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lower a letter filled with coin and strike it against that circular
window in her hiding…place？〃
At once he wrote a note； the note of a man exiled by his family to
Elba； the note of a degraded marquis now a mere captain of equipment。
Then he made a cord of whatever he could find that was capable of
being turned into string； filled the note with a few silver crowns；
and lowered it in the deepest silence to the centre of that spherical
gleam。
〃The shadows will show if her mother or the servant is with her；〃
thought Montefiore。 〃If she is not alone； I can pull up the string at
once。〃
But； after succeeding with infinite trouble in striking the glass； a
single form； the little figure of Juana； appeared upon the wall。 The
young girl opened her window cautiously； saw the note； took it； and
stood before the window while she read it。 In it； Montefiore had given
his name and asked for an interview； offering； after the style of the
old romances； his heart and hand to the Signorina Juana di Mancinia
common trick； the success of which is nearly always certain。 At
Juana's age； nobility of soul increases the dangers which surround
youth。 A poet of our day has said： 〃Woman succumbs only to her own
nobility。 The lover pretends to doubt the love he inspires at the
moment when he is most beloved； the young girl； confident and proud；
longs to make sacrifices to prove her love； and knows the world and
men too little to continue calm in the midst of her rising emotions
and repel with contempt the man who accepts a life offered in
expiation of a false reproach。〃
Ever since the constitution of societies the young girl finds herself
torn by a struggle between the caution of prudent virtue and the evils
of wrong…doing。 Often she loses a love； delightful in prospect； and
the first； if she resists； on the other hand； she loses a marriage if
she is imprudent。 Casting a glance over the vicissitudes of social
life in Paris； it is impossible to doubt the necessity of religion；
and yet Paris is situated in the forty…eighth degree of latitude；
while Tarragona is in the forty…first。 The old question of climates is
still useful to narrators to explain the sudden denouements； the
imprudences； or the resistances of love。
Montefiore kept his eyes fixed on the exquisite black profile
projected by the gleam upon the wall。 Neither he nor Juana could see
each other； a troublesome cornice； vexatiously placed； deprived them
of the mute correspondence which may be established between a pair of
lovers as they bend to each other from their windows。 Thus the mind
and the attention of the captain were concentrated on that luminous
circle where； without perhaps knowing it herself； the young girl
would； he thought； innocently reveal her thoughts by a series of
gestures。 But no！ The singular motions she proceeded to make gave not
a particle of hope to the expectant lover。 Juana was amusing herself
by cutting up his missive。 But virtue and innocence sometimes imitate
the clever proceedings inspired by jealousy to the Bartholos of
comedy。 Juana； without pens； ink； or paper； was replying by snip of
scissors。 Presently she refastened the note to the string； the officer
drew it up； opened it； and read by the light of his lamp one word；
carefully cut out of the paper： COME。
〃Come！〃 he said to himself； 〃but what of poison？ or the dagger or
carbine of Perez？ And that apprentice not yet asleep； perhaps； in the
shop？ and the servant in her hammock？ Besides； this old house echoes
the slightest sound； I can hear old Perez snoring even here。 Come；
indeed！ She can have nothing more to lose。〃
Bitter reflection！ rakes alone are logical and will punish a woman for
devotion。 Man created Satan and Lovelace； but a virgin is an angel on
whom he can bestow naught but his own vices。 She is so grand； so
beautiful； that he cannot magnify or embellish her； he has only the
fatal power to blast her and drag her down into his own mire。
Montefiore waited for a later and more somnolent hour of the night；
then； in spite of his reflections； he descended the stairs without
boots； armed with his pistols； moving step by step； stopping to
question the silence； putting forth his hands； measuring the stairs；
peering into the darkness； and ready at the slightest incident to fly
back into his room。 The Italian had put on his handsomest uniform； he
had perfumed his black hair； and now shone with the particular
brilliancy which dress and toilet bestow upon natural beauty。 Under
such circumstances most men are as feminine as a woman。
The marquis arrived without hindrance before the secret door of the
room in which the girl was hidden； a sort of cell made in the angle of
the house and belonging exclusively to Juana； who had remained there
hidden during the day from every eye while the siege lasted。 Up to the
present time she had slept in the room of her adopted mother； but the
limited space in the garret where the merchant and his wife had gone
to make room for the officer who was billeted upon them； did not allow
of her going with them。 Dona Lagounia had therefore left the young
girl to the guardianship of lock and key； under the protection of
religious ideas； all the more efficacious because they were partly
superstitious； and also under the shield of a native pride and
sensitive modesty which made the young Mancini in sort an exception
among her sex。 Juana possessed in an equal degree the most attaching
virtues and the most passionate impulses； she had needed the modesty
and sanctity of this monotonous life to calm and cool the tumultuous
blood of the Maranas which bounded in her heart； the desires of which
her adopted mother told her were an instigation of the devil。
A faint ray of light traced along the sill of the secret door guided
Montefiore to the place； he scratched the panel softly and Juana
opened to him。 Montefiore entered； palpitating； but he recognized in
the expression of the girl's face complete ignorance of her peril； a
sort of naive curiosity； and an innocent admiration。 He stopped short；
arrested for a moment by the sacredness of the picture which met his
eyes。
He saw before him a tapestry on the walls with a gray ground sprinkled
with violets； a little coffer of ebony； an antique mirror； an immense
and very old arm chair also in ebony and covered with tapestry； a
table with twisted legs； a pretty carpet on the floor； near the table
a single chair； and that was all。 On the table； however； were flowers
and embroidery； in a recess at the farther end of the room was the
narrow little bed where Juana dreamed。 Above the bed were three
pictures； and near the pillow a crucifix； with a holy water basin and
a prayer； printed in letters of gold and framed。 Flowers exhaled their
perfume faintly； the candles cast a tender light； all was calm and
pure and sacred。 The dreamy thoughts of Juana； but above all Juana
herself； had communicated to all things her own pec