Year: 1863




they knew of each other. The gold they
had just released from a miser's chest in
Perugia, and they were on a scent tina:
promised more.


They and their shadows no sooner de-
parted than the Venitiau returned, saying,
Give me leave TO set my seal on the
bag, as the others have done;" and she
placed it on the table before him. But
at that moment she was called away to
receive a cavalier, who had just dismount-
ed from his horse; and when she came
back it was gone. The temptation had
proved irresistible, and the man and the
money had vanished together.


"Wretched woman that l ami" she
cried, as in an agony Of grief she fell on
her daughters neck; "what will become
of usl Are we to be again cast out in
to the wide world? Unhappy child,
would that thou hadst never been bornw
And all day long she lamented, but her
tears availed her little. The others were
not slow in returning to claim their due;
and there were no tidings of the thief, he
had fled far away with his plumber. A
process against her was instantly begun
at Bologna; and what defence could she
make? how release herself from the obi
cation Of the bond9 Willfully or in neg
ligenco she had parted with it to one,
when she should have kept it for all; and
inevitably ruin awaited her


"Go, Gianetta," she said to her daugh-
ter, take this vail that your mother has
worn and wept under so often, and implore
tho Counselor Calderino to plead for us
on the day of trial. He is generous and
will listen to the unfortunate. But if he
will not, go from door to door; Monaldi
can not refuse us. Make haste my child;
but remember the chapel as you pass by
it. Nothing prospers without prayer"


Alas she went, but in vain. These
were retained against them; those de-
manded more than they had to give; and
all bade them despair. What was to be
done! No advocate, and the cause comes
on tomorrow


Now, Gianetta had lover, and he was
n student of the lava young man of
great promise, Lorenzo Martell. He had
studied long and diligently under that
learned lawyer, Giovanni Andreas, who,
though little in stature, was great in re-
nown, and by his cotemporaries, was call
ed the arch-doctor, the rabbi of doctors,
the light of the world. Under him be
had studied, sitting on the same bench
with petrarch; and also under his daugh-
ter, Novel;, who would often lecture to
the scholars when her father was other
wise engaged, placing herself behind a
small curtain, lest her beauty should di-
vert their thoughts; precaution in this
case, at least, unnecessary, Lorenzo hav-
ing lost his heart TO another.


To him she flies in her necessity, but
Of what assistance can he be? He has
just taken his place at the bar, but has
never spoken, and how stand up alone,
Impractical and unprepared as he is,
against an array that would alarm the
most experiencedl


"Were 1 as mighty as / am weak"
he said, "my fears for you would make
me as nothing. But will be there Gil
anetta, and may the friend of the friend
less give me strength in that hour! l
feel my heart fail me even now; but come
what will, while | have loaf TO share,
you and your mother shall never want.
l will beg through the world on my
knees, for you.


The day arrives, and the court as
sembes. The claim is stated, and the
evidence given. And now the defence is
called for, but none is made, not syllable
is uttered. And, after pause and a