The moment Manuel d'Orsini entered the apartment by means of the private door, he embraced Giulia with a fondness which was more than half affected--at least on that occasion--and she herself returned the kiss less warmly than usual--but this was because she was constrained and embarrassed by the presence of the bandit-captain, who was concealed behind the tapestry. "You appear cool--distant, Giulia," said Manuel, casting upon her an inquiring glance. "And you either love me less, or you have something on your mind," returned the countess, in a low tone. "In the first instance you are wrong--in the second you are right, my well-beloved," answered the marquis. "But tell me----" "Speak lower, Manuel--we may be overheard. Some of my dependents are in the adjacent room, and----" "And you wish me to depart as soon as possible, no doubt?" said the marquis, impatiently. "Oh! Manuel--how can you reproach me thus?" asked Giulia, in a voice scarcely above a whisper; for that woman who dared be unfaithful to her husband revolted from the thought that a coarse-minded bandit should be in a position to overhear her conversation with her lover:--"how can you reproach me thus, Manuel?" she repeated;--"have I not given thee all the proofs of tenderest love which woman can bestow? Have I not risked everything for thee?" "I do not reproach you, Giulia," he replied, pressing his hand to his brow, "but I am unhappy--miserable!" And he flung himself upon the nearest ottoman. "Oh! what has occurred to distract thee thus?" exclaimed the countess, forgetting the presence of Stephano Verrina in the all-absorbing interest of her lover's evident grief. "Am I ever to find thee oppressed with care--thee, who art so young--and so gloriously handsome?" she added, her voice suddenly sinking to a whisper. Manuel gazed for a few moments, without speaking, on the countenance of his mistress as she leant over him: then, in a deep, hollow tone--a tone the despair of which was too real and natural to be in the slightest degree affected, he said, "Giulia, I am a wretch,--unworthy of all this sweet love of thine!--I have broken the solemn vow which I pledged thee--I have violated my oath----" "Oh, Manuel!" ejaculated the countess, still forgetting the presence of the bandit: "thou hast----" "Gambled once more--and lost!" cried the marquis wildly. "And the sum that I am bound in honor to pay on Monday--by noon, is nearly equal in amount to that which thy generosity lent me the other day." "Holy Virgin aid you, my unhappy Manuel!" said Giulia. "For thou canst not?" exclaimed the young noble, with a profound sigh. "Oh! I am well aware that I have no claim upon thee----"