Tonin worked with the others, and when the sculptured nymphs were brought to view, his delight knew no bounds. Taking up his position before the last erected one, he stood with folded arms, silently, wonderingly drinking in the beauties which Toretto's chisel had effected. He was wholly lost to time and place and was quite unaware that the servants had removed all traces of packing and litter, and that a bevy of maids were now seated in the gallery, weaving garlands at Pasino's order, for the festooning of the unfinished pedestals. He was so absorbed in the snowy goddess before him that he was deaf to everything until old Vittori's voice suddenly rent the gallery's stillness with something between a groan and a shriek. "Where is the aquarium? Who's seen my gold-fish? Answer, somebody, or I'll throw you all out of the window! Oh, I shall be disgraced and discharged and maybe half killed! Where is it? Why don't you speak?" The seneschal's appearance, as well as his words, indicated unusual excitement, for his scarlet robe was thrown open at the throat, his frosty locks were rumpled, his uplifted hands were shaking, and his lips were twitching uncannily. "What's the matter? What's wrong?" demanded a dozen voices, but Tonin darted across to the old man's side with the announcement-- "Giuseppe carried it away this afternoon as a present to his cousin David." "My-o! My-o! I am lost, I am done, I am dead!" ejaculated the seneschal, wringing his hands. "What's the trouble, Vittori?" asked Pasino, laying a quieting hand upon the shoulder of his agitated friend. "It is this," returned the seneschal hoarsely; "the duke ordered me to send to the table a fresh ornamental centrepiece with each course, making every one handsomer than the one used before it. I did so, and all has now been served but the dessert, and that will be due in about fifteen minutes. For this fancy piece I have filled a great tray with Parma violets on snow, thousands of them--and in the midst of the flowers I planned to set the aquarium of goldfish for a bit of color and life. My-o! My-o! What shall I do?" and once again the seneschal fell to moaning. "Build a column of fruit in the centre of the tray," suggested Pasino. "Impossible! I used a pyramid of apricots and nectarines for the second course." "Wouldn't a lighted candle or lamp do?" inquired Pasino, earnestly endeavoring to find relief for the seneschal. "No! No!" wailed Vittori; "lighted things would melt the snow." "To be sure," agreed Pasino sympathetically. "I know something that might be pretty," ventured Tonin timidly. "What is it?" Vittori demanded. For answer the boy turned from the seneschal and his fellow-retainers, and whispered to Pasino apart. The old man's face brightened as he received the boy's confidence. "I don't know," he commented; "but it ought to be good--yes, yes, it would be, it would indeed!"