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speak to God。 Are you not as beautiful as Mary in heaven？ Listen。 I
swear to you；〃 he continued； kissing her hair； 〃I swear to take that
forehead for my altar； to make you my idol； to lay at your feet all
the luxuries of the world。 For you； my palace at Milan； for you my
horses； my jewels； the diamonds of my ancient family； for you； each
day； fresh jewels； a thousand pleasures； and all the joys of earth！〃
〃Yes；〃 she said reflectively； 〃I would like that； but I feel within my
soul that I would like better than all the world my husband。 Mio caro
sposo！〃 she said； as if it were impossible to give in any other
language the infinite tenderness； the loving elegance with which the
Italian tongue and accent clothe those delightful words。 Besides；
Italian was Juana's maternal language。
〃I should find；〃 she continued； with a glance at Montefiore in which
shone the purity of the cherubim； 〃I should find in HIM my dear
religion； him and GodGod and him。 Is he to be you？〃 she said。 〃Yes；
surely it will be you；〃 she cried； after a pause。 〃Come； and see the
picture my father brought me from Italy。〃
She took a candle； made a sign to Montefiore； and showed him at the
foot of her bed a Saint Michael overthrowing the demon。
〃Look！〃 she said； 〃has he not your eyes？ When I saw you from my window
in the street； our meeting seemed to me a sign from heaven。 Every day
during my morning meditation； while waiting for my mother to call me
to prayer； I have so gazed at that picture； that angel； that I have
ended by thinking him my husbandoh！ heavens； I speak to you as
though you were myself。 I must seem crazy to you； but if you only knew
how a poor captive wants to tell the thoughts that choke her！ When
alone； I talk to my flowers； to my tapestry； they can understand me
better； I think； than my father and mother； who are so grave。〃
〃Juana；〃 said Montefiore； taking her hands and kissing them with the
passion that gushed in his eyes； in his gestures； in the tones of his
voice； 〃speak to me as your husband； as yourself。 I have suffered all
that you have suffered。 Between us two few words are needed to make us
comprehend our past； but there will never be enough to express our
coming happiness。 Lay your hand upon my heart。 Feel how it beats。 Let
us promise before God； who sees and hears us； to be faithful to each
other throughout our lives。 Here； take my ringand give me yours。〃
〃Give you my ring！〃 she said in terror。
〃Why not？〃 asked Montefiore； uneasy at such artlessness。
〃But our holy father the Pope has blessed it； it was put upon my
finger in childhood by a beautiful lady who took care of me； and who
told me never to part with it。〃
〃Juana； you cannot love me！〃
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃here it is； take it。 You； are you not another
myself？〃
She held out the ring with a trembling hand； holding it tightly as she
looked at Montefiore with a clear and penetrating eye that questioned
him。 That ring！ all of herself was in it； but she gave it to him。
〃Oh； my Juana！〃 said Montefiore； again pressing her in his arms。 〃I
should be a monster indeed if I deceived you。 I will love you
forever。〃
Juana was thoughtful。 Montefiore； reflecting that in this first
interview he ought to venture upon nothing that might frighten a young
girl so ignorantly pure； so imprudent by virtue rather than from
desire； postponed all further action to the future； relying on his
beauty； of which he knew the power； and on this innocent ring…
marriage； the hymen of the heart； the lightest； yet the strongest of
all ceremonies。 For the rest of that night； and throughout the next
day； Juana's imagination was the accomplice of her passion。
On this first evening Montefiore forced himself to be as respectful as
he was tender。 With that intention； in the interests of his passion
and the desires with which Juana inspired him； he was caressing and
unctuous in language； he launched the young creature into plans for a
new existence； described to her the world under glowing colors； talked
to her of household details always attractive to the mind of girls；
giving her a sense of the rights and realities of love。 Then； having
agreed upon the hour for their future nocturnal interviews； he left
her happy； but changed； the pure and pious Juana existed no longer； in
the last glance she gave him； in the pretty movement by which she
brought her forehead to his lips； there was already more of passion
than a girl should feel。 Solitude； weariness of employments contrary
to her nature had brought this about。 To make the daughter of the
Maranas truly virtuous； she ought to have been habituated； little by
little； to the world； or else to have been wholly withdrawn from it。
〃The day； to…morrow； will seem very long to me；〃 she said； receiving
his kisses on her forehead。 〃But stay in the salon； and speak loud；
that I may hear your voice； it fills my soul。〃
Montefiore； clever enough to imagine the girl's life； was all the more
satisfied with himself for restraining his desires because he saw that
it would lead to his greater contentment。 He returned to his room
without accident。
Ten days went by without any event occurring to trouble the peace and
solitude of the house。 Montefiore employed his Italian cajolery on old
Perez； on Dona Lagounia； on the apprentice； even on the cook； and they
all liked him； but； in spite of the confidence he now inspired in
them； he never asked to see Juana； or to have the door of her
mysterious hiding…place opened to him。 The young girl； hungry to see
her lover； implored him to do so； but he always refused her from an
instinct of prudence。 Besides； he had used his best powers and
fascinations to lull the suspicions of the old couple； and had now
accustomed them to see him； a soldier； stay in bed till midday on
pretence that he was ill。 Thus the lovers lived only in the night…
time； when the rest of the household were asleep。 If Montefiore had
not been one of those libertines whom the habit of gallantry enables
to retain their self…possession under all circumstances； he might have
been lost a dozen times during those ten days。 A young lover； in the
simplicity of a first love； would have committed the enchanting
imprudences which are so difficult to resist。 But he did resist even
Juana herself； Juana pouting； Juana making her long hair a chain which
she wound about his neck when caution told him he must go。
The most suspicious of guardians would however have been puzzled to
detect the secret of their nightly meetings。 It is to be supposed
that； sure of success； the Italian marquis gave himself the ineffable
pleasures of a slow seduction； step by step； leading gradually to the
fire which should end the affair in a conflagration。 On the eleventh
day； at the dinner…table； he thought it wise to inform old Perez；
under seal of secrecy； that the reason of his separation from his
family was an ill…assorted marriage。 This false revelation was an
infamous thing in view of the nocturnal drama which was being played
under that roof。 Montefiore； an experienced rake； was preparing for
the finale of that drama which he foresaw and enjoyed as an artist who
loves his art。 He expected to leave before long； and without regret；
the house and his love。 It would happen； he thought； in this way：
Juana； after waiting for him in vain for several nights； would risk
her life； perhaps； in asking Perez what had become of his guest； and
Perez would reply； not aware of the importance of his answer；
〃The Marquis de Montefiore is reconciled to his family； who consent to
receive his wife； he has gone to Italy to present her to them。〃
And Juana？The marquis never asked himself what would become of
Juana； but he had studied her character； its nobility； candor； and
strength； and he knew he might be sure of her silence。
He obtained a mission from one of the generals。 Three days later； on
the night preceding his intended departure； Montefiore； instead of
returning to his own room after dinner； contrived to enter unseen that
of Juana； to make that farewell night the longer。 Juana； true Spaniard
and true Italian； was enchanted with such boldness； it argued ardor！
For herself she did not fear discovery。 To find in the pure love of
marriage the excitements of intrigue； to hide her husband behind the
curtains of her bed； and say to her adopted father and mother； in case
of detection： 〃I am the Marquise de Montefiore！〃was to an ignorant
and romantic young girl； who for three years past had dreamed of love
without dreaming of its dangers； delightful。 The door closed on this
last evening upon her folly； her happiness； like a veil； which it is
useless here to raise。
It was nine o'clock； the merchant and his wife were reading their
evening prayers； suddenly the noise of a carriage drawn by several
horses resounded in the street； loud and hasty raps echoed from the
shop where the s