would be no trial. In that case, I begged them to leave me to repose and
meditation, which they were so good as to do. I had an excellent night's
rest, and was very ready for my chocolate at eight o'clock in the
morning.

Whilst I was sipping this, expecting every moment the arrival of my
servant with my clothes, clean linen, letters, and a barber, I heard the
key turn in the lock, and made sure that it was Federigo. But the warder
introduced a muffled figure of a woman, who, when he had retired, came
quickly towards me, as if she was about to stab me. "Miserable young
man!" she said fiercely. It was Aurelia!

I sprang up, took, saluted her hand, "Madam," I said, "this is a
condescension which I am far from deserving. I have done nothing but my
duty."

Her eyes were very bright, and she was distressed for breath; but there
was an intensity in her manner--a fire, a flame--which made her
vehement.

"Your duty, indeed!" she cried. "When may I expect you to find your duty
elsewhere than in my affairs? Am I never to have paid off my original
debt to your lordship? It is not enough, it appears, that you make love
to me--but you must tell my husband all about it! It is not enough that
he drives me out of doors and that you refuse to come with me--no, but
you must wander about by yourself, telling all the world what you have
done. It is not enough that you make me love you, but you must needs
intrigue with a low-born girl, a thing of naught! And now, finally, you
come galloping into Florence again, and you--you----Oh, Heavens, I have
no patience left to speak of such things! How did you dare"--she stamped