oy
becomes confused and exhausted ere long.'

'Once more--I will only ask of the past. My cousin, is he married or a
widower?'

The boy clasped his hands and looked imploringly, shaking his head at
the dark pool, as he murmured an entreating word to his master. 'Ah!
Madame,' said the Italian, 'that question hath already been demanded by
the young Inglese. The poor child has been so terrified by the scene
it called up, that he implored he may not see it again. A sacked and
burning town, a lady in a flaming house---'

'Enough, enough,' said de; 'I could as little bear to hear as he to see.
It is what we have ever known and feared. And now'--she blushed as she
spoke--'sir, you will leave me one of those potions that Signor Renato
is wont to compound.'

'_Capisco_!' said Ercole; 'but the Eccellentissima shall be obeyed if
she will supply the means, for the expense will be heavy.'

The bargain was agreed upon, and a considerable sum advanced for a
philter, compounded of strange Eastern plants and mystic jewels; and
then Diane, with a shudder of relief, passed into the full light of the
hall, bade her father good night, and was handed by him into the litter
that had long been awaiting her at the door.

The Chevalier, then, with care on his brow, bent his steps towards the
apartment where the Italian still remained counting the money he had
received.

'So!' he said as he entered, 'so, fellow, I have not hindered your
gains, and you have been true to your agreement?'

'Illustrissimo, yes. The pool of vision mirrored the flames, but nothing
beyond--nothing--nothing.'

'They asked you then no more of those words you threw out of Esperance?'

'Only the English youth, sir; and there were plenty of other hopes to
dance before the eyes of such a lad! With M. le Baron it will be needful
to be more guarded.'

'M. le Baron shall not have the opportunity,' said the Chevalier. 'He
may abide by his decision, and what the younger one may tell him. Fear
not, good man, it shall be made good to you, if you obey my commands. I
have other work for you. But first repeat to me more fully what you told
me before. Where was it that you saw this unhappy girl under the name of
Esperance?'

'At a hostel, sir, at Charente, where she was attending on an old
heretic teacher of the name of Gardon, who had fallen sick there, being
pinched by the fiend with rheumatic pains after his deserts. She bore
the name of Esperance Gardon, and passed f