“My mother soon brought me into the world. The seducer married another; and, when the destitute Olivia begged a pittance to keep her from starving, her proud betrayer spurned her from his door, and tauntingly bade her exercise her profession. ‘The crime I committed with thee, perjured one!’ exclaimed my mother, as she left his door, ‘shall be my last!’--and, by heavens! she acted nobly. A victim to falsehood, she sank early to the tomb; and, ere her thirtieth year, she died--her spotless soul fled to eternal happiness. Never shall I forget--though but fourteen when she died--never shall I forget her last commands. ‘My son,’ said she, ‘my Pietrino, revenge my wrongs--revenge them on the perjured Verezzi--revenge them on his progeny for ever!’ “And, by heaven! I think I have revenged them. Ere I was twenty-four, the false villain, though surrounded by seemingly impenetrable grandeur; though forgetful of the offence to punish which this arm was nerved, sank beneath my dagger. But I destroyed his _body_ alone,” added Zastrozzi, with a terrible look of insatiated vengeance: “time has taught me better: his son’s _soul_ is hell-doomed to all eternity: he destroyed himself; but my machinations, though unseen, effected his destruction. “Matilda di Laurentini! Hah! why do you shudder? When, with repeated stabs, you destroyed her who now lies lifeless before you in her coffin, did you not reflect upon what must be your fate? You have enjoyed him whom you adored--you have even been married to him--and, for the space of more than a month, have tasted unutterable joys; and yet you are unwilling to pay the price of your happiness--by heavens, I am not!” added he, bursting into a wild laugh. “Ah, poor fool, Matilda, did you think it was from friendship I instructed you to gain Verezzi? No, no--it was revenge which induced me to enter into your schemes with zeal; which induced me to lead her whose lifeless form lies yonder, to your house, foreseeing the effect it would have upon the strong passions of your husband. “And now,” added Zastrozzi, “I have been candid with you. Judge, pass your sentence--but I know my doom; and, instead of horror, experience some degree of satisfaction at the arrival of death, since all I have to do on earth is completed.” Zastrozzi ceased; and, unappalled, fixed his expressive gaze upon the superior. Surprised at Zastrozzi’s firmness, and shocked at the crimes of which he had made so unequivocal an avowal, the superior turned away in horror. Still Zastrozzi stood unmoved, and fearlessly awaited the fiat of his destiny. The superior whispered to one in black vestments. Four officials rushed in, and placed Zastrozzi on the rack. Even whilst writhing under the agony of almost insupportable torture his nerves were stretched, Zastrozzi’s firmness failed him not; but, upon his soul-illumined countenance, played a smile of most disdainful scorn--and, with a wild, convulsive laugh of exulting revenge, he died. THE END.