158 RETRIBUTION. 



which the Italians, with reference to such a use, have termed 

 proverbially " Fools Paper," some daring hand had ventured, 

 in ambiguous but intelligible terms, to write up her accusation. 



But what was this to the u hand writing on the wall," which 

 above every festive board, on the frescos of every sparkling 

 saloon, on the tapestry of her own chamber, presented itself 

 in characters of blood before the eye of Beatrice. For a sea- 

 son, and with a view by braving to disarm suspicion, did the 

 wretched lady compel herself, or was compelled, perhaps, by 

 her noble family, to face the world ; but the colour had fled 

 her cheek ; her dark eye grew hollow, and at last she veiled 

 them from public notice in a convent of Benedictine Nuns. 



There, none were more exemplary in their vigils, their pen- 

 ances, their prayers, than sister Agatha, the name by which 

 the once proud Beatrice Doria was known amongst the nuns. 

 Never to one of them (whatever she might have done in the 

 confessional) did she open the dark secret of her soul; but 

 those of the sisterhood, who occupied adjoining dormitories, 

 told fearful tales of the sounds of agony groans from the 

 depths of overwhelming dread, which, at times, were heard to 

 issue from her cell. Other of her habits caused remark. Sel- 

 dom in broad day -light, but never of an evening when the 

 nuns were assembled in the convent garden, was she of their 

 number ; and always after sunset did she keep the window of 

 her cell close shut, however sultry might be the weather. 

 Could Beatrice have feared the gentle breezes of a summer's 



