wever, he soon controlled himself and
replied in Italian:

"Woman, I do not understand the Flemish tongue. You must know Italian, as
Bufferio is a Roman. Tell me if Bufferio is at home."

"Who are you?" she replied, in Italian jargon.

"Who am I? I come to arrange a secret affair with Bufferio, and I do not
choose to tell my name."

"You are an agent of the bailiff, and you wish to deceive me. Go on your
way and leave me in peace. Bufferio is not at home."

The man took some pieces of silver from his pocket and rattled them
together.

"You are mistaken, woman. I have need of the services of Bufferio for an
important affair. He may gain a few crowns of gold. I come with the cash
in hand: you understand."

Two bolts grated in their rusty staples, and the door opened.

"Enter, signor," said the woman, "and follow me."

"I do not see you; it is as black as Erebus; where is the staircase?"
cried out the other.

"Follow me, signor. Give me your hand; I will precede you."

She seized the hand of the visitor, and whilst guiding him to the
staircase, she said:

"Your hand trembles, signor. Are you afraid?"

"I afraid!" said the other, in a faltering voice. "Afraid of what? The
darkness makes me totter."

"It may be, signor; but I thought your hand was cold and trembling. Here
is the staircase; now follow me."

The man ascended the staircase behind her, stumbling up the well-worn
steps, striking his head and elbows against invisible objects, and
grumbling and swearing as if to show that he was not agitated by fear.

Having reached the first story, the woman opened a door and introduced her
companion into a room lighted by the smoking flame of an iron lamp. She
showed him a miserable chair, and said:

"Sit down, signor, if you please, and wait a while. I will go call
Bufferio, he is engaged at play in the neighborhood. Should any one knock
at the door during my absence, pay no attention to it; I will lock the
door on the outside and take the key with me."

The man looked at her surprised and troubled. Her bony limbs, the gray
locks which fell upon her cheeks, her large mouth and long teeth, made her
appear to his eyes a hideous being, a worthy companion for Bufferio.

He listened to the sound of her receding steps, until he heard the key
grate in the lock of the door.

Then he looked around him and examined with mistrust and surprise the
apartment of Bufferio and the objects it contained.

The room was n