Padrona degli Sventurati, Helper and Friend of those who must serve Love
without loving! What a Goddess was this! I drew apart from my informant
and communed alone with the mysterious Emblem. "O most tender Advocate
of them that need Thee," said I, "O loving Mother of Sinners! Clean
Champion of the unclean, Stem, Leaf, Blossom and Fruit of the abounding
promise of Heaven that a seed of hope may fructify in our ineffable
corruption! cast down Thy compassionate eyes upon me too, that in their
light I may strive again."

This was my prayer, a general one for grace rather than a particular for
some specific grace. Now for what I consider to have been a direct
answer to it. On the steps of the church, on going out, I saw Belviso
waiting for me. I saw that he was alone--and that at once brought before
my mind the picture of Virginia, the brave and passionate dark-browed
girl, my stormy lover and my wife; whom I, alas, was hired by gratitude
and the sacrament to love, though love her as I ought I did not. I stood
speechless and thunderstruck. Here now, sinner, is the answer to thy
prayer! Art not thou, poor Francis, one of Love's hirelings? Dost not
thou need the Padrona degli Sventurati? I asked myself these questions;
Belviso would answer them for me.

He told me how he had sped. He had been to Lucca and seen Teresa,
Gioiachino's wife. Gioiachino, poor fellow, was in prison, but not for
long, it was thought. Virginia was gone, but Aquamorta remained in the
city. My poor girl had left a note for me with Teresa, which Teresa
handed on to Belviso and he to me--to this effect. I read it with tears:

"MASTER, LORD, AND EXCELLENT HUSBAND," it began--("Padrone, Signor, ed
egregio marito mio")--"Thy child is unhappy, but having learned from