ssession of Maulear while
in the presence of Aminta and Tonio. But he had not remarked the smile
of happiness which played on the features of the invalid when Aminta,
with the most natural air in the world, took the arm of her mother
instead of his own.

"Signor," said Aminta's mother to the Marquis, as they went into the
hall, "do not suffer this festival in honor of the return of my son to
be celebrated without your presence. Share our family meal, and be
satisfied that in doing so you will gratify us all."

The offer delighted Maulear, and time flew by with the rapidity love
only confers on it when passed in the presence of loved ones.

About dinner time two strangers came to the villa, the Count Brignoli
and his son. The Count was an old minister of war of Murat, and had been
a colleague of Taddeo's father. He was one of the best friends of
Rovero's widow and daughter. A country neighbor, he often visited them.
His son Gaetano had been educated and brought up with Aminta, and a
close friendship had been the consequence. Gaetano was twenty years of
age, and his features bore the imprint of masculine and impressive
Neapolitan beauty, deficient neither in the dark locks nor black though
somewhat glassy eye, which is as it were the ordinary seal of the
countenances of the men of the south.

The arrival of these visitors displeased Maulear. The beauty of Gaetano
struck him unpleasantly. The intimacy between Aminta and the young man,
though thus explained, wounded him. During the whole day he fancied that
he discovered a thousand of those little trifles which a lover treasures
up so carefully, and also that Aminta seemed happy in his presence. His
anxiety had begun to pass away, when a new circumstance revived it.
Aminta, who was a perfect musician, went to the piano, and sang some of
those charming canzonets which are so sweet and touching, like the
flowers of this country of melody. The voice of Aminta found an echo in
the heart of Maulear, and his ecstasy was at its height, when Gaetano
joined her and sang the charming duo from Romeo e Julietta, the
_chef-d'oeuvre_ of Zingarelli. The jealous Maulear, as he heard this
passionate music, could not believe that art alone inspired the singer.
He trembled when he thought, that as Julietta loved Romeo, Aminta might
adore Gaetano.

Unable to repress the agitation which took possession of him, Maulear
left the saloon at the end of the duo, to superintend the preparations