y fail to
become aware of their existing passion, and that there was a secret
understanding between them.

_And one was looking on._ The Lady Adelaide's back was towards them, but
in the large glass before her she had distinctly seen the reflection of
all that took place. Her countenance became white as death, and her anger
was terrible. "You may retire for the present," she said, in a calm,
subdued tone, to the startled Gina, upon whose mind flashed somewhat of
the truth; "and tell the Signora Lucrezia not to return until I call for
her."

To describe the scene that ensued would be difficult. The shock to the
young wife's feelings had been very great. That her husband was faithless
to her, not only in deed but in heart, she doubted not. It was in vain he
endeavored to explain all; she listened to him not. She thought he was
uttering falsehoods, which but increased his treachery. Gina had once
spoken of her fierce jealousy, but what was hers compared with the Lady
Adelaide's? In the midst of her explosions of passion, Lucrezia, who had
either not received, or misunderstood, her lady's message by Gina,
entered. The maiden stood aghast, till, admonished by a haughty wave of
the hand from the count, she hastened from the room. Later in the day, the
Lord of Visinara quitted the castle, to pay the promised visit. His wife
refused to go. "Mercy! mercy!" she exclaimed, in anguish, as she sat alone
in her apartments, "to be thus requited by Giovanni--whom I so loved, my
husband! my own husband! Is it possible that a man can be guilty of
treachery so deep? Would that I had died ere I had known his
faithlessness, or ever seen him! Shame--shame upon it! to introduce his
paramour into my very presence; an attendant on my person! Holy Virgin,
that I should be so degraded! Sure a wife, young and beautiful, was never
treated as I have been. Lowered in the eyes of my own servants; insulted
by him who ought to have guarded me from insult; laughed at--ridiculed by
_her_! Oh! terrible! terrible!"

As she spoke the last words, she rose, and unlocking the bright green
cabinet, that of malachite marble already spoken of, took from thence a
small bag of silver gilt. Touching the secret spring of this, she drew
forth a letter, opened, and read it:

"_'To the Lady Adelaide, Countess of Visinara._

"'You fancy yourself the beloved of Giovanni. Count of Visinara;
but retire not to your rest this night, lady, in any such vain