trary, exceedingly agreeable to her and she did not seek
to conceal the fact from her enthusiastic suitor.

The momentous interview took place in a densely shaded alley of the
garden of the Palazzo Costi one sultry afternoon of the early autumn.
The youthful couple were seated very near each other upon a rustic
bench. Massetti held Zuleika's small, soft hand in his and the electric
touch of her tiny and shapely fingers thrilled him as the touch of
female fingers had never thrilled him before. He gazed into the liquid
depths of her dark, glowing eyes and their subtile fire seemed to melt
his very soul. The close, sultry atmosphere, laden with heavy,
intoxicating perfumes, was fraught with a delirious influence well
calculated to set the blood aflame and promote the explosion of pent-up
love. The thick, green foliage enclosed the pair as in a verdant cloud,
effectually concealing them from observation. The opportunity was
irresistible. Giovanni drew closer to his fascinating companion, so
closely that her fragrant breath came full in his face, utterly
subjecting him and totally obliterating all caution, everything save his
absorbing passion for the palpitating girl whose slight, but clear-cut
form, gracefully-outlined beneath her flowing, half-oriental garments,
touched his. Suddenly carried away by a powerful transport, he threw his
arm around the young girl's yielding waist and drew her without
resistance upon his bosom, where she lay, gazing up into his flushed,
excited countenance with an indescribable, voluptuous charm, mingled
with thorough confidence and unhesitating innocence. Panting in his
clasp, her ruby lips partly opened as if for breath, and the ardent
Italian hastily, recklessly imprinted a fiery kiss upon them. Zuleika,
with an almost imperceptible movement, returned this chaste, but
ravishing salute.

"Oh! how I love you!" murmured Giovanni, quivering from head to foot in
his wild ecstasy, and clasping the lovely girl still tighter.

She made no verbal response, but did not stir, did not strive to
extricate herself from his warm embrace This was a sufficient answer for
the quick Italian. Zuleika, the beautiful Zuleika, returned his love,
favored his suit. His joy approached delirium.

"Oh! Zuleika," he whispered, gazing directly into her night black eyes,
"you love me, I am sure! Give me the treasures of your virgin heart! Be
mine--be my wife!"

"Oh! Giovanni," returned the quivering girl, in a low,