ived to put into his face, and,
although the Duchess distrusted them, or at least her sense of hearing,
she met his advances handsomely.

The day passed over pleasantly, the _rapprochement_ seemed to be real
and sincere, and when the Duke invited her to accompany him upon a
hunting expedition to Cerreto Guidi, on the morrow, his wife expressed
her pleasure and acquiescence. He himself set off early in the day, it
was 10th July, and he asked Isabella to follow with her maidens
leisurely.

Whether from innate distrustfulness, or presage of coming evil, the
Duchess put off her journey till quite late, and only arrived there as
night was coming on. At the entrance to the Villa the Duke met her,
holding in a leash two splendid hare-hounds, which he begged her to
accept and use on the morrow.

The dinner-party was numerous and merry, but not one of the company was
gayer than the host. Isabella sat beside him, and he offered her many
lover-like attentions. Everybody remarked these excellent and unusual
relations between the Duke and Duchess, and wondered greatly thereat.
After a very pleasant musical evening the company separated for the
night, and the Duke, passing into his own bedchamber, invited his wife
to enter with him.

Was it instinct or was it second sight, which caused Isabella's steps to
falter on the threshold? She trembled as her husband held aside the
arras, turned deadly pale, and, retreating for a moment, she whispered
to her lady-in-waiting, Donna Lucrezia de' Frescobaldi--"Shall I enter,
or shall I not?" Bracciano's voice again was raised in gentle
persuasiveness, and taking her by her hand, clammy cold as it was, he
asked her, laughingly, why she held back.

She bade Donna Lucrezia good-night very tremulously, and then the
curtain fell, and Isabella was alone with her lord. The room was in its
usual state, but truth to tell, she had not lain there for many a long
night, and, as the Duke continued to talk affectionately, and to prepare
for bed, she began to feel less alarm. Without more ado she flung
herself into a deep lounging-chair and began to meditate and to chatter.

Seating himself by her side, Bracciano began to caress her hands and to
fondle her in his arms, and when he noted that she had given herself
entirely to his will and pleasure, as an amorous, faithful wife once
more, he swiftly reached down for a _corda di collo_--a horse's
halter--which he had placed behind the chair. Implanting an i