His steward lived on the ground floor of the great villa, in the vast frescoed chambers, with their domed and gilded ceilings, their sculptured cornices, their carved doors, their stately couches, with the satin dropping in shreds, and the pale tapestries wearing away with the moths and the mice at work in them. His narrow camp-bed, his deal table and chairs, were sadly out of place in those once splendid halls, but he did not think about it; he vaguely liked the space and the ruined grandeur about him, and all the thoughts he had were given to his love, Generosa, the wife of Tasso Tassilo. From the terraces of the villa he could see the mill a mile further down the stream, and he would pass half the short nights of the summer looking at the distant lights in it. He was only five-and-twenty, and he was passionately in love, with all the increased ardour of a forbidden passion. He was fair-haired and blue-eyed, was well made, and very tall. In character he was neither better nor worse than most men of his age; but as a steward he was tolerably honest, and as a lover he was thoroughly sincere. He went with a quick step into the central hall to meet his visitor. He supposed that the vicar had come about flowers for the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, which was on the morrow. Though the villa gardens were wholly neglected, they were still rich in flowers which wanted no care--lilies, lavender, old-fashioned roses, oleanders red and white, and magnolia trees. 'Good evening, Reverend Father, you do me honour,' he said, as he saw Gesualdo. 'Is there anything that I can do for you? I am your humble servant.' Gesualdo looked at him curiously. He had never noticed the young man before. He had seen him ride past; he had seen him at mass; he had spoken to him of the feasts of the Church; but he had never noticed him. Now he looked at him curiously as he answered, without any preface whatever,---- 'I am come to speak to you of Generosa Fè, the wife of Tasso Tassilo.' The young steward coloured violently. He was astonished and silent. 'She loves you,' said Gesualdo, simply. Falko Melegari made a gesture as though he implied that it was not his place either to deny or to affirm. 'She loves you,' said Gesualdo again. The young man had that fatuous smile which unconsciously expresses the consciousness of conquest. But he was honest in his passion and ardent in it. 'Not so much as I love her,' he said, rapturously, forgetful of his hearer. Gesualdo frowned. 'She is the wife of another man,' he said with reproof. Falko Melegari shrugged his shoulders; that did not seem any reason against it to him. 'How will it end?' said the priest. The lover smiled. 'These things always end in one way.' Gesualdo winced, as though someone had wounded him. 'I am come to bid you go out of Marca,' he said simply. The young man stared at him; then he laughed angrily.