THE HRATES OF SEGNA. 431 



to forgive, if not to forget, the unsuccessful attempt 

 upon her life." 



"His wife's safety!" exclaimed the old woman. 

 " Have the trials and fatigues of the last few days 

 turned your brain 1 Alas ! too surely was the rope 

 fixed round her neck; and had you not carried off 

 her remains how could you have possessed her portrait, 

 and by the devilish stratagem of showing it to the 

 bereaved husband, have driven him to the act which 

 cost him his life 1 " 



"Gracious Heaven! what hideous jest is this?" 

 exclaimed Marcello. "Do I not see you living and 

 standing before me ; and think you I could ever for- 

 get your features, or the look you gave me when 

 hanging from the tree? You were cut down and 

 saved after our departure ; and but a few weeks have 

 elapsed since my son painted your likeness, after 

 conveying you across the canal in his gondola." 



The old woman stood for a few moments as though 

 petrified by what she had just heard. At last she 

 passed her hand slowly across her face, as if to con- 

 vince herself of her identity. 



" And she you murdered resembled me ? " she ex- 

 claimed in a trembling voice. " It was of me that 

 the portrait was taken, and by him / " she continued, 

 pointing to Antonio with a gesture of horror and 

 contempt. "My picture was it, that Avas held before 

 Dansowich, and by you, the murderer of his wife? 

 Holy Virgin ! " she exclaimed, as the truth seemed to 



