"Forbear! Do not cross that threshold tonight! Villani, I have seen
him this very evening--he sat so near I might almost have touched
him-so near, and yet not a thought that I was more to him than any
other of that crowd! Bear with me for this night-I must be alone."

"It shall be as you wish--I will speak of what brought me here some
other time, perhaps to-morrow."

"To-morrow let it be then."

Presently Teresa became calmer, yet through the remainder of the
night she sat by the open casement without motion or apparent life,
thinking over bitter memories without a gleam of hope to illumine
the future.

After Teresa's first agitation had subsided, the stranger's presence
seemed to exert a most powerful and calming influence upon her mind.
He was seldom absent at her performances, and it seemed to give her
an increase of strength as well as happiness; she always received
some token of his delight, and many said the Duke di Castiglioni-so
he was called-had a very superior taste, and wondered what would
come of it. Villani had exacted a promise from Teresa, that she
would not permit an introduction to him, and shortly after left the
city for a few weeks.

Teresa felt relieved by his absence, although they were no longer
enemies, and her mode of life was unchanged. Nearly a fortnight had
elapsed, when another incident occurred that changed the whole
future of her life. One evening Teresa eagerly sought the familiar
face of the foreign nobleman, but in vain, and a disappointed look