My brothers are priests, and childless so; that 's well—

And, thank God most for this, no child leave I—

None after me to bear till his heart break

The being a Franceschini and my son!"

"Nay," said the letter, "but you have just that!

A babe, your veritable son and heir—

Lawful,—'t is only eight months since your wife

Left you,—so, son and heir, your babe was born

Last Wednesday in the villa,—you see the cause

For quitting Convent without beat of drum,