Teresa, overpowered with the most painful emotions, sank into a seat
and covered her face with her hands. With an expression of savage
pleasure, her tormentor approached quite near, and said:

"I beg, my charming friend, that you will not put yourself to the
fatigue and trouble of a sentimental reception, for I assure you it
will be entirely wasted."

These words roused the young girl from her stupor of agony, and
raising her form to its full height, she exclaimed:

"Brandini Villani, it would appear that the just avenging God hath
forgotten thee, miserable sinner, but it matters not; eternity,
methinks, will be long enough for thy punishment." Then with less
passion, but with regal, even awful dignity, she freezingly
inquired--"What have you to say?"

For an instant the wretch was intimidated, but noticing the tremor
of Teresa's whole frame, and mistaking it for fear, concealed
beneath affected scorn, he regained his assurance and tauntingly
replied:

"It is a trifling oversight, ma chere, to affect a callous
indifference towards me, when I have the charm with a single glance
to render you insensible, and to make you tremble at the mere sound
of my voice-no, no, Teresa, it will not do. While my presence
affects you thus, I know the power to fascinate has not yet deserted
me."

"Contemptuous wretch! With what feelings does the scaly, venomous