These documents," she said, holding up the package, "are attested copies made from the originals--the first two in the possession of the curate of the church of San Bernardino da Siena, at Aquila, the other in the office of the Stato Civile in the same city.

As they are only copies, you need not think that you will gain anything by destroying them." "Spare your comments upon our probable conduct," interrupted the Prince, roughly.

Donna Tullia eyed him with a scornful glance, and her face began to grow red.
"You may destroy them if you please," she repeated; "but I advise you to observe that they bear the Government stamp and the notarial seal of Gianbattista Caldani, notary public in the city of Aquila, and that they are, consequently, beyond all doubt genuine copies of genuine documents." Donna Tullia proceeded to open the envelope and withdraw the three papers it contained.

Spreading them out, she took up the first, which contained the extract from the curate's book of banns.

It set forth that upon the three Sundays preceding the 19th of June 1863, the said curate had published, in the parish church of San Bernardino da Siena, the banns of marriage between Giovanni Saracinesca and Felice Baldi.