wife bit her lip to control her rising laughter.

"You might travel," growled the old gentleman.

"But I am very happy here."

"Then what do you mean by talking like that about Casa
Montevarchi?"

"I fail to see the connection between the two ideas," observed
Giovanni.

"You live in precisely the same circumstances as Ascanio Bellegra.
I think the connection is clear enough. If his life is sad, so is
yours." "For downright good logic commend me to my beloved
father!" cried Giovanni, breaking into a laugh at last.

"A laughing-stock for my children! I have come to this!" exclaimed
his father gruffly. But his features relaxed into a good-humoured
smile, that was pleasant to see upon his strong dark face.

"But, really, I am very sorry to hear this of poor Gouache," said
Corona at last, returning to the original subject of their
conversation. "I hope it is nothing really dangerous."

"It is always dangerous to be run over by a carriage," answered
Giovanni. "I will go and see him, if they will let me in."

At this juncture Orsino was brought in by his nurse, a splendid
creature from Saracinesca, with bright blue eyes and hair as fair