and eat, apparently bent on the most murderous havoc. Meantime, his
servant turned to Gaspar.

"The prince hath heard one of your village youths, by name, Gulielmo
Massani, commended much for his high talent and great pictorial skill."

"Ah!" murmured Gaspar, to himself, "heard one ever such elegant
discourse?"

"The prince last evening met upon the road an old acquaintance, who told
him much concerning this lad; recounted his whole history, and told how
he drew wonderful resemblances of birds, and beasts, and men."

"'Tis true," replied Gaspar. "Strange that I should never have thought
of it before."

"So, therefore, the prince offers to patronize the gifted youth, and
send him a couple of years or more to Rome, where he will be able to
make himself a perfect artist, and get fortune at such a rate that he
can soon roll in gold."

"San Dominic!" said the host; "surely Gulielmo's luck has turned. They
say that Jean, last night, was robbed of more than half his store. and
so, I do not know--but Rosa--"

"You're right," interrupted the other speaker. "Two hundred crowns are
yours, provided Rosa waits two years against Gulielmo's safe return."

"Ahem!" exclaimed the somewhat surprised landlord. "How comes it that
you know of this? And yet the girl grieves sorely. I will take you at