"Assuredly, my lady. Beppo will be only too
proud to do your ladyship's bidding in that or any
other thing your ladyship may condescend to
order him. Your ladyship will excuse the meanness
of the chamber. He will do his best, as in
duty bound; but I doubt he has no accommodation
fit to offer to your ladyship."

"Let him not put himself to any trouble.
Four bare walls, my child, even if there be not
so much as a chair in them, so they secure privacy,
will suffice for my need. Now go! Let me
hear this has been arranged when you return to
the villa. The sole object of your going is to
visit your brother by my permission— you understand."

"I understand your ladyship. Many thanks
to your ladyship for the holiday!" added the
well-drilled waiting-woman, as if to show her
readiness to act out a lie in all its details at the
shortest notice.

"And, Francesca!"

"Yes, my lady."

"Tell Pippo Carrarrese to come to me here. I
wish to speak to him."
"Yes, my lady." Francesca vanished to don
in all haste her best skirt and mantle for her
welcome trip to Florence, wondering much on
what business her mistress could possibly be
bound.

In a few minutes Pippo Carrarrese stood
before his mistress. Philip was, as that nick-name
of his— the only name he had beyond his
baptismal one— indicated, a native of Carrara;
and as such a born subject of the Prince of
Massa, the Lady Veronica's father. He was one
of those retainers, half military, half menial, who
were to be found in every princely house attached
to the more immediate service of their lords—
men whose whole pride and self-respect consisted
in believing themselves, as well as their despot
masters, to be superior to and exempt from laws,
which were made, according to their theory,
only for the subject herd who lived outside ducal
and baronial castles— men whose sole virtue was
hound-like fidelity to their keepers, and perfect
readiness to obey their behests, let, them be what
they might, from carrying a billet to murdering a
bishop before the altar. Philip of Carrara had
been " given" to the Lady Veronica by her noble
father, when she left his court as Salviati's wife,
and he was considered in the Salviati household
as her especial retainer and servitor. He was a
grey and grisly looking man of some sixty years
of age; and now stood, cap in hand and silent,
before the duchess, waiting her commands.

"Get thee into the saddle, Pippo, and make
the best of thy way to the Osteria del Giardino,
in the Via dei Pilastri. There give the host this
paper, and bid him point out to thee the man
named thereon. When thou hast assured thyself
that only two ears are listening to thee, say to
that man that a person of quality— a lady, thou
mayst say— wishes to speak with him on matters
concerning his interest. Give him these gold
pieces, as earnest of more to be had from the
sender of them. Bid him hold himself in readiness
to accompany thee when thou shalt call for
him to-morrow evening about the Ave Maria.
This done, return hither to me. Have you understood?"

"Perfectly, your ladyship. I take for certain
that I am to speak no word as to the person I
serve, and to wear no badge of the house."

"Right, my friend. Also let none here know
the scope of thy errand. Here is money to drink
a cup with the host. Now go!"

And the second messenger to the city from the
Villa Salviati departed on his errand.

The duchess, when left alone, began walking
to and fro in her chamber, as she has been described
to have done on a former occasion. But
her frame of mind was now a very different one.

"Now let me think!" she muttered to herself,
as she pressed the ends of the fingers of one
hand on her heavily frowning forehead. "Or
rather," she continued, " let me not think, but
act. Of thinking there has been, Heaven wots,
enow! The course before me is straight— straight
and clear! The judgment has been pronounced—
surely a righteous judgment. I am henceforward
but the minister for its execution. What next is
to be done? Ay, doing! that is the thing needed.
Would that the hours could all be filled with
action! The letter to my brother! That may be
done at once. The letter to my noble and trusty
brother!"

She sat down at a writing-table, and having
written rapidly a few lines, placed them in an
envelope, and addressed it to " The most Illustrious
and Noble Prince Don Carlo Cybo, his
own hands."

And then the nervous weary walking was recommenced;
and the disobedient brain would
think over and over again the thoughts which
the will had decided on dismissing; and it seemed
as if the hours which must elapse before the next
step in the action for which the duchess was so
eager could be taken, would never wear themselves away.

At length the close of the following day was
reached, and the duchess, closely veiled, and attended
only by Pippo, proceeded to the house of
the fringe-maker, where she was obsequiously
but silently ushered into a small room at the
back of the house on the first floor.

"Now," she said to her follower, as she
alighted at the door of the obscure house, " go
to your appointment in the Via dei Pilastri, and
bring the man here. Tell him he will see no one,
save a lady alone, and that money is to be had
for the coming to fetch it."

Then began again the restless pacing backwards
and forwards of the few steps possible in
the little room in which she found herself.

In about half an hour, which seemed to her
impatience three hours at least, there came heavy
steps up the stair and a tap at the door, and
Pippo silently ushered into the room the drunkard
son of Caterina's aged husband, Bartolommeo
Canacci.