who were not either in the ball-room, or in the card-room, were at
that moment in the principal supper-room--it had seemed well to the
Conte Leandro, in his dudgeon and spite against all the world, to
ensconce himself quietly behind the curtain, and hear what use
Ludovico and Bianca would make of their tete-a-tete.

The first advantage he obtained was to hear himself spoken of as a
nightmare; and that naturally: prompted him to prick up his ears to
hear more. But when he had thus learned the whole secret of the
projected expedition, it struck him, as well worth considering,
whether there might not be found in this the means of making his
tormentor pay him for some of the annoyances he had suffered at his
hands.

So! the Marchese Ludovico, who ought to be paying his addresses to
the Contessa Violante in the sight of all Ravenna--the Contessa
Violante Marliani was great niece of the Cardinal Legate, between
whom and the Marchese Ludovico their respective families had
projected an alliance--was, instead of that, going off on a partie
fine with the notorious Bianca Lalli! A tete-a-tete in the Pineta!
Mighty fine, indeed! So sure, too, that nobody in the world would
find them out on Ash Wednesday morning! And he is to be at her door
at six o'clock in the morning! Very good! Capitally well arranged--
were it not that Leandro Lombardoni may perhaps think fit to put a
spoke in the wheel.

A little further consideration of the manner in which such spoke
might be most effectually supplied, decided the angry and malicious
poet--(poets, like women, will become malicious when scorned)--to
seek out the Marchese Lamberto, whom he thought he should probably