estate. As to the Duke’s disinclination ever to revisit his own country, that was a point ascertained and adjusted at the very outset. Marino did fail zealously to make to make use of the advantages he had gained; and one afternoon I was exceedingly surprised to hear that Libussa and he were immediately to be betrothed. I imagined this would scarcely have been spoken of for a long time to come. After dinner, the discourse naturally revived what I had mentioned once before of my having been present at the betrothing of a certain Duke de Marino in Italy, and the old Countess inquired whether the hero of that day were not a near relation of their friend.’ ‘Yes—a pretty near relation,’ answered I, not forgetting my promise of secrecy to the Duke, who now threw across the table a very embarrassed look at me. ‘But now, my dear Marino,’ said I, wishing to change the subject, ‘tell us, once for all, I beseech you, how were you first induced to come to this remote castle? Did some friend inform you of the Countess Libussa’s extraordinary beauty, or had you, perhaps, seen her portrait? For yesterday, if I remember right, you said that you had intended to make a tour of a year long, going
