gs of angels, whose base was their
feet. He held it in both hands as if it were a chalice.

Molly, beaten out and white, looked at it dully, but did not seem to see
it.

"Madonna mia," said the youth, "this is the loving-cup which I am to
hand to you after dinner, and which you are to hand to Duke Cesare."

He hardly heard her answer, but judged by the shaping of her lips that
it was, "Well, Grifone?"

"Duke Cesare will ask you to sip of it first, Madonna."

His looks were piercing; yet she was too far gone to be disturbed by
such as those. She even smiled faintly at his emphasis.

"Well, Grifone?" she asked again, in that same dry whisper. "How shall
that be harm to him if I do it?"

Grifone blew out his lips. "Harm, _per Dio_! None at all, but common
prudence on his part. No harm to him, lady; but to you obeying him,
destruction, death!"

Molly stared. Her breath came hollow from her mouth.

"Death, Grifone?" she faltered, and then pored over his face again.

He nodded his words into her.

"Death, Madonnina."

The girl tottered to her feet--had to balance like a rope-dancer to keep
upon them.

"But then--but then--O Saviour!"

She threw her arms up. He thought she would fall, so put one of his
round her waist. He felt her heart knocking like a drum, pressed her
closer, drew her in and kissed her, with a coaxing word or two. She
tried to collect herself--alas! her wits were scattered wide. Her head
drooped to his shoulder.

After that there began the most pitiful business. She was pleading with
him in a whining, wheedling, silly voice, which would have broken down
an Englishman. Grifone himself was pricked. It was like a child,
frightened into slyness, coaxing its mother.

"Dear Grifone, dear Grifone! You will not hand me the cup. Oh, please,
please, please!"

Grifone kissed her. "Why, what can I do?" he said. "My lord has ordered
it so, dear one."

She took no notice of his familiarities; indeed, the tone they lent his
voice may have soothed the poor affectionate wretch. But she only wrung
her hands at his news.

"No, no, no! 'Tis impossible! No, no, he could never do it!"

"I can repeat his words," said the inexorable Grifone; "he said--"

Then she sprang away from him as if he had whipped her, and crouched in
a corner, at bay. She began to rave, seemingly in a high delirium,
pointed at him, wagged her arm at him, mowing the air.

"Never repeat them, never repeat them. I shall die if you