Tassino saw many brawny palms thrust out for her shrewd conning; echoed from his eyrie many of the _Eccomi perdútos_ and _O mè beátos_ which greeted her broken sallies. She got a mite here and there, and buzzed and mumbled over it, clutching it to her lean bosom. Presently some distraction, of rape or murder, carried her audience elsewhere, and she was left temporarily alone. Then Tassino, moved by a sudden impulse, reached down his arm through the grate and tapped her reverend crown. She started, and ducked, and peered up. He whispered out to her:— ’Zitto, old mother! Come up here, and tell me my fortune for money.’ She seemed to hesitate; he signified the way; and lo! on a thought she came. He met her at the door, and dragged her in. ’Tell me my fortune,’ he said, and thrust out a dirty palm. She pored over it, chuckling and pattering her little incomprehensible shibboleth. Presently she seemed to pounce triumphantly on a knot. She leered up, her hand still clutching his, her hair falling over her eyes. ’Ah-yah!’ she muttered. ’Ringa, ringa!’ and shook her head. He shrugged peevishly:— ’What do you mean, old hag?’ ’Ringa!’ she repeated: ’no ringa, no fortuna.’ He snatched his hand away. ’What ring, thou cursed harridan?’ She shook her head again. ’No know. Ringa—I see it—green cat-stone—hold off Fortuna. Get, and she change.’ He gnawed his lip, frowning and wondering. There was a ring in question, certainly. Could it be possible its possession was connected somehow with his personal fortunes? If that were so, here was a veritable Pythoness. Her eyes stared dæmonic: she thrust out a finger, pointing:— ’I see, there: green cat-stone: get, and Fortuna change.’ Superstition mastered him. He trembled before her, quavering:— ’How can I? O mother! how can I?’ A voice in the street startled him. He leapt to the window and back again. ’Narcisso!’ he gasped, and ran to bundle out his visitor. ’To-morrow—come again to-morrow—after dark,’ he whispered hurriedly. ’I shall be alone—I will pay you—’ and he drove her forth. Narcisso met her, issuing from the court below. He growled out a malediction, and came growling into the room. ’You keep nice company, Messer.’ ’That is not my fault, beast,’ answered Tassino pertly. ’When I choose my own, it is to amuse myself.’ ’Well, I hope she amused you?’ ’Not so much as I expected. I saw her telling fortunes down below, and called her up to read me mine. Acquaint me of the mystery of a certain ring I asked her; but, _oimè_! she could enlighten me nothing.’ Narcisso leered at him cunningly, and spat. ’It was as well, perhaps. I see th’ art set upon that impertinence; and I’ll only say again, "beware!"’ ’You may say what you like, old yard-dog,’ answered the youth. ’It’s your business, chained up here, to snarl.’