usation was prompted by jealousy, it may be imagined how unwelcome
these importunities were, and for a considerable time she resisted them;
indeed she seems only to have been overcome at last by a ruse. A rumor
being set afloat that the day was about to be appointed for Ripa's
execution, a hint was thrown out that it lay in her power to save his
life: she had only to become the wife of Mendez, and her lover's
sentence should be commuted from death to banishment. This last argument
prevailed, and poor Bianca, with a heavy heart, consented to become the
mistress of Forni. The Malfis, however, do not seem to have been amongst
those who desired the match; and it would appear that they even made
some attempts to prevent its taking place, by circulating a report that
she had been privy to the assault and robbery. Perhaps they hoped, if
Gaspar remained unmarried, to inherit his property themselves; but
however that may be, their opposition was of no avail, and an early
period was fixed for the wedding.

The year had now come round to the summer season again, and it happened,
by mere accident, that the day appointed for the marriage was the
anniversary of that on which Mendez had been robbed and wounded. Nobody,
however, appears to have thought of this coincidence, till Mendez
himself, observing the day of the month, requested that the ceremony
might be postponed till the day after: "Because," said he, "I have
business which will take me to Aquila on the 7th, so the marriage had
better take place on the 8th." And thus it was arranged.

This alteration was made about ten days before the appointed period, and
nothing seems to have occurred in the interval worth recording, except
that as the hour of sacrifice drew near, the unwillingness of the victim
became more evident. We must conclude, however, that Mendez, whose
object in marrying her appears to have been fully as much the soothing
of his pride as the gratification of his love, was not influenced by her
disinclination, for when he started for Aquila on the 7th, every
preparation had been made for the wedding on the following day.

The object of his journey was to receive the rents before named, which
became due at this period, and also to purchase a wedding-present for
his bride. On this occasion Alessandro Malfi was to have accompanied
him; but when Mendez stopped at his door to inquire if he was ready,
Malfi came down stairs half dressed, saying that he had been up all
ni