sion, and died away in a hollow moan. When the door
of the carriage was opened, both were found in a swoon, and it was some
time before they were restored and could inform those present of their
unhappy adventure.

This frequent repetition at length affected her health; and the spirit,
who seemed to have compassion on her, for some weeks gave no signs of his
presence. She even began to cherish a hope that she was now entirely rid
of him--but in this she was mistaken.

When the Carnival was over, she went into the country on a visit, in the
company of a lady, and attended only by one waiting maid. Night overtook
them before they could reach their journey's end; and suffering an
interruption, from the breaking of a chain, they were compelled to stop
for the night at an obscure inn by the road side. Fatigue made Antonelli
seek for repose immediately on their arrival; and she had just lain down,
when the waiting-maid, who was arranging a night-lamp, in a jesting tone,
observed, "We are here, in a manner, at the end of the earth, and the
weather is horrible; will he be able to find us here?" That moment the
voice was heard, louder and more terrible than ever. The lady imagined the
room filled with demons, and, leaping out of bed, ran down stairs,
alarming the whole house. Nobody slept a wink that night. This was the
last time the voice was heard. But this unwelcome visiter had soon another
and more disagreeable method of notifying his presence.

She had been left in peace some time, when one evening, at the usual hour,
while she was sitting at table with her friends, she was startled at the
discharge of a gun or a well-charged pistol; it seemed to have passed
through the window. All present heard the report and saw the flash, but on
examination the pane was found uninjured. The company was nevertheless
greatly concerned, and it was generally believed that some one's life had
been attempted. Some present ran to the police, while the rest searched
the adjoining houses;--but in vain; nothing was discovered that could
excite the least suspicion. The next evening sentinels were stationed at
all the neighbouring windows; the house itself, where Antonelli lived, was
closely searched, and spies were placed in the street.

But all this precaution availed nothing. Three months in succession, at
the same moment, the report was heard; the charge entered at the same pane
of glass without making the least alteration in its appearance; a