k
of him faithfully, night and day, till he should again return to the
joy of her caresses! I smiled coldly, as this glowing picture came
before my imagination. Ay, Guido! kiss her and fondle her now to your
heart's content--it is for the last time! Never again will that
witching glance be turned to you in either fear or favor--never again
will that fair body nestle in your jealous embrace--never again will
your kisses burn on that curved sweet mouth; never, never again! Your
day is done--the last brief moments of your sin's enjoyment have
come--make the most of them!--no one shall interfere! Drink the last
drop of sweet wine--MY hand shall not dash the cup from your lips on
this, the final night of your amour! Traitor, liar, and hypocrite! make
haste to be happy for the short time that yet remains to you--shut the
door close, lest the pure pale stars behold your love ecstasies! but
let the perfumed lamps shed their softest artificial luster on all that
radiant beauty which tempted your sensual soul to ruin, and of which
you are now permitted to take your last look! Let there be music
too--the music of her voice, which murmurs in your ear such entrancing
falsehoods! "She will be true," she says. You must believe her, Guido,
as I did--and, believing her thus, part from her as lingeringly and
tenderly as you will--part from her--FOREVER!

CHAPTER XVII.

Next morning I kept my appointment and met Ferrari at the railway
station. He looked pale and haggard, though he brightened a little on
seeing me. He was curiously irritable and fussy with the porters
concerning his luggage, and argued with them about some petty trifles
as obstinately and pertinaciously as a deaf old woman. His nerves were
evidently jarred and unstrung, and it was a relief when he at last got
into his coupe. He carried a yellow paper-covered volume in his hand. I
asked him if it contained any amusing reading.

"I really do not know," he answered, indifferently, "I have only just
bought it. It is by Victor Hugo."

And he held up the title-page for me to see.

"Le Dernier Jour d'un Condamne," I read aloud with careful slowness.
"Ah, indeed! You do well to read that. It is a very fine study!"

The train was on the point of starting, when he leaned out of the
carriage window and beckoned me to approach more closely.

"Remember!" he whispered, "I trust you to take care of her!"

"Never fear!" I answered, "I will do my best to replace YOU!"

H