scanning an uncut impression from the plate, no two of those five-score faces, side by side, will be found alike.  Gravity is the air of all; but, diversified in all.  In some, benevolent; in some, ambiguous; in two or three, to a close scrutiny, all but incipiently malign, the variation of less than a hair’s breadth in the linear shadings round the mouth sufficing to all this.  Now, Excellenza, transmute that general gravity into joyousness, and subject it to twelve of those variations I have described, and tell me, will you not have my hours here, and Una one of them?  But I like—.”

Hark! is that—­a footfall above?

“Mortar, Excellenza; sometimes it drops to the belfry-floor from the arch where the stonework was left undressed.  I must have it seen to.  As I was about to say:  for one, I like this law forbidding duplicates.  It evokes fine personalities.  Yes, Excellenza, that strange, and—­to you—­uncertain smile, and those fore-looking eyes of Una, suit Bannadonna very well.”

“Hark!—­sure we left no soul above?”

“No soul, Excellenza; rest assured, no soul—­Again the mortar.”

“It fell not while we were there.”

“Ah, in your presence, it better knew its place, Excellenza,” blandly bowed Bannadonna.

“But, Una,” said the milder magistrate, “she seemed intently gazing on you; one would have almost sworn that she picked you out from among us three.”

“If she did, possibly, it might have been her finer apprehension, Excellenza.”

“How, Bannadonna?  I do not understand you.”

“No consequence, no consequence, Excellenza—­but the shifted wind is blowing through the slit.  Suffer me to escort you on; and then, pardon, but the toiler must to his tools.”

“It may be foolish, Signor,” said the milder magistrate, as, from the third landing, the two now went down unescorted, “but, somehow, our great mechanician moves me strangely.  Why, just now, when he so superciliously replied, his walk seemed Sisera’s, God’s vain foe, in Del Fonca’s painting.  And that young, sculptured Deborah, too.  Ay, and that—.”

“Tush, tush, Signor!” returned the chief.  “A passing whim.  Deborah?—­Where’s Jael, pray?”

“Ah,” said the other, as they now stepped upon the sod, “Ah, Signor, I see you leave your fears behind you with the chill and gloom; but mine, even in this sunny air, remain, Hark!”

It was a sound from just within the tower door, whence they had emerged.  Turning, they saw it closed.

“He has slipped down and barred us out,” smiled the chief; “but it is his custom.”

Proclamation was now made, that the next day, at one hour after meridian, the clock would strike, and—­thanks to the mechanician’s powerful art—­with unusual accompaniments.  But what those should be, none as yet could say.  The announcement was received with cheers.