It was night, and the pale moon, as if in a fickle mood, was smiling
and scowling by turns, as the fleecy clouds hurried swiftly past
her. The fitful and sudden glances of light appeared doubly bright
from the transient shadows made by the officious clouds. They,
deeming that the moon took too much credit to herself as queen' of
light for the hour, designed apparently to let her know that she
reigned only at their will and pleasure.

Now bursting through their veiling power, the moon would for a
moment cast long deep shadows down the narrow streets, and here and
there would light up for an instant some antique palace front with
dazzling richness, and as quickly die away again, as though it were
at play with the earth. It was difficult in this alternating of
light and darkness to use the eye so as to discern objects with
certainty; and an individual could with difficulty be recognized
between the changes, however near he might be to the observer. The
character of the night was wild and threatening-a night for evil
deeds.

The gates of the city of Florence were just closing, and the
gathering clouds had entirely obscured the light of the moon, as a
caleche-and-four, with an extra postilion, dashed off from the Borg'
ognisanti, on the mountain-road towards Bologna. The inmates of the
vehicle exchanged not a word. The female seemed to be affrighted at
the headlong speed with which the double team drew the light caleche
up the mountain's side, while a postilion sat so near, and the
attendant at the lady's side, together seemed an excuse for the
silence, even if they were that which any one would have pronounced
them, a runaway couple.