to repair the damage. At this time I was
driving two through trains each day; namely, one from Mantua to Venice in
the early morning, and a return train from Venice to Mantua in the
afternoon--a tolerably full day's work, covering about one hundred and
ninety miles of ground, and occupying between ten and eleven hours. I
was therefore not best pleased when, on the third or fourth day after the
accident, I was informed that, in addition to my regular allowance of
work, I should that evening be required to drive a special train to
Venice. This special train, consisting of an engine, a single carriage,
and a break-van, was to leave the Mantua platform at eleven; at Padua the
passengers were to alight and find post-chaises waiting to convey them to
Ponte di Brenta; at Ponte di Brenta another engine, carriage, and
break-van were to be in readiness. I was charged to accompany them
throughout.

"Corpo di Bacco," said the clerk who gave me my orders, "you need not
look so black, man. You are certain of a handsome gratuity. Do you know
who goes with you?"

"Not I."

"Not you, indeed! Why, it's the Duca Loredano, the Neapolitan
ambassador."

"Loredano!" I stammered. "What Loredano? There was a Marchese--"

"Certo. He was the Marchese Loredano some years ago; but he has come
into his dukedom since then."

"He must be a very old man by this time."

"Yes, he is old; but what of that? He is as hale, and bright, and
stately as ever. You have seen him before?"

"Yes," I said, turning away; "I have seen him--years ago."

"You have heard of his marriage?"

I shook my head.

The clerk chuckled, rubbed his hands, and shrugged his shoulders.

"An extraordinary affair," he said. "Made a tremendous esclandre at the
time. He married his mistress--quite a common, vulgar girl--a
Genoese--very handsome; but not received, of course. Nobody visits her."

"Married her!" I exclaimed. "Impossible."

"True, I assure you."

I put my hand to my head. I felt as if I had had a fall or a blow.

"Does she--does she go to-night?" I faltered.

"O dear, yes--goes everywhere with him--never lets him out of her sight.
You'll see her--la bella Duchessa!"

With this my informant laughed, and rubbed his hands again, and went back
to his office.

The day went by, I scarcely know how, except that my whole soul was in a
tumult of rage and bitterness. I returned from my afternoon's work about
7.25, and at 10.30 I was once agai