"

The bravo listened with all his ears. "It is enough," said he.

"Stay, Signora; haunteth he any secret place where I may deal with him?"

"My spy doth report me he hath of late frequented the banks of Tiber
after dusk; doubtless to meet his light o' love, who calls me her rival;
even there slay him! and let my rival come and find him; the smooth,
heartless, insolent traitor."

"Be calm, signora. He will betray no more ladies."

"I know not that. He weareth a sword, and can use it. He is young and
resolute."

"Neither will avail him."

"Are ye so sure of your hand? What are your weapons?"

The bravo showed her a steel gauntlet. "We strike with such force
we need must guard our hand. This is our mallet." He then undid his
doublet, and gave her a glimpse of a coat of mail beneath, and finally
laid his glittering stiletto on the table with a flourish.

The lady shuddered at first, but presently took it up in her white hand
and tried its point against her finger.

"Beware, madam," said the bravo.

"What, is it poisoned?"

"Saints forbid! We steal no lives. We take them with steel point, not
drugs. But 'tis newly ground, and I feared for the Signora's white
skin."

"His skin is as white as mine," said she, with a sudden gleam of pity.
It lasted but a moment. "But his heart is black as soot. Say, do I not
well to remove a traitor that slanders me?"

"The signora will settle that with her confessor. I am but a tool in
noble hands; like my stiletto."

The princess appeared not to hear the speaker. "Oh, how I could have
loved him; to the death; as now I hate him. Fool! he will learn to
trifle with princes; to spurn them and fawn on them, and prefer the
scum of the town to them, and make them a by-word." She looked up. "Why
loiter'st thou here? haste thee, revenge me."

"It is customary to pay half the price beforehand, Signora."

"Ah I forgot; thy revenge is bought. Here is more than half," and she
pushed a bag across the table to him. "When the blow is struck, come for
the rest."

"You will soon see me again, signora."

And he retired bowing and scraping.

The princess, burning with jealousy, mortified pride, and dread of
exposure (for till she knew Gerard no public stain had fallen on her),
sat where he left her, masked, with her arms straight out before her,
and the nails of her clenched hand nipping the table.

So sat the fabled sphynx: so sits a tigress.

Yet there crept a chill upon her now t