Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/338



Again and again she clasped him crying:

"Oh, my love, I am so frightfully afraid Romualdo has planned some hideous pang for us, some unforeseeable ingenuity of deviltry!"

But when he strove to conjecture what might impend over them, she stopped his mouth with kisses.

"At least," she said, "we have this day, this hour, this moment. Let us not waste an instant of what we have, let us make the most of every minute."

Next morning they slept late, when they were dressed they were summoned to breakfast in the great hall.

Again everything was as friendly and pleasant as possible. When the breakfast was over two pages brought in a huge tray filled and heaped with magnificent jewelry. By Melozzo they halted.

"Messer Melozzo," spoke Bauro from the head of the table, "it is known to you that it is customary for a bridegroom, if he is well-content with his bride, to make her a present on the morning after their bridal night."

Melozzo, eyeing Bauro, eyeing the jewels, said nothing.

"Messer Melozzo," Bauro continued, "are you well satisfied with your wife? Is she all you