ou will know later; but, at present, this is a family secret. And now I
must turn to another and more alarming cause for my frankness to you."
Here Riccabocca's face changed, and assumed an expression of mingled rage
and fear. "You must know," he added, sinking his voice, "that Giacomo has
seen a strange person loitering about the house, and looking up at the
windows; and he has no doubt--nor have I--that this is some spy or emissary
of Peschiera's."

"Impossible; how could he discover you?"

"I know not; but no one else has any interest in doing so. The man kept at
a distance, and Giacomo could not see his face."

"It may be but a mere idler. Is this all?"

"No; the old woman who serves us said that she was asked at a shop 'if we
were not Italians?' "

"And she answered?"

" 'No;' but owned that 'we had a foreign servant, Giacomo.' "

"I will see to this. Rely on it that if Peschiera has discovered you, I
will learn it. Nay, I will hasten from you in order to commence inquiry."

"I can not detain you. May I think that we have now an interest in
common?"

"O, indeed yes; but--but--your daughter! how can I dream that one so
beautiful, so peerless, will confirm the hope you have extended to me?"

"The daughter of an Italian is brought up to consider that it is a
father's right to dispose of her hand?"

"But the heart?"

"_Cospetto!_" said the Italian, true to his infamous notions as to the
sex, "the heart of a girl is like a convent--the holier the cloister, the
more charitable the door."

Chapter XII.

Randal had scarcely left the house, before Mrs. Riccabocca, who was
affectionately anxious in all that concerned Violante, rejoined her
husband.

"I like the young man very well," said the sage--"very well indeed. I find
him just what I expected from my general knowledge of human nature; for as
love ordinarily goes with youth, so modesty usually accompanies talent. He
is young, _ergo_ he is in love; he has talent, _ergo_ he is modest--modest
and ingenuous."

"And you think not in any way swayed by interest in his affections?"

"Quite the contrary; and to prove him the more, I have not said a word as
to the worldly advantages which, in any case, would accrue to him from an
alliance with my daughter. In any case; for if I regain my country, her
fortune is assured; and if not, I trust" (said the poor exile, lifting his
brow with stately and becoming pride) "that I am too well aware of my
child's