312 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



nature, would have mistaken the flashing eyes and 

 animated features of the youthful artist for the sure 

 tokens of conscious and advancing talent; but the 

 aged painter, whose practised eye was not dazzled by 

 the soft harmony of features which gave a character 

 of feminine beauty to Antonio, saw in the excite- 

 ment, which failed to give a more intellectual char- 

 acter to his countenance, sad evidence of a soul too 

 feeble and infirm of purpose to achieve eminence in 

 anything, and with growing alarm he inferred a pre- 

 disposition to mental disease from those morbid and 

 uncontrolled impulses, which delighted in portraying 

 objects revolting to all men of sound and healthy 

 feelings. 



He arose in evident emotion, and after pacing the 

 studio some time in silence, he approached Antonio, 

 who, yielding to his eccentric longings, had seized 

 the sketch of the old woman's head, and was gazing 

 on it with evident delight " Give me the sketch, 

 Antonio," resumed the painter in his kindest tone ; 

 " 'tis finished, and the hunter cares not for the hunted 

 beast when stricken. What wouldst thou with it ? " 



" What would I, maestro ? " exclaimed the alarmed 

 youth, hastily removing his sketch from the extended 

 hand of the painter. " Finish the subject, of course, 

 and place this wonderful old head upon the magni- 

 ficent form to which it belongs." 



"But, saidst thou not, Antonio, that the poor 

 creature in the gondola hastily concealed her features 



