, 1874-10-11


We had an american 1t the Hotel du Bon
Virsat, quiet, thoughtful man, too mitch Of m
| Invalid to talk much aud very reserved in his
uanners. We 'is.lo thought that the dZeslicd
sp4sk 1l would be uropped by him but 50 II wss-
The Baron WAS describing to 3 knot OF us, in
cuding the Count. as me were louugiug in the
euttsnce-i,a after luncheon, Lis Sytacusau yilIa
with its exquisite gardens TIE American was
listening With iiis usual air Of abstraction, and
quietly intesposed question, ..D1d I unde,-
stand you to saw that the Villa d'Aosta in the
Stfada di Palermo belongs to yon?"
ii, Eignor the Viii. d'AoHta you speak Of is
tue one. It is mine. It has been in my family
for several generations"
You've got Il tenant there now who's friend
Of miue -
"No. aigpor; no: : do not let my villa, nor
other Of my residences"
~ Well. tkat's queer, [ consider" said the
American. II came direct from Sicily last
| month. end o friend OF mine was tenant OF that
VILE for tho winter. and staid day or two With
hlm IN that very house. Guess there's sone
| bnn!inm somnwherest"
| Part OF these remarks we're made in Italian:
some ejaculatcd n English.
Bn3atel!o!" !" replied the Baron .'you are
mistaken st2nor! 1t must hevc been some
| other Villa d.losta."
"No. il wasn't" returned the American :. and
for my part think you are no more Baron thnn
I'm julius Caesar"
He certainly looked Offended, though happily
tho last eontence was i'll English: III fact, he had
been 80 unacctstomed to be cnutrsdicted, thu. it
positively confused him. And I could no. help
| noticing tha. tho Cuun. looked excessively
| tlokletl, as we'll as triumphant.
That eTcling, when the Baron advanced to
| attend tie Princess to tie salon, sl!c declined
| his offer to place the shawl on her shoulders us
| hc had always done; aud in tho most perfect
manner. 1ithoat snubbing or putting hin down,
allowed hn to discover for himself that yho waa
| utterly indifferent to him. It vaB just "a il the
moon were to take the place OF the sul, in
quiet and t1ndemonstrati7e Way. rith no e3pia-
nation given.
But, Of coursc. au explanation was to be de-
mauded; and as sooo as tho dinner WAS over, the
baron sought, xnd Obtained, tcto-a-tete i'll
| corner Of the Sales des Dnmes. We Ill had tho
| decency to read GdtJnd'1i. or plaT bezlqnc. or
otherwise to throw veil over our curionisy, as
we an1iousy watched th= development of the
plot, and tried to hedge our be.a before it was
| too late.
| Suddenly the Baron started TO luis feet. aad
! uttered q loud ezocrative exclamation. which l
t decline to tranplate. His goui now most clearly
betrayed bis passtonatcueas, but there rather
| more light than sweetness in his eyes MS be
! glared round the room in saaEch OF tbs hapless
| American.
We all sprang to our feet too; tho ladies' near
| the door rapidly Fetteated, aud the men looked
| at one another. half-auuscl, half-an67ly.
!. Ii knew Tho had poisoned the mind of Ma
! dame. I would Gilan;ate hnl--tenr him in
pieces ahtleksd the Baron. Ihat viper Of sn
| American ~
~ "no not t4l9 faA'e1tcaA, ona "ete4 I.e
Gount' coming 4Mcty oot OF recess - told
hGaame "ile1 he mac dlscosereo.
Ihe l1eron SO lar forgot tho pcffcctncss Of LIS
uahnefs ana evloens deslle 10 ptcase ~ Will LIE
open palm to clap tue Count on tho ftce. But in
ahotnef secoho no 1oanN h1fnseif IN tnat physical
checKmase known as cnencefs-ho haa gos ais
nead ufioer ms fl'als iett arm VINO was hoiulng
It aown TO Il convenient level LOT the uGht hand
70 nob ms hose-and 'here, o5iote tae fIincoss'
! 11 LIS s"lo ues Dahe6, WIS beiob uhpia5sd
scene rom the btlt.sh f'1lS. cnalrs ano 1ao!es
so'Es o'o3 Snnete' 90 tas quIt upeu"l nolstot t
pesiormcu iss ernie revolutions. atniu t'1o
scraa1ns Q! "onlcn tae SHOUTS OK NELL tne 1Ioans
o1 !ne 1nal:'e, ana sse lnaescl,oaole cFles OF a.
tonishlnent uttered " tne wloie s.an G! lhe
notel, WHICH naa peen setneten tose1her 81 tne
con, m, py tae nsst e1c'anaslons VI sne i''ron
ine Anglo-9a1on nationahty na'l'g: IL s?!te
o. sno ps1ncaplo ol Inn-'nterSehtiof, sopagaseo
aaa ,a s ro .ne ond ntc n
' batat a., Tns 70 s ruoo, nnd ,ooacs M TO 70
~ p.el, anu "no 9 Ielos1eo .aas' VII ano e;ceps.oa
=. eoul'.o " usohou soosa, ADsAlnss W so.iso