soul."

"Pietro," said Gerard softly, "I painted that one from my heart."

The quick-witted Italian nodded, and his eyes twinkled.

"You love her so well, yet leave her."

"Pietro, it is because I love her so dear that I have wandered all this
weary road."

This interesting colloquy was interrupted by the landlady crying from
below, "Come down, you are wanted." He went down, and there was Teresa
again.

"Come with me, Ser Gerard."

CHAPTER LVIII

Gerard walked silently beside Teresa, wondering in his own mind, after
the manner of artists, what she was going to do with him; instead of
asking her. So at last she told him of her own accord. A friend had
informed her of a working goldsmith's wife who wanted a writer. "Her
shop is hard by; you will not have far to go."

Accordingly they soon arrived at the goldsmith's wife.

"Madama," said Teresa, "Leonora tells me you want a writer: I have
brought you a beautiful one; he saved my child at sea. Prithee look on
him with favour."

The goldsmith's wife complied in one sense. She fixed her eyes on
Gerard's comely face, and could hardly take them off again. But her
reply was unsatisfactory. "Nay, I have no use for a writer. Ah! I mind
now, it is my gossip, Claelia, the sausage-maker, wants one; she told
me, and I told Leonora."

Teresa made a courteous speech and withdrew.

Claelia lived at some distance, and when they reached her house she was
out. Teresa said calmly, "I will await her return," and sat so still,
and dignified, and statuesque, that Gerard was beginning furtively to
draw her, when Claelia returned.

"Madama, I hear from the goldsmith's wife, the excellent Olympia,
that you need a writer" (here she took Gerard by the hand and led him
forward); "I have brought you a beautiful one; he saved my child from
the cruel waves. For our Lady's sake look with favour on him."

"My good dame, my fair Ser," said Claelia, "I have no use for a writer;
but now you remind me, it was my friend Appia Claudia asked me for one
but the other day. She is a tailor, lives in the Via Lepida."

Teresa retired calmly.

"Madama," said Gerard, "this is likely to be a tedious business for
you."

Teresa opened her eyes.

"What was ever done without a little patience?" She added mildly, "We
will knock at every door at Rome but you shall have justice."

"But, madama, I think we are dogged. I noticed a man that follows us,
sometimes afar, sometimes close."

"I have se