Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/339

 anticipated? Did you find her as you expected to find her?"

"Yea," Melozzo exploded, "I found her faultless, body and soul; I found her all any bridegroom could wish for, more than any bridegroom could hope for."

"Such being the case," Bauro went on, "it is fitting that you present her with a morning-gift. Choose then from the treasures on the tray. You may take what pleases you, but only so much as you yourself can here and now place upon your bride, only so much as she herself can wear becomingly at one time."

Suspicious, darkly pondering, puzzled, wholly perplexed, Melozzo examined the gems and gold, conning them, lifting them, rummaging among them."

So overhauling them he considered Fabrizia. She wore not one single jewel. The neck of her gown was cut low and round and the brilliant light blue of the silk emphasized the whiteness of her neck. Her small ears were exquisitely shaped and placed.

After he had delved all over the tray Melozzo spoke to Bauro. "Messer Bauro, I should like to adorn my bride with a necklace and ear-rings. I find none."

"There are no ear-rings among those ornaments," Bauro answered. "There is no necklace