.

AN ILL ENCOUNTER.
Speechless I stared at her a moment, so taken was I with the immensity of the thing that she suggested.

Fear, amazement, and joy jostled one another for the possession of my mind.
"Why do you look so, Lazzaro ?" she exclaimed at last.

"What is it daunts you?
"How is the thing possible ?" quoth I.
"What difficulty does it present ?" she questioned back.

"The Governor of Cesena has rendered very possible what I propose.