imagination, merely turning up his eyes a little as though
deprecating the just vengeance of heaven upon his daughter's
misconduct.

"Really, papa--" protested Faustina.

"Yes--really, my daughter--I am much surprised," returned her
incensed parent, still speaking in an undertone lest the injured
man should overhear what was said.

They reached the head of the stairs and the men carried Gouache
rapidly away; not so quickly, however, as to prevent Faustina from
getting another glimpse of his face. His eyes were open and met
hers with an expression of mingled interest and gratitude which
she did not forget. Then he was carried away and she did not see
him again.

The Montevarchi household was conducted upon the patriarchal
principle, once general in Rome, and not quite abandoned even now,
twenty years later than the date of Gouache's accident. The palace
was a huge square building facing upon two streets, in front and
behind, and opening inwards upon two courtyards. Upon the lower
floor were stables, coach-houses, kitchens, and offices
innumerable. Above these there was built a half story, called a
mezzanino--in French, entresol, containing the quarters of the
unmarried sons of the house, of the household chaplain, and of two
or three tutors employed in the education of the Montevarchi
grandchildren. Next above, came the "piano nobile," or state
apartments, comprising the rooms of the prince and princess, the
dining-room, and a vast suite of reception-rooms, each of which