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This palace and its precious heirlooms will be sold." The marchesa put out her hand with silent horror. "It is the case with so many of our great families," continued the impassable Trenta. "Now, on the other hand, Enrica may possibly change her mind; Nobili may change his mind. Circumstances quite unforeseen may occur who can answer for circumstances?" The marchesa listened silently.
His very voice had changed into a manly barytone. In the absence of his sword, Trenta was evidently about to strike Marescotti. As he advanced, the other retreated. A hot flush overspread the count's face for an instant, then it faded out, and grew pale and rigid. He remembered the cavaliere's great age, and checked himself.
But I include her in the just indignation with which I regard this house and its mistress, whose agent she has made herself to deceive me." Count Nobili's kindling eye rested on the marchesa. She, in her turn, shot a furious glance at the cavaliere. "'Explanations given! Then Trenta had dared to exonerate Enrica! It was degrading!"
"Dare you deny that you are his mistress?" The shock of the words overcame Enrica. She fixes her eyes on her aunt as if not understanding their meaning. Then a deep blush covers her from head to foot; she trembles and presses both her hands to her bosom as if in pain. "Spare her, spare her!" is heard in less audible sounds from Trenta to the marchesa. The marchesa tosses her head defiantly.
"No, no," answered Trenta, rising and walking toward the door, which he opened and held in his hand, while he kept his eyes fixed on the staircase; "Marescotti is disgusted with Rome with the Parliament, with the Government with every thing.
Again she stopped. "Speak speak, my child," he answered; "tell me all that is in your mind." Before she could reply, the count and Baldassare reappeared, accompanied by the porter of the Guinigi Palace and the keys. "Are you sure you would rather not return home again, Enrica? You have only to turn the corner, remember," asked Trenta, looking at her with anxious affection.
I live there above, in the golden clouds" and he turned and pointed to a crest of glittering vapor sailing across the intense blue of the sky. Then, with his hand pressed on his brow, he began to pace rapidly up and down the narrow platform. The cavaliere and Baldassare were watching him from the farther end of the tower. "He! he!" said Trenta, and he gave a little laugh and nudged Baldassare.
The savage look Ruspoli had cast on him, when he led her up to him in one of the figures of the cotillon; how Malatesta had grinned at him how Orsetti had whispered "Bravo!" in his ear. Might not some rumor of all this reach Enrica? through Trenta, perhaps, or that chattering fool, Baldassare? If they spoke of the accident, they would surely connect his name with that of Nera.
Here Baldassare rose and leaned over from behind. "I went up the Guinigi Tower with the party," he ventured to say. "There were four of us. The Cavaliere Trenta told me in the street just before that it was all right, and that the lady had agreed to marry Count Marescotti. There can be no secret about it now that every one knows it.
"I shall not leave Corellia until we are affianced. Fra Pacifico knows it I told him so last night. Cavaliere Trenta is expected to-day from Lucca. Both will speak to your aunt. One may have done so already, for what I know, for Fra Pacifico had left his house before I rose. He must be here. Is this a time to weep, Enrica?" he asked her tenderly. How comely Nobili looked!
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