ace was pale and his eyes
unusually brilliant. He looked his best--I admitted it, and could
readily understand how an idle, pleasure-seeking feminine animal might
be easily attracted by the purely physical beauty of his form and
features. I spoke a part of my thoughts aloud.

"You are not only an artist by profession, Signer Ferrari--you are one
also in appearance."

He flushed slightly and smiled.

"You are very amiable to say so," he replied, his pleased vanity
displaying itself at once in the expression of his face. "But I am well
aware that you flatter me. By the way, before I forget it, I must tell
you that I fulfilled your commission."

"To the Countess Romani?"

"Exactly. I cannot describe to you her astonishment and delight at the
splendor and brilliancy of those jewels you sent her. It was really
pretty to watch her innocent satisfaction."

I laughed.

"Marguerite and the jewel song in 'Faust,' I suppose, with new scenery
and effects?" I asked, with a slight sneer. He bit his lip and looked
annoyed. But he answered, quietly:

"I see you must have your joke, conte; but remember that if you place
the countess in the position of Marguerite, you, as the giver of the
jewels, naturally play the part of Mephistopheles."

"And you will be Faust, of course!" I said, gayly. "Why, we might mount
the opera with a few supernumeraries and astonish Naples by our
performance! What say you? But let us come to business. I like the
picture you have on the easel there--may I see it more closely?"

He drew it nearer; it was a showy landscape with the light of the
sunset upon it. It was badly done, but I praised it warmly, and
purchased it for five hundred francs. Four other sketches of a similar
nature were then produced. I bought these also. By the time we got
through these matters, Ferrari was in the best of humors. He offered me
some excellent wine and partook of it himself; he talked incessantly,
and diverted me extremely, though my inward amusement was not caused by
the witty brilliancy of his conversation. No, I was only excited to a
sense of savage humor by the novelty of the position in which we two
men stood. Therefore I listened to him attentively, applauded his
anecdotes--all of which I had heard before--admired his jokes, and
fooled his egotistical soul till he had no shred of self-respect
remaining. He laid his nature bare before me--and I knew what it was at
last--a mixture of selfishness, avarice, sensua