THIE STORY OF A PICTURi.
 "t He is almost totally unknown in Florence," said
Signor Vieri, but the few pictures he has completed
are ot rare merit. He declared that he would rather
do anything than part with this portrait, but he was
obliged to have it sold." Maria's sobs interrupted
him, and Leonardo made a sign to him to follow him
from the room, while Francesca tried to stop Maria's
tears, which were still flowing freely, partly with joy
at having found her childhood's companion, partly
with sorrow as she thought of the reverses through
which he had passed.
 Leonardo only waited to receive the address of the
young artist, when in the carriage of Signor Vieri he
set out from the villa to seek him, and to render him
what assistance he could. His anxiety was intense,
and Maria had so positively assured him that the
painting was the work of Pietro, that, on considera-
tion, he felt more and more certain that his old friend
was really the artist.
 At last the carriage stopped at a miserable house in
a dark narrow street. After a few minutes, which
seemed to Leonardo like an hour, the door was opened
by a woman bent with age; and having alighted, he
inquired of her if a young man, Pietro di Casaletto,
was living there. She answered in the affirmative,
and bade him follow her, if he wished to see him.
She led the way up two long flights of steep creaking
stairs; but though she ascended slowly and with great
difficulty, she would not let Leonardo go up alone, and
his impatience and anxiety became greater and greater,
until they were almost painful to him.
 This is the room, Signor," she said, when they
had reached the top, and she pointed to a half-open
door.
 Leonardo entered with a beating heart. The room