miscarriage. The Cardinal, on his side, kept his word, and the
unsuccessful attempt was never betrayed.

"A few months passed on; there was an uninterrupted harmony
between the brothers, and Francesco invited the Cardinal, who
was fond of field-sports, to pass some time with him at a
country palace, famous for its preserves Of game.

"On the very day of his arrival, Bianca, who knew that the
Cardinal was partial to a certain description of tart,
bethought her to prepare one for him herself. This flattering
attention on the part of his sister-in-law was hinted to him by
Francesco, who mentioned it as a new proof of the Duchess's
amiability, but, as he had no great confidence in his
reconciliation with Bianca, it was an intimation which caused
him not a little disquietude. Fortunately, the Cardinal
possessed an opal, given to him by Pope Sixtus V., which had
the property of growing dim the moment it approached any
poisonous substance. He did not fail to make trial of it on the
tart prepared by Bianca. The opal grew dim and tarnished. The
Cardinal said, with an assumed air of carelessness, that, on
consideration, he would not eat to-day of the tart. The Duke
pressed him; but not being able to prevail--'Well,' said he,
'since Ferdinand will not eat of his favourite dish, it shall
not be said that a Grand-duchess had turned confectioner for
nothing--I will eat of it.' And he helped himself to a piece of
the tart.

"Bianca was in the act of bending forward to prevent him--but
suddenly paused. Her position was horrible. She must either