acle nor acknowledges any barrier to its wishes,--I
could regard the question as one of those everyday events in life whose
uniformity is seldom broken by a new incident; for love stories have a
terrible sameness in them." She smiled as she said this, and in such a
way as to make him smile at first, and then laugh heartily.

"But if," resumed she, seriously,--"if I only see in this project a
mere caprice, half--more than half--based upon the pleasure of wounding
family pride, or of coercing those who have hitherto dictated to you;
if, besides this, I perceive that there is no strong affection on either
side, none of that impetuous passion which the world accepts as 'the
attenuating circumstance' in rash marriages--"

"And who has told you that I do not love Ida, or that she is not devoted
with her whole heart to _me?_" cried he, interrupting her.

"You yourself have told the first. You have shown by the price you have
laid on the object the value at which you estimate it. As for the latter
part of your question--" She paused, and arranged the folds of her shawl,
purposely playing with his impatience, and enjoying it.

"Well," cried he, "as for the latter part; go on."

"It scarcely requires an answer. I saw Ida Delia Torre last night in a
society of which her affianced husband was not one; and, I will be
bold enough to say, hers was not the bearing that bespoke engaged
affections."

"Indeed!" said he, but in a tone that indicated neither displeasure nor
surprise.

"It was as I have told you, Count. Surrounded by the youth of Florence,
such as you know them, she laughed, and talked, and sang, in all the
careless gayety of a heart at ease; or, if at moments a shade of sadness
crossed her features, it was so brief that only one observing her
closely as myself could mark it."

"And how did that subtle intelligence of yours interpret this show of
sorrow?" said he, in a voice of mockery, but yet of deep anxiety.

"My subtle intelligence was not taxed to guess, for I knew her secret,"
said the Princess, with all the strength of conscious power.

"Her secret--her secret!" said he, eagerly. "What do you mean by that?"

The Princess smiled coldly, and said, "I have not yet found my frankness
so well repaid that I should continue to extend it."

"What is the reward to be, madam? Name it," said he, boldly.

"The same candor on your part, Count; I ask for no more."

"But what have I to reveal; what mystery is there th