him this letter. I do not want anything; if he ask you, say I am quite well.'

The servant went back faithfully to Mantua, and faithfully delivered the great casket, and the poor, ill-written, humble, yet proud words.

Este was deeply angered.

The words failed to touch his heart because they stung his conscience.

'Will she ask all my life?' he thought.

But she asked nothing. And the heroism of her silence, as of her sacrifice, awed him, oppressed him, humiliated him.