’Once more—­I will only ask of the past.  My cousin, is he married or a widower?’

The boy clasped his hands and looked imploringly, shaking his head at the dark pool, as he murmured an entreating word to his master.  ‘Ah!  Madame,’ said the Italian, ’that question hath already been demanded by the young Inglese.  The poor child has been so terrified by the scene it called up, that he implored he may not see it again.  A sacked and burning town, a lady in a flaming house—–­’

‘Enough, enough,’ said de; ’I could as little bear to hear as he to see.  It is what we have ever known and feared.  And now’—­she blushed as she spoke—­’sir, you will leave me one of those potions that Signor Renato is wont to compound.’

‘Capisco!’ said Ercole; ’but the Eccellentissima shall he obeyed if she will supply the means, for the expense will be heavy.’

The bargain was agreed upon, and a considerable sum advanced for a philter, compounded of strange Eastern plants and mystic jewels; and then Diane, with a shudder of relief, passed into the full light of the hall, bade her father good night, and was handed by him into the litter that had long been awaiting her at the door.

The Chevalier, then, with care on his brow, bent his steps towards the apartment where the Italian still remained counting the money he had received.

‘So!’ he said as he entered, ’so, fellow, I have not hindered your gains, and you have been true to your agreement?’

’Illustrissimo, yes.  The pool of vision mirrored the flames, but nothing beyond—­nothing—­nothing.’

’They asked you then no more of those words you threw out of Esperance?’

’Only the English youth, sir; and there were plenty of other hopes to dance before the eyes of such a lad!  With M. le Baron it will be needful to be more guarded.’

‘M. le Baron shall not have the opportunity,’ said the Chevalier.  ’He may abide by his decision, and what the younger one may tell him.  Fear not, good man, it shall be made good to you, if you obey my commands.  I have other work for you.  But first repeat to me more fully what you told me before.  Where was it that you saw this unhappy girl under the name of Esperance?’

’At a hostel, sir, at Charente, where she was attending on an old heretic teacher of the name of Gardon, who had fallen sick there, being pinched by the fiend with rheumatic pains after his deserts.  She bore the name of Esperance Gardon, and passed for his son’s widow.’

’And by what means did you know her not to be the mean creature she pretended?’ said the Chevalier, with a gesture of scornful horror.

’Illustrissimo, I never forget a face.  I had seen this lady with M. le Baron when they made purchases of various trinkets at Montpipeau; and I saw her full again.  I had the honour to purchase from her certain jewels, that the Eccellenza will probably redeem; and even—­pardon, sir—­I cut off and bought of her, her hair.’