Page:The Enchantress.pdf/51

Rh lip frame some indifferent question, when the heart is full of the most important!

"Will you then regret to leave it?" said Leoni, as they wandered throughout the maze of odoriferous flower-pots, "for we must go to-morrow."

Lolah gazed upon his face, but words died on her lips.

"That wearisome Madame de Lanville," continued he, "entertained me this evening with her delight that she should soon have a worthy guest to introduce to me; for that in a week's time the Count Gonzaga, the nephew of the great cardinal, would spend a few days at her house, on his way to the south of France; and she was so sure I should find him a charming acquaintance. Plague on the old simpleton, and the Count too! what cursed chance brings him here?"

"My Leoni, why should you fear him!" murmured Lolah.

"Fear him, nonsense! But it would be very disagreeable to have the old and foolish story which banished us from Palermo, set abroad in Lyons:" and, lost in gloomy meditation, he sank on a carved stone seat by the lake. For a moment the Countess stood irresolute by his side—suddenly dropping on one knee, she leant her beautiful head on his arm, and watching his countenance with those eloquent eyes which had never looked upon him but in love, said, in a low pleading voice,

"Leoni, mine, my heart has never had