Him."

"Prayer for _you_, a _heretic_!" repeated Lucrezia; "you may as well offer
it up to blocks of wood or stone. The creed you profess forfeits all
inheritance for you in heaven."

Yet still Gina repeated it--"A few moments for prayer, in mercy!"

"Then pray away where you are going," returned Lucrezia, impatiently. "You
will have time enough, and to spare--minutes, and hours, and days,
perhaps."

The signora evidently took a savage pleasure in urging on the death of
Gina Montani. What could be the reason? Women in general are not so
frightfully cruel. The motive was, that she herself loved the count. As
Bianca had said, when watching the bridal cavalcade, could any be brought
into daily contact with one so attractive and not learn to love him? so it
had proved with Lucrezia. Being the favorite attendant of her mistress,
she was much with her, and consequently daily and frequently in the
company of Giovanni. He had many a gay word and passing jest for her, for
he was by nature a gallant, free-spoken man; and this had its effect.
Whilst he never glanced a thought towards her but as one necessary to wait
upon his wife, he became to her heart dangerously dear; and excessively
jealous had she been of Gina ever since she had heard the conversation in
the embroidery-room. Pushing the unfortunate girl on before her, Lucrezia
silently passed from Gina's bed-chamber to the secret passages, plenty of
which might be found in the castle. She bore a lantern in her hand, which
emitted a dim, uncertain light. At length they came to a passage, a little
beyond the chapel, far removed from the habited apartments; and in the
middle of this were two male forms, busily occupied at work of some
description. A lantern, similar to the one Lucrezia carried, was hanging
high up against the opposite wall; another stood on the ground. Gina
stopped and shivered, but Lucrezia touched her arm, and she walked on.
They were nearing the men, who were habited as monks, and their faces
shielded beneath their cowls, when the signora halted and pressed her hand
upon her brow, as if in thought. Presently she turned to Gina. A second
lie was in her mouth; but how was the ill-fated young lady to know it?
"_He_ sent you a message," she whispered. "It is his last request to you.
Will you receive it?" The unhappy victim looked up eagerly.

"He requests, then, by his love for you--by the remembrance of the happy
moments you once spent together, that you ne