BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 285
she looked forward to the morrow, when the companion of this moonlit hour should meet her in that quiet, secret boudoir of the Fazio Palace :
- Elle'e montata, il sai, lassu, montata
La testa e gia ; E andata sino in cima e poi tornata
E sempre qua ! La testa gira, gira intorno, intorno,
Intorno a te E il dore canta come il primo giorno
Ti sposa a me !
Lesti I Lesti ! via ! montiam su la 1 Funiculi ! Funicula !
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
FERRARI'S CUE.
IT will be easy to conceive that after this excursion, the Countess Stravensky would find no difficulty in obtaining the general's consent to a private visit to the Fazio Palace an hour before the reception on the night of the illumina- tions.
As the clock struck nine, General Petronovitch, who had acted strictly upon the countess' instructions, left his palace secretly, dressed for the reception, but care- fully enveloped in his cloak, he walked along the shaded
- Ah me ! 'tis strange that some should take to sighing,
And like it well ; For me, I have not thought it worth the trying,
So cannot tell. With laugh, and dance, and song, the day soon passes,
Full soon is gone ; For mirth was made for joyous lads and lasses
To call their own.
Listen ! Listen ! hark ! the soft guitar ! Funiculi 1 Funicula !