Nicot continued:-- "Zanoni would but amuse himself with thy vanity; Glyndon would despise himself, if he offered thee his name, and thee, if thou wouldst accept it; but the Prince di -- is in earnest, and he is wealthy.

Listen!" And Nicot approached his lips to her, and hissed a sentence which she did not suffer him to complete.

She darted from him with one glance of unutterable disdain.

As he strove to regain his hold of her arm, he lost his footing, and fell down the sides of the rock till, bruised and lacerated, a pine-branch saved him from the yawning abyss below.

She heard his exclamation of rage and pain as she bounded down the path, and, without once turning to look behind, regained her home.