"But you 've something, surely. The rumor is running through Rome."
"The rumor be damned!" cried the Count, savagely. "I 've nothing,—do you understand? Be so good as to say so to your friends."
The answer was explicit, and the poor archæologist departed, tossing his flaxen mane. But I pitied him, and ventured to remonstrate with the Count. "She might as well be still in the earth, if no one is to see her," I said.
"I'm to see her: that's enough!" he answered with the same unnatural harshness. Then, in a moment, as he caught me eying him askance in troubled surprise, "I hated his great portfolio. He was going to make some hideous drawing of her."
"Ah, that touches me," I said. "I too have been planning to make a little sketch."
He was silent for some moments, after which he turned and grasped my arm, with less irritation, but with extraordinary gravity. "Go in there towards twilight," he said, "and sit for an hour and look at her. I think you 'll give up your sketch. If you don't, my good old friend, you're welcome!"
I followed his advice, and, as a friend, I gave up my sketch. But an artist is an artist, and I secretly longed to attempt one. Orders strictly in accordance with the Count's reply to our German friend were
