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housekeeper at market in the mornings； and finds out from her when and
where I can have an opportunity of meeting Bianca。 I would rather not
have trusted him； but I could think of no other plan。〃
〃At any rate； I should have thought you might have selected some
more retired rendezvous than the most frequented church in Venice。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃I wish you would suggest one within
reach；〃 he said。 〃There are no retired places in this accursed town。 But； in
fact； we see each other very seldom。 Often for days together the only way
in which I can get a glimpse of her is by loitering about in my boat in front
of her father's house； and watching till she shows herself at the window。
We are in her neighborhood now； and it is close upon the hour at which I
can generally calculate upon her appearing。 Would you mind my making a
short detour that way before I set you down at your hotel？〃
We had entered the Grand Canal while Von Rosenau had been relating
his love…tale； and some minutes before he had lowered his sail and taken to
the oars。 He now slewed the boat's head round abruptly； and we shot into a
dark and narrow waterway； and so； after sundry twistings and turnings；
arrived before a grim； time…worn structure； so hemmed in by the
surrounding buildings that it seemed as if no ray of sunshine could ever
penetrate within its walls。
〃That is the Palazzo Marinelli；〃 said my companion。 〃The greater part
of it is let to different tenants。 The family has long been much too poor to
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inhabit the whole of it； and now the old man only reserves himself four
rooms on the third floor。 Those are the windows； in the far corner； and
thereno！yes！there is Bianca。〃
I brought my eyeglass to bear upon the point indicated just in time to
catch sight of a female head； which was thrust out through the open
window for an instant； and then withdrawn with great celerity。
〃Ah；〃 sighed the count； 〃it is you who have driven her away。 I ought to
have remembered that she would be frightened at seeing a stranger。 And
now she will not show herself again； I fear。 Come； I will take you home。
Confess nowis she not more beautiful than you expected？〃
〃My dear sir； I had hardly time to see whether she was a man or a
woman； but I am quite willing to take your word for it that there never was
anybody like her。〃
〃If you would like to wait a little longerhalf an hour or soshe
/might/ put her head out again；〃 said the young man； wistfully。
〃Thank you very much； but my sister will be wondering why I do not
come to take her down to the /table d'hote/。 And besides； I am not in love
myself； I may perhaps be excused for saying that I want my dinner。〃
〃As you please；〃 answered the count； looking the least bit in the world
affronted； and so he pulled back in silence to the steps of the hotel； where
we parted。
I don't know whether Von Rosenau felt aggrieved by my rather
unsympathetic reception of his confidence； or whether he thought it
useless to discuss his projects further with one who could not or would not
assist him in carrying them out； but although we continued to meet daily；
as before； he did not recur to the interesting subject； and it was not for me
to take the initiative in doing so。 Curiosity； I confess； led me to direct my
gondolier more than once to the narrow canal over which the Palazzo
Martinelli towered； and on each occasion I was rewarded by descrying；
from the depths of the miniature mourning…coach which concealed me； the
faithful count； seated in his boat and waiting in patient faith； like another
Ritter Toggenburg； with his eyes fixed upon the corner window； but of the
lady I could see no sign。 I was rather disappointed at first； as day after day
went by and my young friend showed no disposition to break the silence
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in which he had chosen to wrap himself； for I had nothing to do in Venice；
and I thought it would have been rather amusing to watch the progress of
this incipient romance。 By degrees； however； I ceased to trouble myself
about it； and at the end of a fortnight I had other things to think of； in the
shape of plans for the summer； my sister Anne having by that time
satisfied herself that； all things considered； Titian's 〃Assumption〃 was a
little too much for her。
It was Captain Janovicz who informed me casually one evening that
Von Rosenau was going away in a few days on leave； and that he would
probably be absent for a considerable time。
〃For my own part；〃 remarked my informant； 〃I shall be surprised if we
see him back in the regiment at all。 He was only sent to us as a sort of
punishment for having been a naughty boy； and I suppose now he will be
forgiven； and restored to the hussars。〃
〃So much for undying love；〃 thinks I； with a cynical chuckle。 〃If there
is any gratitude in man； that young fellow ought to be showering blessings
on me for having refused to hold the noose for him to thrust his head into。〃
Alas！ I knew not of what I was speaking。 I had not yet heard the last of
Herr von Rosenau's entanglement； nor was I destined to escape from
playing my part in it。 The very next morning； after breakfast； as I was
poring over a map of Switzerland； 〃Murray〃 on my right hand and
〃Bradshaw〃 on my left； his card was brought to me； together with an
urgent request that I would see him immediately and alone； and before I
had had time to send a reply； he came clattering into the room； trailing his
sabre behind him； and dropped into the first arm…chair with a despairing
self…abandonment which shook the house to its foundations。
〃Mr。 Jenkinson；〃 said he； 〃I am a ruined man！〃
I answered rather drily that I was very sorry to hear it。 If I must
confess the truth； I thought he had come to borrow money of me。
〃A most cruel calamity has befallen me；〃 he went on； 〃and unless you
will consent to help me out of it〃
〃I am sure I shall be delighted to do anything in my power；〃 I
interrupted； apprehensively； 〃but I am afraid〃
〃You cannot refuse me till you have heard what I have to say。 I