c and lace, while they
brushed out and braided her beautiful hair. As they were thus engaged,
the lady's eyes ran round and round the costly chamber. The furniture
and appurtenances were of the most _recherche_ description. One article
in particular attracted her admiration. It was a small, but costly
cabinet of malachite marble, exquisitely mounted in silver, and had been
a present to the count from a Russian despot. In the inner part was
fixed a mirror, encircled by a large frame of silver, and on the
projecting slab stood open essence-bottles of pure crystal, in silver
frames, emitting various perfumes. As she continued to look at this
novelty--the marble called malachite was even more rare and costly in
those days than it is in ours--she perceived, lying by the side of the
scent-bottles, a piece of folded paper, and, wondering what it could be,
she desired one of the ladies to bring it to her. It proved to be a
sealed letter, and was addressed to herself. The conscious blush of love
rose to her cheeks, for she deemed it was some communication or present
from her husband. She opened it, and the contents instantly caught her
eye, in the soft, pure light which the lamps shed over the apartment:

"_To the Lady Adelaide, Countess of Visinara._

"You fancy yourself the beloved of Giovanni, Count of Visinara,
but retire not to your rest this night, lady, in any such vain
imagining. The heart of the count has long been given to
another, and you know, by your love for him, that such passion
can never change its object. Had he met you in earlier life, it
might have been otherwise. He marries you, for your lineage is
a high one, and she, in the world's eye and in that of his own
haughty race, was no fit mate for him."

The bridegroom was still at the banquet, for some of his guests drank
deeply, when a hasty summons came to him. Quitting the hall, he found,
standing outside, two of his bride's attendants.

"Sir Count, the Lady Adelaide--"

"Has retired?" he observed, finding they hesitated, yet feeling somewhat
surprised at so speedy a summons.

"Nay, signor, not retired, but--"

"But what? Speak out."

"We were disrobing the Lady Adelaide, Sir Count, when she saw in the
chamber a note addressed to her. And--and--she read it, and fainted, in
spite of the essence we poured on her hands and brow."

"A note!--fainted!" ejaculated the count.

"It was an insulting letter, sign