“There will be little love between thee and the girl, I fear.”

“It will be all her own fault if I do not become devoted to her,” said Petro, in answer to this suggestion, and yet in a tone of derision; for he had his mind more upon Florinda’s fortune and title than upon her person, though he did also feel an ambition to possess so rich and rare a jewel as herself.

“Do you know, Petro, how Signor Carlton first became acquainted with Florinda?  It has ever been a mystery to me.”

“’Twas at the convent, I believe,” replied Petro.  “I have been told that he was employed by the prioress to copy some valuable painting, and while thus engaged, formed the acquaintance.”

“Gita” (Florinda’s maid) “has told me that it was he who taught her to play so sweetly upon the guitar.  Can this be so?”

“Si, signor, this also commenced at the convent.  Carlton exhibited by chance one day his singular skill upon the instrument, and being engaged there for many weeks, he became acquainted with many young ladies, and among them Florinda, to whom he gave a few lessons on the instrument.  Afterwards becoming better acquainted with Florinda, he taught her some of the airs of his country, and by degrees seemed to impart his really singular skill upon the instrument to her.  I never knew that these Americans were such musicians before.”

Petro spoke truly.  Carlton had first become acquainted with Florinda at the convent as stated, and while teaching her upon that most graceful instrument, the guitar, of which he was a perfect master-each learned to love the other, without realizing the fact until the time for parting arrived, when the tears stood in Florinda’s eyes while they met Carlton’s, and each read a volume of love and constancy there.  They often met from that time, and the gentle and high-born Florinda loved the young American artist as dearly as he did the loveliest girl of the sunny Val d’Arno.

Petro was safe in his calculation, at least as far as it regarded his deception and stratagem with the letter between Florinda and Carlton; for, having received the letter despatched by Petro that morning, Carlton did not for a moment question its genuineness, but proceeded at once to make his arrangements accordingly, supposing that the intended elopement was only delayed for twenty-four hours by some unforeseen circumstance which had occurred in the household of Florinda’s uncle.

This was a reasonable construction of the matter; and with this view of it, and as she had requested him not to attempt to see her until they met at the gate, Carlton mounted his horse and rode out of the city, proposing a pleasure trip upon the mountains until night.  We will not deny that he was disappointed, but having implicit confidence in Florinda’s judgment, he believed that she could not have unnecessarily delayed the appointment.

Petro had made all his arrangements with a zeal and care worthy of a better cause.  It is but too often the case that we find activity and zeal exerted in behalf of the wrong; for the rogue, conscious of his evil purpose, exerts every faculty to accomplish his end, and to screen himself from the detection he constantly fears.