close in his ample cloak, with his hat slouched well over his eyes,
him she took for Carlton; he stood apparently expecting her at the
door of a caleche. With a whisper of recognition, he assisted her
into the vehicle, which immediately dashed off at a reckless speed
on the mountain-road. The reader need hardly be told that this was
Petro, who thus cunningly executed the plan agreed upon, as we have
already seen, between him and his uncle, Signor Latrezzi. Thus we
explain to the reader the tableau we have presented him at the
little roadside inn on the Apennines; thus it was that Petro
Giampetti, in place of Carlton, was wedded to Signora Florinda.

Fatal mistake! Ay, fatal, indeed, was that unfortunate billet
delivered by Florinda unwittingly to Petro. It was the author of all
her present misery, and the consequences to follow were, if
possible, of a still more fatal character. In that little note,
Petro possessed himself of an agent which enabled him to work out
his treacherous plans-a key wherewith he unlocked the purposes of
Carlton, and made himself master of his secret design. We have seen,
gentle reader, to what use Petro put the information he had so
treacherously obtained, and now we will show the close of this fatal
drama.

While Florinda was still insensible, and surrounded by the servants
of the house, under Petro's directions, endeavoring to resuscitate
her, a single horseman rode up to the door of the inn on his way
down the mountain. Dismounting, he stood by his weary steed for a
moment, regarding both him and the ominous signs of the weather,
then turning to the attentive hostler, he asked:

"How far to Florence, sir?"