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We walked along in silence till we reached the end of the path There, before us, lay the open garden, with its broad green lawn, bathed in the lovely light of the full ht was very warardless of this fact, Cellini wrapped carefully round e fleecy white burnous that he had taken froh the avenue

"I a

"No; but you will be, perhaps It is not wise to run any useless risks"

I was again silent A low breeze rustled in the tree-tops near us; the music of the ballroom reached us only in faint and far echoes; the scent of roses and myrtle afted delicately on the balmy air; the radiance of the estiveness of its reality Suddenly a sound broke on our ears--a delicious, long, plaintive trill; then a wonderful shower of sparkling roulades; and finally, a clear, ihtingale, singing as only the nightingales of the South can sing I listened entranced

"'Thou wast not born for death, ienerations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown,'"

quoted Cellini in earnest tones

"You aderly

"More than any other poet that has lived," he replied "His was the most ethereal and delicate muse that ever consented to be tied down to earth But, mademoiselle, you do not wish to examine me as to my taste in poetry You have some other questions to put to me, have you not?"

For one instant I hesitated Then I spoke out frankly, and answered: "Yes, signor What was there in that wine you gave ly

"A medicine," he said "An excellent and perfectly simple remedy made of the juice of plants, and absolutely hariveto take so much responsibility upon yourself?"

He smiled

"I think not If you are injured or offended, then I rong; but if, on the contrary, your health and spirits are ever so little improved, as I see they are, I deserve your thanks, mademoiselle"

And he waited with an air of satisfaction and expectancy I was puzzled and half-angry, yet I could not help acknowledging to myself that I felt better and more cheerful than I had done for ent face, and said alnor But surely you will tellyourselfmy leave"