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eekly
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
[Drawn and engraved expressly for The Weekly Novelette.
jEntered according to Act of Congress, in the Clerk’s Office of
the District Court of Massachusetts.]
TENE FOUNDILINGs
HERMIONE OF ST. ANTOINE.
A ROMANCE OF THE CONTINENT.
BY MAJOR F. C. HUNTER.
|conTINvuED.]
CHAPTER VII.
A FESTIVAL IN VENICE. -
From the dreary night of the scene at the house in
the Rue de Charenton, to the bright day on which our
travellers arrived in Venice, nearly a score of years has
transpired. The affair of the Pont du Jardin du Roi,
and the scenes which followed at the prison de La
, Force—buried since then in oblivion, save to the knowl-
edge of the principal actors—had long been forgotten
by Monsieur Chanfrau, the wealthy—but still cunning,
grasping, money-getting, intriguing Morcelle Chanfrau.
If, occasionally, his thoughts turned back for a moment
to that trying hour in his life, he regretted the crime he
ever believed he had committed, but smiled when he
flattered himself that he had atoned for the deed, in a
measure, by his.adoption and care of the foundling
Hermione.
She had now reached" that age when he thought it
advisable to look for a suitable match for her, and his
acquaintance with the Duke Pazzoni, though brief, led
him to hope that he might find favor in the eyes of his
lovely protege. He had omitted no opportunity to
bring them in contact with each other, and the brilliant
position which the duke was reputed to enjoy, his enor-
mous wealth, and supposed influence, had already ob-
tained for him the good-will of Hermione’s foster-father,
THE BRIGANDS OBEYING THE DUKES COMMANDS,
who had not hesitated to urge Pazzoni upon his daughter
as a most desirable suitor in all respects. Hermione
listened to Chanfrau’s advice, she heard the words of
flattery which fell from the lips of Duke Pazzoni—but
she had been ten days in Venice, and as yet she had
not met the friend of her youth—Eugene, the Count de
Monthon !
It was evening—and Venice glittered with light.
Joy and music and merriment ran riot in the court, the
hall, and the gilded saloon. The streets, and avenues,
and broad terraces of the ancient city of the Doges were
thronged—and stately signors, nobles, or strangers
mingled together in the swaying mass which moved to
and fro, on the occasion of a grand festival given at the
Pallazzo del Conti. A gorgeous flood of light gleamed
from the many-tinted panes of the great windows which
adorned the dwellings of the princely, and the air was
soft, voluptuous. ambrosial to the senses.
The chief saloon of the palace was the theatre of a
magnificent fete, and already the interior was crowded
with its thousand guests, where the beauty, the fashion,
and wealth of the world had assembled. The queenly
daughter of Spain, the mild-eyed Italian, the sunny-
haired northern belle, or the volaptuous houri of the east,
were escorted through the galop or promenade by don,
or prince, or knight—and a multitude of hearts beat in
unison, amid the excitement and happiness of the pass-
ing hour. The main hall was decorated with blazoned
and costly tapestries, which surmounted the rich corni-
ces overhead, and beneath which the feet of merry
dancers kept time to enchanting strains of melody.
Garlands of flowers and bright evergreens were inter-
woven in every variety of form around the high and
massive recesses, forming artificial bowers most tempt-
ing to the excited and temporarily weary, and beneath
the shade of which many a bold lover breathed a pass-
ing vow to quiet and pensive listeners.
Within the shadow of one of those inviting retreats,
which looked out upon the broad terrace of the palace,
there sat—or rather half-inclined, upon a gorgeous
divan—the figure of a youthful maiden, who had at-
tracted more than the usual share of gallantry and
attention during the evening, and whose beauty was
uoequalled even in that brilliant throng. No cloud was
on her brow, no shade of melancholy rested on her
[See page 402.]
pleasing features. Her happy smile and playful coun
tenance were the index of unalloyed enjoyment, and
many an eye which had looked upon her that night,
had deemed her almost too fair for earth. Her form
was grace itself, and the simple attire she wore might
almost have betokened her a peasant-girl, but for the
costly string of pearls which encircled her slender zone,
and the modest, but superb diamond loops which
dangled at the shoulders of her dress.
The rather solicitous gaze which on a sudden shot
from her eye towards the saloon, however, and the
slight heaving which might at that moment have been
discernible beneath her closely-fitting bodice, showed
that she bad discovered some one in the crowd who had
interested her. At her-side, stood a trio of noblemen,
and near her was prominent the Duke Pazzoni, whose
attentions had been most assiduous during the night.
Though the lady was scarcely twenty, her beauty was
peerless, and her finely rounded form was most ex-
quisitely developed. Apparently forgetful, however,
of the noble flatterers who surrounded her, her eye still
glanced curiously among the multitude in the great
saloon.
In a remote corner of the hall, there wandered a
youthful cavalier—gracefully attired in rose-colored
velvet, richly embroidered with silver lacings and stars.
His well turned limbs were encased in hose of silk,
similarly ornamented, and upon his head was placed a’
Spanish hat, surmounted by a waving plume. A
neatly trimmed moustache covered his lip, and his
attire rendered him a stranger in the gay crowd ; none
knew whence he came. Ile was closely followed by a
stout-limbed attendant, in the garb of esquire, and as
he moved on, he was evidently seeking for some person
among the mass of beings before him.
“Bernard !” said the cavalier, sharply, addressing
his follower ; “ you have made no mistake ?”
“No, signor,” was the half sullen reply of the other.
“ Attend me, closely,” continued hia master, and
they proceeded on.
he cavalier still threaded the crowd, intent upon his
object, but without success.. The maiden arose and
quitted her seclusion, followed by the duke, and a trio
of noblemen. . :
“Signor !” said Bernard, suddenly,
