Then, as Giulia rose from her knees in haughty anger, the light of the lamp swept across her head-dress, so that the diamonds flashed and quivered, and a dream-like firework of precious stones seemed to scintillate upon her head. The Italian was suddenly dazzled and enraptured with the ornament which he had, indeed, perceived immediately upon his entrance, but which he had not estimated at its full value. His eyes wandered from the coronet to the strings of pearls, down to the bracelets; they passed on to the open jewel casket on the table whence a brilliancy betokening great promise shone in the dim light. Giulia followed his gaze, his expression had entirely changed: the glow of passion, the madness of revenge had given place to mute greed, to avarice, that sought gratification, not from the animate, but the inanimate objects. As if spell-bound his glance hung upon the brilliants. A considerable pause ensued, Giulia imbibed new courage. "You are not poor," said Baluzzi, suddenly, "is that your own?" "My wedding present," replied Giulia. "All this--and those precious stones, too? Show me the coronet!" Giulia removed it. Baluzzi seized a candle which stood upon the table beside him and illuminated the glittering stones. He drank in their radiance as he slowly examined them. Then, as if making some calculation, moved his lips; every one of these stones became changed into a sparkling number, and dazzling as if in a Bengal light, a noble sum flashed before him. "You see," said Giulia, who had grasped the sudden change equally quickly, "Blanden is liberal, and although I may earn nothing more myself, his gifts will render it possible for me, even, if not to the same extent as formerly, still to remember you." "Do you think so?" said Baluzzi, as he looked at her with widely opened eyes. "And although I have retired from the stage, I will save for you just the same, only do not demand impossibilities, take the circumstances into consideration; less than formerly can I only call my own, dispose of less, but, otherwise, things shall be as they were." "Less? You are very modest! When did you ever have such beautiful ornaments before?" "They are the Blandens' family jewels, they do not belong to me! They are only lent to me." "Lent? You told me yourself that he had given them to you." "For my life-time, perhaps! Such heirlooms revert to the family. I look upon them as a property entrusted to my keeping." "Give me the ornaments," cried Baluzzi, taking hold quickly. "Impossible," replied Giulia, paling. "They are my wedding jewels for tomorrow." "Haha," laughed Baluzzi. "And you do not fear that these sparkling stones should scorch your hair, or change themselves into little snakes, such as play around the heads of the Furies? I have a great undertaking in prospect, besides, I have much money to pay in Russia. I offer you the choice: give me the diadem or I remain. I shall expose you before all the world, and assert my rights."