ikes,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.'"

A murmur of applause and a hearty clapping of hands rewarded this
little speech, and the Marchese Gualdro sprung to his feet--

"By Heaven!" he exclaimed, "we are not a party of terrified old women
to shiver on the edge of a worn-out omen! Fill your glasses, signori!
More wine, garcon! Per bacco! if Judas Iscariot himself had such a
feast as ours before he hanged himself, he was not much to be pitied!
Hola amici! To the health of our noble host, Conte Cesare Oliva!"

He waved his glass in the air three times--every one followed his
example and drank the toast with enthusiasm. I bowed my thanks and
acknowledgments--and the superstitious dread which at first bad
undoubtedly seized the company passed away quickly--the talking, the
merriment, and laughter were resumed, and soon it seemed as though the
untoward circumstance were entirely forgotten. Only Guido Ferrari
seemed still somewhat disturbed in his mind--but even his uneasiness
dissipated itself by degrees, and heated by the quantity of wine he had
taken, he began to talk with boastful braggartism of his many
successful gallantries, and related his most questionable anecdotes in
such a manner as to cause some haughty astonishment in the mind of the
Duke di Marina, who eyed him from time to time with ill-disguised
impatience that bordered on contempt. I, on the contrary, listened to
everything he said with urbane courtesy--I humored him and drew him out
as much as possible--I smiled complacently at his poor jokes and vulgar
witticisms--and when he said something that was more than usually
outrageous, I contented myself with a benevolent shake of my head, and
the mild remark:

"Ah! young blood! young blood!" uttered in a bland sotto-voce.

The dessert was now served, and with it came the costly wines which I
had ordered to be kept back till then. Priceless "Chateau Yquem," "Clos
Vougeot," of the rarest vintages, choice "Valpulcello" and an
exceedingly superb "Lacrima Cristi"--one after the other, these were
tasted, criticised, and heartily appreciated. There was also a very
unique brand of champagne costing nearly forty francs a bottle, which
was sparkling and mellow to the palate, but fiery in quality. This
particular beverage was so seductive in flavor that every one partook
of it freely, with the result that the most discreet among the party
now became the mos