ding he was by some strange accident not slain, his doublet
being perforated, instead of his body, they began to laugh again louder
than ever.

"What are ye cackling at?" remonstrated the spark, "I desire to know
how 'tis that one moment a gentleman is out yonder a pricking of African
beef, and the next moment--"

Gerard's lady. "Disporting in his native stream."

"Tell him not, a soul of ye," cried Vanucci. "Let him find out 's own
riddle."

Confound ye all. I might puzzle my brains till doomsday, I should ne'er
find it out. Also, where is my sword?

Gerard's lady. "Ask Tiber! Your best way, signor, will be to do it over
again; and, in a word, keep pricking of Afric's beef, till your mind
receives light. So shall you comprehend the matter by degrees, as
lawyers mount heaven, and buffaloes Tiber."

Here a chevalier remarked that the last speaker transcended the sons of
Adam as much in wit as she did the daughters of Eve in beauty.

At which, and indeed at all their compliments, the conduct of Pietro
Vanucci was peculiar. That signor had left off staring, and gaping
bewildered; and now sat coiled up snake-like, on each, his mouth
muffled, and two bright eyes fixed on the' lady, and twinkling and
scintillating most comically.

He did not appear to interest or amuse her in return. Her glorious eyes
and eyelashes swept him calmly at times, but scarce distinguished him
from the benches and things.

Presently the unanimity of the party suffered a momentary check.

Mortified by the attention the cavaliers paid to Gerard's companion, the
ladies began to pick her to pieces sotto voce, and audibly.

The lovely girl then showed that, if rich in beauty, she was poor in
feminine tact. Instead of revenging herself like a true woman through
the men, she permitted herself to overhear, and openly retaliate on her
detractors.

"There is not one of you that wears Nature's colours," said she. "Look
here," and she pointed rudely in one's face. "This is the beauty that is
to be bought in every shop. Here is cerussa, here is stibium, and
here purpurissum. Oh, I know the articles bless you, I use them every
day--but not on my face, no thank you."

Here Vanucci's eyes twinkled themselves nearly out of sight.

"Why, your lips are coloured, and the very veins in your forehead: not a
charm but would come off with a wet towel. And look at your great coarse
black hair like a horse's tail, drugged and stained to look like tow.
And t