These words roused the young girl from her stupor of agony, and raising her form to its full height, she exclaimed: 

“Brandini Villani, it would appear that the just avenging God hath forgotten thee, miserable sinner, but it matters not; eternity, methinks, will be long enough for thy punishment.”  Then with less passion, but with regal, even awful dignity, she freezingly inquired—­“What have you to say?”

For an instant the wretch was intimidated, but noticing the tremor of Teresa’s whole frame, and mistaking it for fear, concealed beneath affected scorn, he regained his assurance and tauntingly replied: 

“It is a trifling oversight, ma chere, to affect a callous indifference towards me, when I have the charm with a single glance to render you insensible, and to make you tremble at the mere sound of my voice-no, no, Teresa, it will not do.  While my presence affects you thus, I know the power to fascinate has not yet deserted me.”

“Contemptuous wretch!  With what feelings does the scaly, venomous serpent inspire one when he approaches with slimy track and fetid breath, with stealthy, coil and sickening glare?  Think you would not that fascinate with terror, cause a tremble of disgust, and produce insensibility and delirium that such a loathsome reptile should exist and breathe the same air?  Yet having now called forth that emotion in its deepest degree, you rejoice to have moved me!  Truly you have, and I can conceive your mind just fitted to appreciate the honor!”

The worst passions of Villani were now thoroughly awake, and he retorted with flashing eyes and a fierce tone, while his face even to his lips, turned livid white.

“You may regret your liberal use of words when I unfold my errand.  I will trouble you for half your proceeds for the last year!”

With blazing eyes, from which sparks of fire actually seemed to flash, and a form that appeared to dilate, Teresa turned full upon Villani.

“How now, traitorous villain?  Is not your list of perjuries, thefts, deceptions and murders long enough, but you must add to it, ere you are qualified to become the privy councillor to the arch fiend?  Get thee hence, grovelling worm, ere the lightnings of heaven blast thee!”

At this instant the storm which had been gathering, burst with fury over the city, and the dazzling sheet of flame was succeeded by a deafening, rattling peal of thunder.  Teresa sank on her knees beside a lounge and buried her face in silent prayer; even Villani turned pale and moved to the centre of the apartment, where he stood with folded arms and compressed lips.  Presently the violence of the tempest abated, and the pallid Brandini approached Teresa, who had not changed her position, and had forgotten in the storm almost the existence of her persecutor, and in a low, dogged voice, said: 

“I am waiting for your reply.”

With a faint shriek Teresa raised her head.