les me when I reflect that De Pyrmont is keen with the
sword. But remember, Laura, it was not until after our marriage my
husband told me he could have saved Giacomo by the lifting of a finger.
Away with the man!--if it amuses me to punish him, I do so.'

The duchess kissed Laura's cheek, and continued:--'Now to the point where
we stand enemies! I am for Austria, you are for Italy. Good. But I am
always for Laura. So, there's a river between us and a bridge across it.
My darling, do you know that we are much too strong for you, if you mean
anything serious tomorrow night?'

'Are you?' Laura said calmly.

'I know, you see, that something is meant to happen to-morrow night.'

Laura said, 'Do you?'

'We have positive evidence of it. More than that: Your Vittoria--but do
you care to have her warned? She will certainly find herself in a pitfall
if she insists on carrying out her design. Tell me, do you care to have
her warned and shielded? A year of fortress-life is not agreeable, is not
beneficial for the voice. Speak, my Laura.'

Laura looked up in the face of her friend mildly with her large dark
eyes, replying, 'Do you think of sending Major de Pyrmont to her to warn
her?'

'Are you not wicked?' cried the duchess, feeling that she blushed, and
that Laura had thrown her off the straight road of her interrogation.
'But, play cards with open hands, my darling, to-night. Look:--She is in
danger. I know it; so do you. She will be imprisoned perhaps before she
steps on the boards--who knows? Now, I--are not my very dreams all sworn
in a regiment to serve my Laura?--I have a scheme. Truth, it is hardly
mine. It belongs to the Greek, the Signor Antonio Pericles Agriolopoulos.
It is simply'--the duchess dropped her voice out of Beppo's hearing--'a
scheme to rescue her: speed her away to my chateau near Meran in Tyrol.'
'Tyrol' was heard by Beppo. In his frenzy at the loss of the context he
indulged in a yawn, and a grimace, and a dance of disgust all in one;
which lost him the next sentence likewise. 'There we purpose keeping her
till all is quiet and her revolutionary fever has passed. Have you heard
of this Signor Antonio? He could buy up the kingdom of Greece, all Tyrol,
half Lombardy. The man has a passion for your Vittoria; for her voice
solely, I believe. He is considered, no doubt truly, a great connoisseur.
He could have a passion for nothing else, or alas!' (the duchess shook
her head with doleful drollery) 'would