raising himself with difficulty on one arm; "they are beyond the leech's skill.”

"Bear him off, bear him off!" interrupted Visconti, impatiently; "he yet shall die as becomes his deserts."

"And thou as becomes thine," replied Manfredi, gathering up all his remaining strength for one last effort. "Listen, proud tyrant, for I will be heard. I tell thee that thou art for ever doomed to find thy armies baffled, thy schemes overthrown, and trust in traitors faithless as thyself. And when thy life-blood ebbs away like mine, curses, not tears and blessings, shall attend thee; for, at that hour all mankind will rejoice; and from the seven-hilled city to the Alps, one universal shout proclaim that thou art dead, and Italy is free."

He sank back exhausted as he spoke. After the lapse of some seconds, he exclaimed, in an altered tone, "Faint! faint! the air grows thick; where art thou, Clara ?"

One of the domestics stepped forward and placed his hand upon his heart, but it had ceased to beat.

"Remove him, and let the body be restored to his friends," said Visconti, in an impatient voice.

His orders were immediately obeyed, and he was left alone with Velasco. "A brave youth,” he observed carelessly to the astrologer, when they were alone.

"He is indeed, my lord; his constancy reminds one of the virtues of the ancient world."

"Virtues of the ancient world!" exclaimed Visconti; "I thought, Velasco, you had read and seen too much to indulge in such like reveries."

"Yet it is a pity of yonder misguided youth. Had his mind been well directed, it was capable of the greatest things."

His master made no reply, and the astrologer immediately afterwards withdrew..

"There was but one mode of dealing with yonder presumptuous boy," said his master to himself when he was alone. "He renounced my allegiance, dared me to do my worst, braved me before my creatures. Yet he might have been useful if he would but have served me,

with all his wealth, talents, and intrepidity. But his wealth is mine now, by the laws of the Empire, since his blood is tainted by treason. And after all, there is but one sure mode of dealing with rebellion, which he who knows not, knows not how to rule."

He took up a silver lamp which stood on the table, as he spoke, and was moving towards the door, when he was attracted apparently by the drapery at the extremity of the room, which had concealed the soldiers, and he advanced towards it. The curtain was half drawn back, and on the wall behind there hung a portrait of a young cavalier in a rich hunting dress. It was one of Bernabo Visconti, painted in his youth.

His nephew started slightly as his eye encountered the well-known features, and he seemed to hesitate for an instant whether to advance or recede. He then held up the lamp, and examined it steadily for several seconds. At length averting his eyes, he drew the curtain hastily together, so as to conceal it from his view,

muttering to himself; "He frowns upon me as if I were an intruder here: that picture must be removed."

So saying, he abruptly left the room.

CHAPTER XII.

Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn; but I shall have

my pocket picked?

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.

Base is the slave that pays.

ANCIENT PISTOL.

NEXT morning Alfred was so much shocked at the untimely fate of his friend, which was known throughout the city at an early hour, that he remained for some time irresolute how to act. Reflecting at length on the danger he incurred by remaining longer in Milan, where he might be treated as an accomplice of Manfredi, he resolved, after much anxious thought, first, to carry the melancholy tidings to the Count de Rossi, a duty, which considering all circumstances he considered imperative upon