306 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



while these hues were further deepened by a richly 

 carved ceiling of ebony, which^ not reflecting but ab- 

 sorbing light, allayed the sunny radiance beneath, 

 and imparted a sombre yet brilliant effect to the 

 pictured walls and glossy draperies of the spacious 

 apartment. Above the rich and lofty mantelpiece 

 hung one of the last portraits of himself painted by 

 the venerable Titian, and on the dark panels around 

 were suspended portraits of great men and lovely 

 women by the gifted hands of Giorgione, Paul Vero- 

 nese, Paris Bordone, and Tintoretto. Eegardless, 

 however, of all around him, and almost breathless 

 with eagerness and impatience, the student pursued 

 his object, and with rapid and vigorous strokes 

 had half completed his sketch totally unconscious 

 the while that some one had opened the folding- 

 doors, crossed the saloon, and now stood behind his 

 chair. 



" But tell me, Antonello mio ! " exclaimed old Con- 

 tarini, after gazing awhile in mute astonishment at 

 the sketch before him " tell me, in the name of won- 

 der, what kind of face do you mean to draw around 

 that lean and withered nose and that horribly 

 wrinkled mouth 1 " 



Antonio, however, was so unconscious of the 

 " world without," that he started not at this sudden 

 interruption of the previous stillness. Eegardless, 

 too, of the serious and indeed reproving tone of the 

 old man's voice, he hastily replied without averting 



