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Rh white and the clearest of yellow; facing was one of venison steaks, from whose brown crispness exhaled a little cloud of most fragrant smoke; in the middle was a square cut from a pasty; and the intermediate spaces were filled up with condiments and a large newly baked loaf.

Francesca marked with delight the eager manner in which Guido began his meal, and almost forgot her own hunger in the amusement of watching him eat so ravenously; he, however, soon recalled her attention to herself, by inquiries of—"Why she did not join them?" and her supper did as much credit to the cookery as Guido's. All on "hospitable cares intent," especially when those cares are also profitable ones, know how pleasant the appearance of enjoyment is; and the strangers increased their first favourable impression by the appetite and the relish with which they despatched the dishes set before them. The request afterwards for a flask of her best wine completed it;—in spite of her husband's advice, who interrupted her even at the very moment when the steaks were taking their last shade of brown, to remark that the new arrivals were obviously foreigners—perhaps papists, and it might be spies; and he got what he deserved, an angry "Hold your tongue!" for his pains.