low and distinct knocks were heard at the
little door behind the arras.

Giulia's countenance became suffused with blushes: then, instantly
recovering her presence of mind, she said in a rapid, earnest tone, "He
who is coming knows nothing concerning the jewels, and will be surprised
to find a stranger with me. Perhaps he may even recognize you--perhaps
he knows you by sight----"

"What would you have me do, lady?" demanded Stephano. "Speak, and I obey
you."

"Conceal yourself--here--and I will soon release you."

She raised the tapestry on the side opposite to that by which Stephano
had entered the room; and the robber-chief hid himself in the wide
interval between the hangings in the wall.

All this had scarcely occupied a minute; and Giulia now hastened to open
the private door, which instantly gave admittance to the young,
handsome, and dissipated Marquis of Orsini.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE LOVE OF WOMAN--GIULIA AND HER LOVER.

Silence, and calmness, and moonlight were without the walls of the
Arestino villa; for the goddess of night shone sweetly but coldly on the
city of Florence, and asserted her empire even over the clouds that ere
now had seemed laden with storm. Nor beamed she there alone--that fair
Diana; for a countless host of handmaidens--the silver-faced stars--had
spread themselves over the deep purple sky; and there--there--they all
shone in subdued and modest glory--those myriads of beacons floating on
the eternal waves of that far-off and silent sea!

Shine on, sweet regent of the night--and ye, too, silver-faced stars,
whose countenances are reflected and multiplied endlessly, as they are
rocked to and fro, on the deep blue bosom of the Arno; while on the
banks of that widely-famed stream, Nature herself, as if wearied of her
toils, appears to be sleeping.

Would that the soul of man could thus lie down in its night of sorrow or
of racking passion, on the margin of the waters of hope, confident that
the slumber of contentment and peace will seal his eyelids, heavy with
long vigils in a world where conflicting interests need constant
watching, and that the stillness of the unfathomable depths of those
waters will impart its influence unto him!

For, oh! if calmness, silence, and moonlight prevail without the walls
of the Arestino villa, yet within there be hearts agitated by passions
and emotions, from which the gentle genius of slumber shrinks back
aghast.

In the brilliantly lig