"A good wife--for Francesco the carpenter," said Belviso. "Yes, it may
be so, though I own that her marriage puzzles me. But wife to Don
Francesco--nobile Inglese--never in the world!"

I said, "Belviso, I never asked you to be my servant, as you very well
know. The proposal came from you against my will. But if my servant you
are, I will make free to remind you that I have given you an order, and
shall be obliged if you will set about performing it." The good lad
dropped on one knee, took my hand and kissed it, and turned to obey me
without a word. Ashamed of myself, I patted him on the shoulder in token
of forgiveness, and saw the tears spring into his eyes. Before he could
reach the door, Fra Palamone had filled up the entry, panting, holding
out a note.

"For the Excellency of Don Francesco," says he, "just delivered at the
door by a young female." I took it from him; it was in the hand of
Virginia, the hand I myself had guided, the good and docile hand which
had formed itself on mine.

I read--O Heaven, can I say so? The words, like knives at work, cut
themselves deep into the fibres of my heart.

Virginia wrote:

"MOST EXCELLENT DON FRANCIS,--

"That cavalcade of his lordship's, of four horses and two servants,
entering this city of Arezzo at three o'clock in the afternoon of to-
day, was witnessed by a concourse of people, always eager to see a great
gentleman, and to secure some part of his bounty. Had his lordship