“I thought you were gone-do you wish to tempt me further?”

“Will you give the money?”

“I will not!”

“Beware!  Think again!”

“You have my answer.  Never, while life remains, will I give another reply!”

Villani bent over her and whispered a word; with a wild, agonized shriek she sprang to her feet and gazed wildly into his face and in feeble, broken accents, exclaimed: 

“O no, no, not that-it would kill me, Villani, Villani!  You are not in earnest?”

“I most certainly am, madam, and I give you just five minutes to decide which alternative you will choose,” and he drew out his watch and steadily gazed upon it.  At the expiration of that time, Teresa, with a pale, tearful face, knelt before him, and in faint, despairing tones, murmured: 

“I accept your terms!  Villani’s eyes lighted up with a fierce pride, as he exclaimed: 

“I thought to bring you to terms!”

“Tempt me not, Brandini Villani!” vehemently replied Teresa, rising with flashing eyes; “you may rouse me yet beyond endurance-beware!” and she pressed her hand to her heart, while an expression of pain crossed her countenance.  The extreme physical suffering so plainly marked, seemed to move even the hard, unfeeling Villani, who, taking her hand, said: 

“I am afraid you are ill, ma belle,” then as he gazed upon her lovely form and face, half affectionately, half in defiance, he suddenly exclaimed:  “O Teresa, you’re the handsomest woman I ever saw.  I could love you so, if you’d let me.  Why can’t we be friends, Teresa?  I know I did wrong, but why need we make an eternal quarrel of the matter.  Ah, my charming prize, why not transfer to me the affection you are wasting upon one, who, perhaps ere this, is false to you, and—­”

“Silence!  I have borne too long with you from weakness and inability to speak, but depart now, or I recant my promise of submission.”

“To hear is to obey-though the request might have been couched in more polite terms,” returned Villani, his former cold, sarcastic manner returning with every word he uttered.  “I may do myself the pleasure to call again, my love-at present I wish you a good night and pleasant dreams-of me!” and the door closed on his sardonic smile.

“Alas,” exclaimed Teresa, “he has a hold upon me I dare not attempt to dispute.”

The next morning as she was leaving the stage, after rehearsal, she was met at the green room door by a familiar face, fine, manly and handsome-yes, it was Geraldi!  With a glad cry of surprise and delight, Teresa sprang forward, and taking the outstretched hand of the young man, said in her joyous, musical voice: 

“Welcome, my dear friend!  How you have improved-I have heard of the laurels you have won!”

“And you too, Signorina Zampieri-you are paler and thinner than you were when I last saw you.  I know you have prospered as well as myself, for Fame has not been idle with your name.”