d her continually with words and
glances--wanted of her. She maintained her uniform, gentle
peacefulness; and the very hopelessness engendered by this constantly
unchanging attitude of hers drove him to despair. He planned the vilest
measures. He succeeded in establishing a love affair with Annunziata's
most trusted lady-in-waiting, who at last allowed him to pay her
nocturnal visits. He thought this was a paving of the way to
Annunziata's own unprofaned chamber; but it was Heaven's will that this
vileness should recoil on the head of him who devised it.

"It chanced, one night, that the Doge--who had just received the news
of Nicolo Pisani's having been beaten in the engagement with Doria at
Portelongo--was walking about the halls of the palace in much distress
and anxiety, unable to sleep. He saw a shadow, apparently coming from
Annunziata's chamber, creeping towards the staircase. He hastened up to
it; it was Michaele Steno, coming from his inamorata. A terrible
thought struck Falieri; with a cry of "Annunziata," he rushed at Steno
with a naked stiletto. But Steno--stronger and more active than
the old man--avoided the thrust, threw the Doge to the ground by a
smart blow of his fist, and dashed down the steps, laughing aloud,
and crying "Annunziata! Annunziata!" The old man raised himself, and
made for Annunziata's chamber, with flames of hell in his heart.
Everything there was silent as the grave. He knocked. A stranger
lady-in-waiting--not the one who usually slept near Annunziata's
room--opened the door.

"'"What are my princely consort's wishes at this late, unwonted hour of
the night?" said Annunziata, in a calm, angelically sweet voice, as she
came out, hurriedly attired in a light night-robe. The old man gazed
hard at her--then raised his hands to heaven, and cried--

"'"No! It is impossible, it is impossible!"

"'"What is impossible, my lord?" she asked, amazed at the Doge's
hollow, solemn accents. But Falieri, without answering her, turned to
the lady-in-waiting--

"'"Why is it you are sleeping here to-night instead of Luigia?"

"'"Your Highness," the girl answered, "Luigia wished to exchange duties
with me to-night; she is sleeping in the front chamber on the
staircase."

"The Doge hastened to the room indicated. Luigia opened to his loud
knocking, and when she saw her master's face glowing with anger, and
his eyes flashing fire, she fell on her knees and confessed her fault,
as to which an elegant