desperate seduction was
stealing over him. "Never, perhaps!" he repeated.

Nera gave a little start; then she drew back and leaned against the
sofa, gazing at him.

"I am come to you, Nera"--Nobili spoke in a hoarse voice--his features
worked with agitation--"I am come to tell you all; to ask you what I
shall do. I am distracted, heart-broken, degraded! Nera, dear Nera,
will you help me? In mercy say you will!"

He had grasped her hand--he was covering it with hot kisses. He was
so heated with wine and beauty, and a sense of wrong, he had lost all
self-command.

Nera did not withdraw her hand. Her eyelids dropped, and she replied,
softly:

"Help you? Oh! so willingly. Could you see my heart you would
understand me."

She stopped.

"You can make all right," urged Nobili, maddened by her seductions.

Again that waltz was buzzing in his ears. Nobili was about to clasp
her in his arms, and ask her he knew not what, when Nera rose, and
seated herself upon a chair opposite to him.

"You leave me," cried Nobili, piteously, seizing her dress. "That is
not helping me."

"I must know what you want," she answered, settling the folds of her
dress about her. "Of course, in making this marriage, you have weighed
all the consequences? I take that for granted."

As Nera spoke she leaned her head upon her hand; the rich beauty of
her face was brought under the lamp's full light.

"I thought I had," was Nobili's reply, recalled by her movement to
himself, and speaking with more composure--"I thought I had--but
within the last three hours every thing is changed. I have been
insulted at the club."

"Ah!--you must expect that sort of thing if you marry Enrica Guinigi.
That is inevitable."

Nobili knit his brows. This was hard from her.

"What reason do you give for this?" he asked, trying to master his
feelings. "I came to ask you this."

"Reason, my dear count?" and a smile parted Nera's lips. "A very
obvious reason. Why force me to name it? No one can respect you if you
make such a marriage. You will be always liked--you are so charming."
She paused to fling an amorous glance upon him. "Why did you select
the Guinigi girl?" The question was sharply put. "The marchesa would
never receive you. Why choose her niece?"

"Because I liked her." Nobili was driven to bay. "A man chooses the
woman he likes."

"How strange!" exclaimed Nera, throwing up her hands. "How strange!--A
pale-faced school-girl! But--ha! ha!"--(tha