“And the Venetian,” cried Jurissa, “what is his name?”

“It is the Proveditore Marcello, who has lately returned from a long absence in the East.”

The Uzcoque started.  The name seemed to have some potent and mysterious effect upon him, and he stood for a few moments with his eyes fixed upon the ground, apparently forgetful of the necessity for his immediate departure.  The priest took him by the arm, and drew him towards the door, which he was about to open, when Jurissa shook off his grasp and hastily approached the counsellor’s wife, who had thrown herself into a large gilded chair before one of the pier-glasses, and was busily engaged in trying on the ornaments that had just been brought her.

“Have a care, noble lady!” cried the Uzcoque.  “You will do well to let a couple of weeks elapse before you appear in public with those pretty gauds.  At any rate, wear them not at to-morrow’s ball, lest, perchance, they find an owner.  Beware, lady, of the Proveditore Marcello!”

With a look of peculiar meaning he left the room, accompanied by Father Cipriano.  But his warning fell faintly upon the lady’s ear, who, though she heard the words, was far too much engrossed in arranging and admiring the costly gems so lately become her own, to give much heed to their import.  She remained before her mirror, loading her white neck and arms with chains and jewels, and interweaving diamonds and pearls in her tresses, regardless of the grief of Strasolda who sat in tears and sadness, deploring her father’s increasing peril, and the cloud that menaced the future fortunes of her people.

CHAPTER IV.

THE BALL.

The ancient burg, or castle, of Gradiska had been originally on a larger scale, but, at this period, consisted only of a centre, flanked at right angles by two wings ending in square towers, large, grey, and massive, and embattled, with overhanging galleries for sentinels to pace along, while similar galleries, on a smaller scale, extended along the entire front and wings of the castle.  The central edifice contained, on the ground-floor, numerous apartments and offices for menials; above which arose a spacious saloon and other lofty apartments, lighted by windows high above the flooring, and terminating in the round-headed arches so commonly seen in the castellated mansions of northern Italy.  In this palatial hall preparation had been busy for the ball, to which the wife of the archducal counsellor so impatiently looked forward, as an opportunity to eclipse all rivals by the splendour of her jewels.  The hour of reception by the archduke had arrived.  The exterior of the spacious edifice was illuminated from end to end by nunerous torches, and the capacious staircase was lighted by a double rank of torch-bearers, in splendid apparel.  In the interior of the vast apartment huge waxen tapers were fixed above the chevron, or zig-zag moulding,