drew to execute this command, the Procurator Foscari arose.

"A light is just breaking upon me with reference to this painful business," he began. "The evening on which this sad affair took place I was at a friend's house until midnight, and was just returning home across the Bridge of Sighs, when I met Marco Falieri, who was coming from the direction of the Cornaro palace. He bowed, and passed on. Some hundred yards farther, a person masked brushed past me, after him. I went slowly on, but soon again heard hurried steps behind me. It was the masked man. I tried to stop him, and immediately recognized Giovanni Anafesto, but he quickly pushed me to one side, and hastened onwards. I suspected no evil, but rather some love adventure, which, unfortunately, is too much the fashion among our young noblemen."

The whole assembly was seized with mute astonishment and horror. Every one was silent, for none wished to wound the heart of the unhappy father more deeply than it was already wounded.

looked upon the friends with less anger than usual.

Marco recovered more speedily than could have been expected. Lucio Cornaro did not stir from his bedside, and the balm of love which he poured into Marco's heart greatly contributed to heal the wound of the sick man. To Marco and Lucio, Giovanni's motives for having committed the atrocious act were clear enough, although to others much mystery hung over them. Giovanni's father had prophesied aright when he declared that his "grey head would sink into the grave amidst grief and disgrace," for his son's infamy soon killed him. The family property fell to the republic, as it was one of its laws that no person who had been outlawed could inherit land. vanni quitted the dominions of the republic, and escaped to Albania, where, burning with hatred and revenge, he stirred up the restless chieftains, who with fire and sword ravaged the possessions of the republic in the Epirus; men similar to himself, who, like ferocious tigers, committed devastations, and, laying waste the unfortunate country, respected neither the laws of God nor of

man.

Gio

oh God!" he then exclaimed, wringing his hands, "have I deserved this? Must my grey head sink into the grave amidst disgrace and grief?"

The messengers of the court, who had been sent in search of Giovanni, now returned.

"Giovanni Anafesto has escaped to Dalmatia!" they reported.

The father turned paler still. "It is clear now!" cried he, as he tottered from the hall; but at the door he turned, and said to the Signoria, "Do not think of the parent when you judge my offending child!"

Falieri resumed his own place. "It is a sacred act of justice to pronounce you at liberty!" said he, turning to Lucio with a dignified air, but in the handsomest and most courteous manner.

The sentence was published aloud, and Giovanni Anafesto was declared an outlaw. The scene between Marco and Lucio was truly affecting; even old Cornaro NEW SERIES-VOL. I., No. 5.

A sketch by the Editor.

THE life and times of this renowned and remarkable woman-Empress forms a strange and tragic chapter in human annals, seldom if ever equaled. Her imperial reign over Russia embraced thirtyfive years. It was a vast and varied panorama of light and shade-of bright and gorgeous scenes of dark events and the wild and wicked working of bad passions. The chief actors in this long continued historic tragedy were personages of no common talents, character or station. The imperial directress and manager was Catharine II. Her long reign was a most important one for Russia and for Europe. She greatly extended the boundaries of her empire and made it the greatest of ancient or modern times. Her power and influence extended to all the governments of Europe. Her monuments meet the eye of the traveler, and her portraits adorn the walls of

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