Love first, and tragedy afterwards." In the afternoon, therefore, he sallied out, and went boldly to the Palazzo Carmandola.

He inquired of the porter whether the Signor Conte had gone out, and just as he had expected, so he found it.

Old Lira had left the house ten minutes earlier, to go to the funeral.

Nino ran up the stairs and rang the bell.

The footman opened the door, and Nino quickly slipped a five-franc note into his hand, which he had no difficulty in finding.