confess the melancholy truth, that their former
relation existed no more. He left her, and never saw her again.

He lived some years longer, seeing but few acquaintances, and chiefly in
the company of a pious old lady, with whom he occupied the same dwelling,
and who lived on the rent of an adjoining house, her only income. During
this interval, he gained one of his law-suits, and soon after the other;
but his health was destroyed, and his future prospects blasted. A slight
cause brought on a relapse of his former illness; the physician acquainted
him with his approaching end. He was resigned to his fate, and his only
remaining wish was, once more to see his lovely friend. He sent the
servant to her, who, in more happy days, had often been the bearer of
tender messages. He prayed her to grant his request: she refused. He sent
a second time, entreating most ardently she might not be deaf to his
prayers, with no better success. She persisted in her first answer. The
night was already far advanced, when he sent a third time; she showed
great agitation, and confided to me the cause of her embarrassment, (for I
had just happened to be at supper, at her house, with the Marquess, and
some other friends.) I advised her--I entreated her, to show her friend
this last act of kindness. She seemed undecided, and in great emotion; but
after a few moments she became more collected. She sent away the servant
with a refusal, and he returned no more.

When supper was over, we sat together in familiar conversation, while
cheerfulness and good humour reigned among us. It was near midnight, when
suddenly a hollow, doleful sound was heard, like the groaning of a human
being; gradually it grew weaker, and at last died away entirely. A
momentary trembling seized us all; we stared at each other, and then
around us, unable to explain the mystery.

The Marquess ran to the window, while the rest of us were endeavouring to
restore the lady, who lay senseless on the floor. It was some time before
she recovered. The jealous Italian would scarcely give her time to open
her eyes, when he began to load her with reproaches. If you agree on signs
with your friends, said the Marquess, I pray you let them be less open and
terrifying. She replied, with her usual presence of mind, that, having the
right to see any person, at any time, in her house, she could hardly be
supposed to choose such appalling sounds as the forerunners of happy
moments.

And really