ics of humanity than it had
yet displayed.

Valentine was silent; she wished to get Massetti completely under her
influence before speaking to him. Motionless and statuesquely she stood,
allowing the maniac to gaze his fill at her.

"Who are you, divine vision?" continued the Viscount, seeming to think
himself the prey of some passing dream. "Oh! you are a spirit!--a
goddess such as of old presided over the sports of the
Colosseum!--perhaps Juno herself! Do not vanish from my sight, do not
become a filmy cloud and dissolve in ether! Oh! speak to me, glorious
apparition! Let me hear the celestial melody of your voice and die
listening to its marvellous cadences!"

Valentine, humoring the caprice of the demented man, said, in the most
enticing tone she could assume:

"You have guessed aright, oh! mortal! I am, indeed, Juno, the Queen of
the goddesses of Mount Olympus! By the direct command of Jupiter I have
sought you out this night!"

She came closer to him and took his hand. He raised hers to his lips and
devotedly kissed it. Then he gazed into her eyes like one entranced.
Woman's wit and tenderness had triumphed. The maniac whom even the
mention of Zuleika's name had failed to touch was completely under Mme.
Morrel's influence. She had subdued him; she could do with him as she
wished.

"A miracle! a miracle!" cried both the cicerones simultaneously. "The
Blessed Virgin be praised!"

Maximilian was not less astonished than the guides, but with his
astonishment joy and gratitude were mingled--joy that Giovanni was now
tractable and gratitude to his noble and fearless wife who had effected
the wondrous transformation. He said to himself that Valentine was,
indeed, an enchantress, but a modern Circe, who, unlike her ancient
prototype, employed her spells and fascinations to promote good,
results. He glanced at Valentine, with a smile of encouragement and
approbation, eagerly waiting for the next step she should take, for the
next audacious effort she should essay.

Giovanni made no reply to Valentine's fantastic speech, and, after
preserving silence for an instant, she resumed:

"I am here for your welfare, to aid you in your overwhelming
misfortunes!"

"Ah! yes; I have misfortunes, but I had forgotten them," said the young
man, musingly.

"I am sent to relieve you of them," continued Valentine. Then, throwing
into her voice its most persuasive quality, she added, fixing a magnetic
gaze upon the Viscount: "