Lest those who read the following pages should deem this story at allimprobable, it is perhaps necessary to say that its chief incidents are foundedon an actual occurrence which took place in Naples during the last scathingvisitation of the cholera in 1884. We know well enough, by the chronicle ofdaily journalism, that the infidelity of wives is, most unhappily, becomingcommon—far too common for the peace and good repute