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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 285

she looked forward to the morrow, when the companion of this moonlit hour should meet her in that quiet, secret boudoir of the Fazio Palace :


 * Elle'e montata, il sai, lassu, montata

La testa e gia ; E andata sino in cima e poi tornata

E sempre qua ! La testa gira, gira intorno, intorno,

Intorno a te E il dore canta come il primo giorno

Ti sposa a me !

Lesti I Lesti ! via ! montiam su la 1 Funiculi ! Funicula !

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

FERRARI'S CUE.

IT will be easy to conceive that after this excursion, the Countess Stravensky would find no difficulty in obtaining the general's consent to a private visit to the Fazio Palace an hour before the reception on the night of the illumina- tions.

As the clock struck nine, General Petronovitch, who had acted strictly upon the countess' instructions, left his palace secretly, dressed for the reception, but care- fully enveloped in his cloak, he walked along the shaded


 * Ah me ! 'tis strange that some should take to sighing,

And like it well ; For me, I have not thought it worth the trying,

So cannot tell. With laugh, and dance, and song, the day soon passes,

Full soon is gone ; For mirth was made for joyous lads and lasses

To call their own.

Listen ! Listen ! hark ! the soft guitar ! Funiculi 1 Funicula !