ttle more than the menial work of vengeance. Major Nagen wrote in the
name of Weisspriess to Count Ammiani, appointing a second meeting at
Como, and stating that he would be at the villa of the Duchess of Graatli
there. Weisspriess was unsuspectingly taken down to the place by Anna and
Lena. There was a gathering of such guests as the duchess alone among her
countrywomen could assemble, under the patronage of the conciliatory
Government, and the duchess projected to give a series of brilliant
entertainments in the saloons of the Union, as she named her house-roof.
Count Serabiglione arrived, as did numerous Moderates and priest-party
men, Milanese garrison officers and others. Laura Piaveni travelled with
Countess d'Isorella and the happy Adela Sedley, from Lago Maggiore.

Laura came, as she cruelly told her friend, for the purpose of making
Victoria's excuses to the duchess. "Why can she not come herself?" Amalia
persisted in asking, and began to be afflicted with womanly curiosity.
Laura would do nothing but shrug and smile, and repeat her message. A
little after sunset, when the saloons were lighted, Weisspriess, sitting
by his Countess Anna's side, had a slip of paper placed in his hands by
one of the domestics. He quitted his post frowning with astonishment, and
muttered once, "My appointment!" Laura noticed that Anna's heavy eyelids
lifted to shoot an expressive glance at Violetta d'Isorella. She said:
"Can that have been anything hostile, do you suppose?" and glanced slyly
at her friend.

"No, no," said Amalia; "the misunderstanding is explained, and Major
Weisspriess is just as ready as Count Ammiani to listen to reason.
Besides, Count Ammiani is not so unfriendly but that if he came so near
he would come up to me, surely."

Laura brought Amalia's observation to bear upon Anna and Violetta by
turning pointedly from one to the other as she said: "As for reason,
perhaps you have chosen the word. If Count Ammiani attended an
appointment this time, he would be unreasonable."

A startled "Why?"--leaped from Anna's lips. She reddened at her impulsive
clumsiness.

Laura raised her shoulders slightly: "Do you not know?" The expression of
her face reproved Violetta, as for remissness in transmitting secret
intelligence. "You can answer why, countess," she addressed the latter,
eager to exercise her native love of conflict with this
doubtfully-faithful countrywoman;--the Austrian could feel that she had
beaten her on