nt went on, his anger rising at the sight of
the other's discomfiture, "that you have taken an unwarrantable liberty.
I don't yet understand what part I have been made to play, but it's
evident that you have made use of me to serve some purpose of your own,
and I propose to know the reason why."

Count Ottaviano advanced with an imploring gesture.

"Sir," he pleaded, "you permit me to speak?"

"I expect you to," cried Wyant. "But not here," he added, hearing the
clank of the verger's keys. "It is growing dark, and we shall be turned
out in a few minutes."

He walked across the church, and Count Ottaviano followed him out into
the deserted square.

"Now," said Wyant, pausing on the steps.

The Count, who had regained some measure of self-possession, began to
speak in a high key, with an accompaniment of conciliatory gesture.

"My dear sir--my dear Mr. Wyant--you find me in an abominable
position--that, as a man of honor, I immediately confess. I have
taken advantage of you--yes! I have counted on your amiability, your
chivalry--too far, perhaps? I confess it! But what could I do? It was to
oblige a lady"--he laid a hand on his heart--"a lady whom I would die
to serve!" He went on with increasing volubility, his deliberate English
swept away by a torrent of Italian, through which Wyant, with some
difficulty, struggled to a comprehension of the case.

Count Ottaviano, according to his own statement, had come to Siena some
months previously, on business connected with his mother's property; the
paternal estate being near Orvieto, of which ancient city his father
was syndic. Soon after his arrival in Siena the young Count had met the
incomparable daughter of Doctor Lombard, and falling deeply in love with
her, had prevailed on his parents to ask her hand in marriage. Doctor
Lombard had not opposed his suit, but when the question of settlements
arose it became known that Miss Lombard, who was possessed of a small
property in her own right, had a short time before invested the
whole amount in the purchase of the Bergamo Leonardo. Thereupon Count
Ottaviano's parents had politely suggested that she should sell the
picture and thus recover her independence; and this proposal being met
by a curt refusal from Doctor Lombard, they had withdrawn their consent
to their son's marriage. The young lady's attitude had hitherto been one
of passive submission; she was horribly afraid of her father, and would
never venture openly to