cause I never
did--never would--and never will trust to priestcraft. All the intrigues
of the Jesuits, all the craft of the whole College of Cardinals, will
not bring back confidence in the monarchy. But why do I talk of these
things to you? Go back and ask him to see me. Say that I have many
things to tell him; say"--and here the mockery of his voice became
conspicuous--"that I would wish much to have his advice on certain
points.--And why not?" cried he aloud to something she said; "has my new
nobility no charm for him? Well, then, I am ready to strike a bargain
with him. I owe Caffarelli two hundred and eighty thousand francs, which
I mean to pay, if I take to the highway to do it. Hush! don't interrupt
me. I am not asking he should pay this for me,--all I want is that he
will enable me to sell that villa which he gave me some years ago beyond
Caserta. Yes, the Torricelia; I know all that,--it was a royal present.
It never had the more value in my eyes for that; and perhaps the day is
not far distant when the right to it may be disputed. Let him make out
my title, such as it is, so that I can sell it. There are Jews who will
surely take it at one-half its worth. Get him to consent to this, and I
am ready to pledge my word that he has seen the last of me."

"He gave it to you as a wedding-present, Norman," said she, haughtily;
and now her deep-toned voice rung out clear and strong; "and it will be
an unpardonable offence to ask him this."

"Have I not told you that I shall not need forgiveness,--that with this
act all ends between us?"

"I will be no party to this," said she, haughtily; and she arose
and walked out upon the terrace. As she passed, the lamplight flared
strongly on her features, and M'Caskey saw a face he had once known
well; but what a change was there! The beautiful Nini Brancaleone, the
dark-haired Norma, the belle that Byron used to toast with an enthusiasm
of admiration, was a tall woman advanced in years, and with two masses
of snow-white hair on either side of a pale face. The dark eyes, indeed,
flashed brightly still, and the eyebrows were dark as of yore; but the
beautifully formed mouth was hard and thin-lipped, and the fair brow
marked with many a strong line of pain.

"You forget, perhaps," said she, after a short pause,--"you forget
that it is from this villa I take my title. I am Brancaleone della
Torricella, and I forfeit the name when it leaves our hands."

"And do you hold to this,