heavens I dug the fresh mould from the grave; I lifted the coffin; I
wrenched the lid, I saw her again--again. Decay had not touched her.
She was always pale in her life! I could have sworn she lived! It was
a blessed thing to see her once more,--and all alone too! But then at
dawn, to give her back to the earth,--to close the lid, to throw down
the mould, to hear the pebbles rattle on the coffin,--that was dreadful!
Signor, I never knew before, and I don't wish to think now, how valuable
a thing human life is. At sunrise I was again a wanderer; but now that
Clara was gone my scruples vanished, and again I was at war with my
betters. I contrived, at last, at O--, to get taken on board a vessel
bound to Leghorn, working out my passage. From Leghorn I went to Rome,
and stationed myself at the door of the cardinal's palace. Out he
came,--his gilded coach at the gate. "'Ho, father,' said I, 'don't you
know me?'

"'Who are you?'

"'Your son,' said I, in a whisper.

"The cardinal drew back, looked at me earnestly, and mused a moment.
'All men are my sons,' quoth he then, very mildly; 'there is gold for
thee. To him who begs once, alms are due; to him who begs twice, jails
are open. Take the hint and molest me no more. Heaven bless thee!'
With that he got into his coach and drove off to the Vatican. His
purse, which he had left behind, was well supplied. I was grateful and
contented, and took my way to Terracina. I had not long passed the
marshes, when I saw two horsemen approach at a canter.

"'You look poor, friend,' said one of them, halting; 'yet you are
strong.'