y discovered the apparition of his master's father. The
secretary returned and delivered the important message to his lord.
His lordship being afraid that evil was intended, sent one of his
subordinates to meet the apparition. At the time and place appointed,
the spirit appeared in the likeness it had done the previous day. It
lamented the son's absence, on account of the strange revelations that
would have been made had he come himself. "Return to your master,"
said the apparition, "and tell him that in twenty-two years, one
month, and one day, he will lose the governorship of the city." Like a
small cloud the spirit vanished. At the very time predicted, Philip,
Duke of Milan, besieged the city, and the water being frozen, he was
enabled to pass the moat, and having scaled the walls, surprised the
city, and took Ludovicus prisoner.

An Italian of mean birth, named Carlo Stella, ingratiated himself into
the good favour of Baron Cattaneo, a nobleman, who unfortunately was
over fond of wine and the gaming-table. The former induced the latter
to play for no less a stake than the baron's whole estates. The
unlucky nobleman lost, and in the moment of excitement made over all
his property to the wicked Stella. Next day the baron, remembering
what had taken place, went to Stella, and expressed the hope that the
conveyance he had given the previous day would be returned. Stella
told him that he could not give up the document, for he had destroyed
it, looking on the whole proceeding as a farce. A few days afterwards
the baron was found shot through the brain, and then Stella produced
the document which he pretended had been destroyed. In virtue of the
conveyance, the holder of it came into possession of a large sum of
money and many acres of land, together with two noble castles,
pleasantly situated. Being thus raised into an elevated position, he
sought in marriage a lady of rank. He was accepted, and an early day
was fixed for the nuptial ceremony. Bride and bridegroom, priest, and
rejoicing friends were assembled at the appointed time in the church,
and the service was about to begin, when a man stained with blood
entered the sacred building. He looked Stella sternly in the face, and
then retired. Every one was horror-stricken, but none appeared so much
affected as the bridegroom. He fainted, and had to be carried out
without the marriage taking place. Next day he seemed better, and
arrangements were entered into for having t