ut some passionate, rude expressions, which would wake
her resentment, and cause her instant rejection. And it might be too
late if he repented afterwards, as he would be sure to do."

Meanwhile Randal Leslie gave a dinner at the Clarendon Hotel (an
extravagance most contrary to his habits), and invited Frank, Mr.
Borrowell, and Baron Levy.

But this house-spider, which glided with so much ease after its flies,
through webs so numerous and mazy, had yet to amuse Madame di Negra
with assurances that the fugitives sought for would sooner or later be
discovered. Though Randal baffled and eluded her suspicion that he
was already acquainted with the exiles ("the persons he had thought
of were," he said, "quite different from her description;" and he even
presented to her an old singing-master and a sallow-faced daughter, as
the Italians who had caused his mistake), it was necessary for Beatrice
to prove the sincerity of the aid she had promised to her brother, and
to introduce Randal to the count. It was no less desirable to Randal to
know, and even win the confidence of this man--his rival.

The two met at Madame di Negra's house. There is something very strange,
and almost mesmerical, in the rapport between two evil natures. Bring
two honest men together, and it is ten to one if they recognize each
other as honest; differences in temper, manner, even politics, may make
each misjudge the other. But bring together two men unprincipled and
perverted--men who, if born in a cellar, would have been food for the
hulks or gallows--and they understand each other by instant sympathy.
The eyes of Franzini, Count of Peschiera, and Randal Leslie no sooner
met than a gleam of intelligence shot from both. They talked on
indifferent subjects,--weather, gossip, politics,--what not. They bowed
and they smiled; but all the while, each was watching, plumbing the
other's heart, each measuring his strength with his companion; each inly
saying, "This is a very remarkable rascal; am I a match for him?" It was
at dinner they met; and following the English fashion, Madame di Negra
left them alone with their wine.

Then, for the first time, Count di Peschiera cautiously and adroitly
made a covered push towards the object of the meeting.

"You have never been abroad, my dear sir? You must contrive to visit
me at Vienna. I grant the splendour of your London world; but, honestly
speaking, it wants the freedom of ours,--a freedom which unites gayety