour.'
"1 threw myself at his feet, and swore he He laughed a bitter laugh, and wronged her. 1 fell, and dragged down pushed me from him. the picture. In a moment I sprang up with It was an insult at once to my burning tears. labour and to her. I became mad. I struck him across the breast, and, throwing him a sword from a pile of arms which served for models, I cried " « After this,
open tion.'
my
me
is
with '
Tell
but that nevertheless
very sad,
some quiet night she sees my shade standing by her side, let her turn towards it with a smile upon her face, and my If in
soul will rest for ever.'
"
fixed his eyes but this time I returned their gaze.
commenced pacing
hand
I die in hope.
"Again my questioner
'
thanked
later I received his last breath.
'
!
He
promised him.
" He spoke no more, and about an hour
mained silent. " Her name " I do not know.'
<
'
of her
were
I
eyes, and continued more feebly her that to be denied even a farewell pi
She came, then, frequently ? The next words Daily, Siguor.' spoken in a trembling voice.
me
to light I
his
Yes— always.'
'
woke
sent to her.
"
'
t
I
I
sorrow.
" Answer me.' «
came darkfound myself stretched upon the picture, while my blood was They brought mingling with its wet colours. me here, sent for yon, and now I have only 1 wish this packet to be one more request, crossed swords and then
When
ness.
hesitated.
I
231
only when you have cut hoart shall you read her justifica-
I started early the next
morning
for the
I knew that my dress Palazzo Bonaglieri. would procure me admission unquestioned, and
although I was half reluctant to avail myself its shelter on such an errand, I looked upon the poor boy's last wish as sacred, and if I did wrong 1 trust that Heaven will pardon me. I The found the palazzo in great confusion. porter was not in the hall, and it was only in one of the upper chambers that I found a serThat vant of whom I could make inquiries. morning the marchioness had been found dead in her bed. " On the same day, and almost at the same hour that a richly-appointed funeral procession left the Palazzo Bonaglieri, a simple hearse emerged from one of the narrow streets leading to the Via della Scala. At the gates of the of
cemetery the driver of this plain death-carriage drew up to allow the long train of black velvet and silver lace to pass ; then he followed What became of his burden no humbly. one cared to discover, but the more brightly studded coffin of the other cortege was much admired, for the history I have just related was not written on the inscription plate. After the funeral I opened the packet entrusted to me, and found that it contained a lock of hair.
" The marquis disappeared, and, several years afterwards, proofs of his dea'.h in England having been forwarded to Florence, the property descended
to
To these heirs I and in return, by
presented
appointed here. the in
blood-stains,
doing
veiled.
so,
the
family. portrait,
their influence I became They attempted to remove but finding some difficulty
preferred
Who knows
expiation."
his brother's
'I
to It
keep the picture be the blood of
may