weeks. Then must I starve? Or die of thirst? Tortured by these
imaginings, I rose up from the pavement and stood erect. My feet
were bare, and the cold stone on which I stood chilled me to the
marrow. It was fortunate for me, I thought, that they had buried me
as a cholera corpse--they had left me half-clothed for fear of
infection. That is, I had my flannel shirt on and my usual walking
trousers. Something there was, too, round my neck; I felt it, and as
I did so a flood of sweet and sorrowful memories rushed over me. It
was a slight gold chain, and on it hung a locket containing the
portraits of my wife and child. I drew it out in the darkness; I
covered it with passionate kisses and tears--the first I had shed
since my death--like trance-tears scalding and bitter welled into my
eyes. Life was worth living while Nina's smile lightened the world!
I resolved to fight for existence, no matter what dire horrors
should be yet in store for me. Nina--my love--my beautiful one! Her
face gleamed out upon me in the pestilent gloom of the charnel-
house; her eyes beckoned me--her young faithful eyes that were now,
I felt sure, drowned in weeping for my supposed death. I seemed to
see my tender-hearted darling sobbing alone in the empty silence of
the room that had witnessed a thousand embraces between herself and
me; her lovely hair disheveled; her sweet face pale and haggard with
the bitterness of grief! Baby Stella, too, no doubt she would
wonder, poor innocent! why I did not come to swing her as usual
under the orange boughs. And Guido--brave and true friend! I thought
of him with tenderness. I felt I knew how deep and lasting would be
his honest regret for my loss. Oh, I would leave no means of escape
untried; I would find some way out of this grim vault! How overjoyed
they would all be to see me again--to know that I was not dead after
all! What a welcome I should receive! How Nina would nestle into my
arms; how my little child would cling to me; how Guido would clasp