Volume VI Part 31 (1/2)

”Very good You are a stranger, sir, and may not be acquainted with our Spanish reat risk you run in going to see Nina every evening after the count has left her”

”What risk do I run? I have no doubt that the count knows all about it and does not object”

”I have no doubt as to his knowing it, and hebefore her, as he fears as well as loves her; but if she tells you that he does not object, she either deceives herself or you

He cannot love her without being jealous, and a jealous Spaniard

”Follow ive ed to you for your kind interest inso I should be wanting in politeness to Nina, who likes to see ives me a elcome I shall continue to visit her till she orders nifies to me his displeasure at my visits to his ; he is too careful of his dignity”

The worthy officer then narrated to me all the acts of injustice which Ricla had committed since he had fallen in love with this woentlemen from his service on the mere suspicion that they were in love with her; some had been exiled, and others imprisoned on one frivolous pretext or another Before he had known Nina he had been a pattern of wisdom, justice, and virtue, and now he had become unjust, cruel, blindly passionate, and in every way a scandal to the high position he occupied

All this should have influenced htest effect

I told him for politeness' sake that I would endeavour to part fro so

When I asked hihed and said it was a common topic of conversation all over the town

The sa my conversation with the officer There would have been some excuse for me if I had been in love with her, but as it wasI acted like a madman

On the 14th of November I went to see her at the usual ti her miniatures I looked at hiomas

My blood boiled; I took Nina's hand and led her into a neighbouring rooo to return no more

”He's a painter”

”I am well acquainted with his history, and will tell you all about it presently; but send hio”

She called her sister, and told her to order the Genoese to leave the house and never to enter it again

The thing was 'done in a moment, but the sister told us that as he went out he had said,--

”Se ne pentira” (”He shall be sorry for it”)

I occupied an hour in relating some of the injuries I had received from this scoundrelly fellow

The next day (November 15th), I went to Nina at the usual ti two hours in pleasant converse with her and her sister I went out as the clocks were striking ht

The door of the house was under an arcade, which extended to the end of the street It was a dark night; and I had scarcely gone twenty-five paces when two, ”assassins!” and then with a rapid movement, I thrust my blade into the body of the nearest assailant I then left the arcade, and began to run down the street The second assassin fired a pistol at me, but it fortunately missed ht, and got up and continuedto pick it up I did not knohether I ounded or not, but at last I got to my inn, and laid down the bloody sword on the counter, under the landlord's nose I was quite out of breath

I told the landlord what had happened, and on taking off reat coat, I found it to be pierced in two places just below the ar to bed,” I said to the landlord, ”and I leaveI shall ask you to coistrate to denounce this act of assassination, for if the man was killed it must be shewn that I only slew him to save my own life”