THERESA ABRUZZr. 127 



anxiety which seemed to border on folly ; but he was declining 

 in years and health, and it could not reasonably therefore be 

 matter of surprise that he should be desirous, by the marriage of 

 that son, to secure him from further wanderings. Two days only 

 were to elapse before the celebration of the holy rite, to which all 

 Mantua looked forward with impatient joy, when the marquis 

 was suddenly taken ill, and in a few hours breathed his last in 

 the arms of his distracted child. The violence of the seizure had 

 deprived him almost instantly of the power of speech; and, as it 

 seemed, at a time when some fatal secret was labouring in his 

 breast. The expiring struggles of humanity are at all times 

 awful ; but when to the throes of nature are added the pangs of 

 conscience, how dreadful are the last moments of man ! In vain 

 did Marco attempt to tranquillize his wretched parent; even as 

 his eyes glazed in death his looks were of sorrow and despair. 



The count Abruzzi assisted at the last obsequies of the mar- 

 quis, with great apparent grief for his friend and sympathy in the 

 feelings of his successor; and from his lips, after the mournful 

 ceremonies were concluded, Marco received the only consolation 

 his heart could then admit — an assurance, that after such reason- 

 able delay as reverence for the departed claimed from affection 

 and duty, the nuptials should be solemnized. 



" I tremble at delay ! " said the mourner. 



" You need not,'' replied the count : " I swear to you, by the 

 soul of your lamented sire, that Theresa shall be yours.'' 



A few days only had, however, elapsed when a marked change 

 was seen in the deportment of the count, who now seemed to 

 shun the young marquis as sedulously as he had before sought 

 him. Dark whispers were abroad, that the late marquis, from 

 extravagance and a propensity to gaming, indulged in secret at 

 Venice and other places, was a ruined man ; and each succeeding 

 day served but to strengthen affirmations which none ventured to 

 deny. Marco awaking from a dream of grief, found himself sud- 

 denly abandoned by tliose whom he had deemed his friends ; 

 while a host of creditors were loudly clamouring for the discharge 

 of obligations, the existence of which he had believed impossible. 

 Alas! the dying agonies, of his father were now explained. He 

 knew too well the ruinous consequences of his infatuated career 

 not to reflect on the approaching misery of a beloved son with the 

 bitterest remorse. He felt too late how fatal had been a rivalry, 

 never acknowledged but always existing, between the houses of 

 Petroni and Abruzzi; and how unavailing had been his endea- 



