iore.

The marquis, hearing this statement of gold piastres, came forward once
more, saying,--

"I am really free--"

A glance from Juana silenced him.

"You are really free to go," she said.

And he went immediately.

"Alas! monsieur," said the girl, turning to Diard, "I thank you with
admiration. But my husband is in heaven. To-morrow I shall enter a
convent--"

"Juana, my Juana, hush!" cried the mother, clasping her in her arms.
Then she whispered in the girl's ear. "You _must_ have another husband."

Juana turned pale. She freed herself from her mother and sat down once
more in her arm-chair.

"Who are you, monsieur?" repeated the Marana, addressing Diard.

"Madame, I am at present only the quartermaster of the 6th of the line.
But for such a wife I have the heart to make myself a marshal of France.
My name is Pierre-Francois Diard. My father was provost of merchants. I
am not--"

"But, at least, you are an honest man, are you not?" cried the Marana,
interrupting him. "If you please the Signorina Juana di Mancini, you can
marry her and be happy together.--Juana," she continued in a grave tone,
"in becoming the wife of a brave and worthy man remember that you will
also be a mother. I have sworn that you shall kiss your children without
a blush upon your face" (her voice faltered slightly). "I have sworn
that you shall live a virtuous life; expect, therefore, many troubles.
But, whatever happens, continue pure, and be faithful to your husband.
Sacrifice all things to him, for he will be the father of your
children--the father of your children! If you take a lover, I, your
mother, will stand between you and him. Do you see that dagger? It is in
your 'dot,'" she continued, throwing the weapon on Juana's bed. "I leave
it there as the guarantee of your honor so long as my eyes are open and
my arm free. Farewell," she said, restraining her tears. "God grant that
we may never meet again."

At that idea, her tears began to flow.

"Poor child!" she added, "you have been happier than you knew in this
dull home.--Do not allow her to regret it," she said, turning to Diard.

The foregoing rapid narrative is not the principal subject of this
Study, for the understanding of which it was necessary to explain how
it happened that the quartermaster Diard married Juana di Mancini, that
Montefiore and Diard were intimately known to each other, and to show
plainly what blood and what passions were in Madame Diard.