Just as the hour of eleven chimed, the door of the room where Teresa sat, was opened, and a servant, announcing Signor Da Vinci, ushered in the young stranger of the preceding night.  He advanced with a puzzled, inquiring expression, and with a slightly apologetic bow, said: 

“I came in accordance with a request expressed in a note from Signorina Zampieri.”

“I presume you were somewhat surprised, signor, but my motive must be my excuse.  I have a friend in whom you were greatly interested, and who wishes you to be made acquainted with the solution of the mystery which separated her from you.”

The gentleman had hitherto been only attentive, but at these last words, an expression of eager inquiry pervaded every feature.  Teresa continued: 

“This lady, five years ago, was betrothed to Leonarde Da Vinci.”

“Myself!”

“I am aware of that fact, but permit me to continue without interruption.  Well knowing her father would never consent to her marriage, a plan of elopement was arranged.  On the appointed night, the lady, according to agreement, stole to the palace steps, and seeing in the deep shadow a gondola which drew up as she approached, doubted not that the occupant was her lover.  She was received, to her belief, in his arms, the light was burning but dimly, and for greater security her companion, who was masked, proposed in a whisper that she should cover her face also.  She was nearly beside herself with agitation, and when the gondola drew up at a little chapel standing nearly by itself, she unhesitatingly accompanied him, and knelt beside the altar where stood a priest and attendants.

“So absorbed with the various and conflicting emotions in her heart, she uttered the responses mechanically, and when she rose, the chapel was deserted, save by her husband and herself.  Turning to him, what was her horror at seeing not Leonarde Da Vinci, as she had supposed, but Villani Brandini, a rejected suitor, and seeming friend to Da Vinci, who had discovered the plan of escape by some means, and revenged himself upon the lady in this manner.  In spite of her resistance, she was carried to Brandini’s palace, from whence in three days she escaped; and fearing her father would never grant his forgiveness, knowing she was forever separated from the one to whom her heart was given, she managed by the sale of several valuable jewels which she had upon her person at the time of her flight, to procure a passage to Naples, where she hoped to turn her numerous accomplishments to advantage.

“Shortly after her arrival in that place, an American family, who were in need of a governess for two little girls, met with her.  Her appearance spoke so strongly in her favor, that notwithstanding the absence of credentials, they engaged her, and in a little while sailed for America.  When near the place of their destination, a violent storm arose, and they were shipwrecked.  The young girl was lashed to a spar, and the last thing she remembered was, being washed overboard by a mountain wave.  She was picked up by a merchant vessel bound for Havana.  There she arrived in a state of utter destitution, and she who was once the companion of princesses, was obliged to sing in the street for a living, and now—­”