o on
plotting. I am not the Government. I am sure I don't much dislike her.
Yes, I hate her, but why should I hurt myself? She will wear those jewels
on her forehead; she will wear that necklace with the big amethysts, and
pretend she's humble because she doesn't carry earrings, when her ears
have never been pierced! I am lost! Yes, you may say, lookup! I am only a
poor singer, and he can ruin me. Oh! Countess d'Isorella, oh! what a
fearful punishment. If Countess Anna should betray Count Ammiani
to-night, nothing, nothing, will save me. I will confess. Let us both be
beforehand with her--or you, it does not matter for a noble lady."

"Hush!" said Violetta. "What dreadful fool is this I sit with? You may
have done what you think of doing already."

She walked to the staircase door, and to that of the suite. An honourable
sentiment, conjoined to the knowledge that he had heard sufficient,
induced Wilfrid to pass on into the sleeping apartment a moment or so
before Violetta took this precaution. The potent liquor of Pericles had
deprived him of consecutive ideas; he sat nursing a thunder in his head,
imagining it to be profound thought, till Pericles flung the door open.
Violetta and Irma had departed. "Behold! I have it; ze address of your
rogue Barto Rizzo," said Pericles, in the manner of one whose triumph is
absolutely due to his own shrewdness. "Are two women a match for me? Now,
my friend, you shall see. Barto Rizzo is too clever for zis government,
which cannot catch him. I catch him, and I teach him he may touch
politics--it is not for him to touch Art. What! to hound men to interrupt
her while she sings in public places? What next! But I knew my Countess
d'Isorella could help me, and so I sent for her to confront Irma, and
dare to say she knew not Barto's dwelling--and why? I will tell you a
secret. A long-flattered woman, my friend, she has had, you will think,
enough of it; no! she is like avarice. If it is worship of swine, she
cannot refuse it. Barto Rizzo worships her; so it is a deduction--she
knows his abode--I act upon that, and I arrive at my end. I now send him
to ze devil."

Barto Rizzo, after having evaded the polizia of the city during a three
months' steady chase, was effectually captured on the doorstep of
Vittoria's house in the Corso Francesco, by gendarmes whom Pericles had
set on his track. A day later Vittoria was stabbed at about the same
hour, on the same spot. A woman dealt the blow. Vitt