first talk about the business which brings me here."

His little quick bright eyes watched my face curiously; and I
perceived, with anguish, that he had not the least suspicion of the
purpose of my visit.

A cold sweat broke out over my forehead; and in the bewilderment of
my anxiety I stammered out something to this effect:

"I have come from Paris expressly to look at a manuscript of the
Legende Doree, which you informed me was in your possession."

At these words he threw up his arms, opened his mouth and eyes to
the widest possible extent, and betrayed every sign of extreme
nervousness.

"Oh! the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend!' A pearl, Excellence!
a ruby, a diamond! Two miniatures so perfect that they give one
the feeling of glimpses of Paradise! What suavity! Those colours
ravished from the corollas of flowers make a honey for the eyes!
Even a Sicilian could have done no better!"

"Let me see it, then," I asked; unable to conceal either my anxiety
or my hope.

"Let you see it!" cried Polizzi. "But how can I, Excellence? I
have not got it any longer! I have not got it!"

And he seemed determined to tear out his hair. He might indeed have
pulled every hair in his head out of his hide before I should have