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in and turned my steps to the chapel of the tombs。 Viewing in
sadness the sadness of its immortal treasures； I fancied； while I
stood there； that they needed no ampler commentary than these simple
words。 As I passed through the church again to leave it； a woman；
turning away from one of the side altars； met me face to face。 The
black shawl depending from her head draped picturesquely the handsome
visage of Madonna Serafina。 She stopped as she recognised me； and I
saw that she wished to speak。 Her eye was bright； and her ample
bosom heaved in a way that seemed to portend a certain sharpness of
reproach。 But the expression of my own face； apparently； drew the
sting from her resentment； and she addressed me in a tone in which
bitterness was tempered by a sort of dogged resignation。 〃I know it
was you； now； that separated us；〃 she said。 〃It was a pity he ever
brought you to see me！ Of course； you couldn't think of me as he
did。 Well； the Lord gave him； the Lord has taken him。 I have just
paid for a nine days' mass for his soul。 And I can tell you this；
signoreI never deceived him。 Who put it into his head that I was
made to live on holy thoughts and fine phrases？ It was his own
fancy； and it pleased him to think so。Did he suffer much？〃 she
added more softly； after a pause。
〃His sufferings were great； but they were short。〃
〃And did he speak of me？〃 She had hesitated and dropped her eyes；
she raised them with her question； and revealed in their sombre
stillness a gleam of feminine confidence which； for the moment；
revived and illumined her beauty。 Poor Theobald！ Whatever name he
had given his passion； it was still her fine eyes that had charmed
him。
〃Be contented； madam；〃 I answered； gravely。
She dropped her eyes again and was silent。 Then exhaling a full rich
sigh； as she gathered her shawl together〃He was a magnificent
genius！〃
I bowed； and we separated。
Passing through a narrow side street on my way back to my hotel； I
perceived above a doorway a sign which it seemed to me I had read
before。 I suddenly remembered that it was identical with the
superscription of a card that I had carried for an hour in my
waistcoat pocket。 On the threshold stood the ingenious artist whose
claims to public favour were thus distinctly signalised； smoking a
pipe in the evening air； and giving the finishing polish with a bit
of rag to one of his inimitable 〃combinations。〃 I caught the
expressive curl of a couple of tails。 He recognised me； removed his
little red cap with a most obsequious bow； and motioned me to enter
his studio。 I returned his salute and passed on； vexed with the
apparition。 For a week afterwards； whenever I was seized among the
ruins of triumphant Rome with some peculiarly poignant memory of
Theobald's transcendent illusions and deplorable failure； I seemed to
hear a fantastic； impertinent murmur； 〃Cats and monkeys； monkeys and
cats； all human life there！〃
End