u too well," returned the dwarf, and walkt off with the key,
casting back another look of something like mischievous delight.

Meanwhile a lovely murmur approacht. Pietro went into the
entrance-hall, and in glided the pale body of Crescentia, in her robe
of death, still holding the crucifix in her folded hands. He stood
still before her; she drew up the lids from her large eyes, and shrank
back from him with such a quick start that the wreaths of flowers
dropt down from her shaking head.

Without speaking a word he wrested her fast-claspt hands asunder; but
in the left she kept the crucifix tightly clencht. By the right hand
he led her through room after room, and she moved by his side stiffly
and with indifference, never looking around.

They reacht the furthest chamber. Purple and gold, silk and velvet,
were its costly garniture. The light only glimmered in faintly by day
through the heavy curtains. He pointed to the couch; and the
unconscious holder of a charmed life stoopt and bent down like a lily
that the wind shakes; she sank upon the red coverlet and breathed
painfully.

From a golden vial the old man poured a precious essence into a little
crystal cup, and set it before her mouth. Her pale lips sipt the
wonderous draught; she again unfolded her eyes, fixt them on her
former friend, turned away from him with an expression of loathing,
and fell into a deep sleep.

The old man carefully closed the chamber again. Everything in the
house was quiet. He betook himself to his own room, there in the midst
of his books and magical instruments to await the rising of the sun
and the business of the day.

* * * * *

When the unhappy youth, Antonio, had rested, the Podesta rode forth on
the following day with him and with a large train of armed followers,
to seek for the hut with the hideous old woman and the robbers, and to
take them prisoners. On hearing Antonio's story, the disconsolate
father became very eager to see the damsel who was said to be so like
his lost daughter. "Can it be," said the old man on their way, "that a
dream to which I have only too often abandoned myself, is about to
become true?"

The father was in such haste that he gave the youth no further
explanation. They came to the neighbouring wood; and here Antonio
thought he recollected himself and had found his track again. But that
night had so bewildered him, and excited such a turmoil throughout his
whole fra