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The middle compartment of this hall rose into a vaulted roof, enriched

with fretwork, and supported, on three sides, by pillars of randeur, till their

extent was lost in twilight The lightest footsteps of the servants,

as they advanced through these, were returned in whispering echoes,

and their figures, seen at a distance ih the dusk,

frequently awakened Eination She looked alternately

at Montoni, at his guests and on the surrounding scene; and then,

re her dear native province, her pleasant hooodness of the friends, whoain occupied her hts could return from these considerations, she fancied

she observed an air of authority towards his guests, such as she had

never before seen hihty carriage; there was soers, that seee

his superiority During dinner, the conversation was chiefly on war and politics They

talked with energy of the state of Venice, its dangers, the character of

the reigning Doge and of the chief senators; and then spoke of the state

of Ro his

goblet ine froilded ewer, that stood beside hi his goblet to his lips to

drink this toast, when suddenly the wine hissed, rose to the brilass from him, it burst into a thousand pieces