hough he were a bag of loose wheat.

"'Gone!' and he screamed like a madman! 'WHERE? Tell me WHERE, dolt!
idiot! driveler! before I twist your neck for you!'

"Truly, eccellenza, I would have gone to the rescue of the poor
Giacomo, but respect for your commands kept me silent. 'A thousand
pardons, signor!' he whispered, out of breath with his shaking.' I will
tell you instantly--most instantly. She is at the Convento dell'
Annunziata--ten miles from here--the saints know I speak the truth--she
left two days since.'

"The Signor Ferrari then flung away the unfortunate Giacomo with so
much force that he fell in a heap on the pavement and broke his lantern
to pieces. The old man set up a most pitiful groaning, but the signor
cared nothing for that. He was mad, I think. 'Get to bed!' he cried,
'and sleep--sleep till you die! Tell your mistress when you see her
that I came to kill her! My curse upon this house and all who dwell in
it!' And with that he ran so quickly through the garden into the
high-road that I had some trouble to follow him. There after walking
unsteadily for a few paces, he suddenly fell down, senseless."

Vincenzo paused. "Well," I said, "what happened next?"

"Eccellenza, I could not leave him there without aid. I drew my cloak
well up to my mouth and pulled my hat down over my eyes so that he
could not recognize me. Then I took water from the fountain close by
and dashed it on his face. He soon came to himself, and, taking me for
a stranger, thanked me for my assistance, saying that he had a sudden
shock. He then drank greedily from the fountain and went on his way."

"You followed?"

"Yes, eccellenza--at a little distance. He next visited a common tavern
in one of the back streets of the city and came out with two men. They
were well dressed--they had the air of gentlemen spoiled by bad
fortune. The signor talked with them for some time--he seemed much
excited. I could not hear what they said except at the end, when these
two strangers consented to appear as seconds for Signor Ferrari, and
they at once left him, to come straight to this hotel. And they are
arrived, for I saw them through a half-opened door as I came in,
talking with the Marquis D'Avencourt."

"Well!" I said, "and what of Signor Ferrari when he was left alone by
his two friends?"

"There is not much more to tell, eccellenza. He went up the little hill
to his own studio, and I noticed that he walked like a very old man
with hi