variably took place precisely one hour before midnight, although the Neapolitans have the Italian way of keeping time according to which midnight forms no remarkable division. At length, the shooting grew as familiar as the voice had formerly been, and this innocent malice of the spirit was forgiven him. The report often took place without disturbing the company, or even interrupting their conversation.

One evening, after a sultry day, Antonelli, without thinking of the approaching hour, opened the window, and stepped with the Marquess on the balcony. But a few moments had elapsed, when the invisible gun was discharged, and both were thrown back into the room with a violent shock. On recovering, the Marquess felt the pain of a smart blow on his right cheek, and the singer, on her left. But no other injury being received, this event gave rise to a number of merry observations. This was the last time she was alarmed in her house, and she had hopes of being at last entirely rid of her unrelenting persecutor, when, one evening, riding out with a friend, she was once more greatly terrified. They drove through the Chiaja, where the once-favoured Genoese had resided. The moon shone bright. The lady with her demanded, “Is not that the house where Mr.

died ?" "It is one of those two, if I am not mistaken,” replied Antonelli. That instant the report burst upon their ears louder than ever : the flash issuing from one of the houses, seemed to pass through the carriage. The coachman supposing they were attacked by robbers, drove off in great haste. On arriving at the place of destination, the two ladies were taken out in a state of insensibility.

This was, however, the last scene of terror. The invisible tormentor now changed his manner, and used more gentle means. One evening, soon after, a loud clapping of hands was heard under her window. Antonelli, as a favourite actress and singer, was no stranger to these sounds: they carried in them nothing terrifying, and they might be ascribed to one of her admirers.

She paid little attention to it: her friends, however, were more vigilant; they sent out spies as formerly. The clapping was heard, but no one was to be seen; and it was hoped that these mysterious doings would soon entirely cease.

After some evenings the clapping was no longer heard, and more agreeable sounds succeeded. They were not properly melodious, but unspeakably delightful and agreeable: they seemed to issue from the corner of an opposite street, approach the window, and die gently away. It seemed as if some aërial spirit intended them as a prelude to some piece of music that he was about to perform. These tones soon became weaker, and at last they were heard no more.

I had the curiosity, soon after the first disturbance, to go to the house of the deceased, under the pretext of visiting the old lady, who had so faithfully attended him in his last illness. She told me her friend had an unbounded affection for Antonelli ; that he had, for some weeks previous to his death, talked only of her, and sometimes represented her as an angel, and then again as á devil. When his illness became serious, his only wish was to see her before his dissolution, probably in hopes of receiving from her some kind expression, or prevailing

on her to give him some consoling proof of her love and attachment. Her obstinate refusal caused him the greatest torments, and her last answer evidently hastened his end; for, added she, he made one violent effort, and raising his head, he cried out in despair, “ No, it shall avail her nothing ; she avoids me, but I'll torment her, though the grave divide us !" And indeed the event proved that a man may perform his promise in spite of death itself.

TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS

OF FORMER TIMES.

The Planetary Alphabet

OF «TRITHEMIUS THE WISE,”

Which is said to discover the Sign and Planet under

which any one is born, and their Good and Bad Fortune in life, by the Letters of their Name.

NUMBERS ANSWERING TO THE PLANETS.

The Sun O 1 or 4
The Moon D 2 or 7
Saturn h

8
Jupiter 2

3 Mars

8

9 Venus

6 Mercury

5

NUMBERS ATTRIBUTED TO THE 12 CELESTIAL

SIGNS.
Aries
7

8 Libra
Taurus 8 6

9 Scorpio
Gemini u 12

4 Sagitarius
Cancer
5

3 Capricornus
Leo
& 1

2 Aquarius Virgo ng ΤΟ

*

11 Pisces

Among the most curious of the ancient inventions, may be classed the foregoing tradition of the old astrologers "for finding the sign and star under which any one is born;" which is done as follows.

1. TO FIND THE ALMUTAN OR RULING PLANET

AT BIRTH, BY NAMES ALONE. Add together the different sums answering to the letters of the christian (or proper) names, and those of each parent, as they are set down in the table called the “Planetary Alphabet,” and then divide that sum so found by nine; the remainder, which is left after such division, being sought as above, directs -you to the planet which is the Almutan, or planet, who ruled at birth, as it is termed hy the old authors. Thus, if the remainder were 3, that planet would be

Jupiter; if 1 or 4, the Sun; if 2 or 7, the Moon; and so of the rest: and if nothing remain after such division is made, the number 9, which you divided by, is the symbol of the planet.

Example. Name of the party inquiring, JAMES; of the parents, ANN and THOMAS. Proceed thus

Therefore 5 is the planetary number, which gives Mercury () for your almutan, or ruling star.

! This is too plain to need any other example.

2. TO DISCOVER THE SIGN THAT PLANET WAS IN.

Add together the different sums of your own and your parents' proper names, and divide the sum by 12; the remainder shows the sign the planet was in. But if there be no remainder, take 12 itself for that number.

L D