Her letters sparkled with brilliant intellect.

They came to Selva when he was passing through a dark crisis, a bitter struggle, which need not be related here.

He thought this Maria d'Arxel might prove his saving star.
He wrote to her again.
"Do you know what anniversary this is ?" asked Maria.

"Do you remember ?" Giovanni remembered; it was the anniversary of their first meeting.
During the correspondence the two had bared the very depths of their souls to one another in an inexpressible fervour of sincerity, while as yet unacquainted save by means of portraits.

After they had exchanged four or five letters, Giovanni asked his unknown correspondent for her likeness; a request she had expected and dreaded.