ch the horseman rode, said, in a voice full of fear,
"May God protect you in this terrible midnight storm, Signor Taddeo.
Beware of the road down the ravine, and be careful whom you meet."

III.--THE AVOWAL.

Maulear, uneasy and disturbed by what he had seen, returned to his room.
What could induce Taddeo thus to leave his mother's house, alone, at
midnight, and in a storm? Could it be that, so recently liberated, he
was about to begin again that life of plot and sedition which already
had cost him his liberty? A deep interest united Maulear to Taddeo. The
love he felt toward the sister, made him devoted to the brother, and the
new dangers which might befall the young man seriously affected Maulear.
The night passed away without his being able to sleep. In addition to
fear on account of Taddeo, his heart was yet agitated by the emotions of
the previous day; but above all, he thought of the woman who had stood
at his window, and whose appearance he could not forget. A terrible idea
then occurred to him. The room he occupied had been that of Gaetano
Brignoli. Had this young girl, apparently so pure and modest, had the
White Rose of Sorrento, any secret amour or intrigue? The young man who
had seen the companion of her infancy might know of it. Could this
charming flower be already scorched by the hot breath of passion?
Maulear reproached himself as with a crime, for the mental profanation
of his divinity.

The morning meal assembled together all the family and guests. Taddeo
participated in it as naturally as if he had passed the whole night in
the villa, and not a word was said of his nocturnal expedition. He was
not so melancholy and moody as he had been on the previous night, and a
careful observer might have marked on his features the satisfaction
following the performance of a painful duty. The Brignoli bade adieu to
Signora Rovero immediately after breakfast, and returned to their villa.
Maulear was delighted at their departure.

"Marquis," said Taddeo, "permit me to treat you as a friend, and ask a
favor of you--a favor that will require you to renounce the brilliant
saloons of Naples, whose chief ornaments are the _attaches_ of the
French embassy, to lead for a time a retired country-life with my mother
and sister?"

"If that be the favor you ask of me," said Maulear with joy, "you confer
one on me. I accept your proposition with gratitude."

"What are you thinking of, brother? How can you propose such an