and collapses. He says that when he lifted the skull he saw the face of his father. They also find the pastor passed out. When the pastor wakes he confesses that he used the actual skull of his father because he heard that children who talked to their parents skulls at midnight would hear from them. Upon speaking to his dead father Calzolaro leaves his troop and becomes a schoolmaster. He drops his contest against the female relative and over time they fall in love and agree to marry. While walking in the garden something brings their hands together and they hear his father's voice say "may God bless your union" and they knew that all would be well. The Death-Bride A supposed Italian marquis tells his tale of the Death Bride at a party. Staying with a Count who had twin daughters, Ida and Hildegarde (Hildegarde, only different from her sister by a strawberry birthmark, had died). A Duke, Marino, comes to stay with them wanting to marry Ida. He says he saw her in Paris and fell in love. Her father says she have never been to Paris. The Duke says he saw her and her valet described the Count's villa and where to find it. He also says she had a strawberry birthmark on her neck. The Count say it was Hildegarde and they open her tomb but she is still within. At this time the marquis recognized the count and remembers that he was engaged to another woman. The count won't confess to the family what became of this engagement and as the marquis is fond of telling stories tells a tale to try and get the count to confess. The tale is of Filippo who was betrothed to Clara but later falls for Camilla. Clara kills herself when she is shunned by Filippo. On the wedding day of Camilla and Filippo, he sees Clara sneaking into the chapel and then attacking him. He falls down dead. Marino finally confesses but the wedding proceeds anyway as Ida is in love. The wedding is in Venice and everyone is wearing mask, as it is Carnival. One guest, a woman dressed in such splendid regalia, is suspiciously quiet and the father of Ida, the count, has everyone take off their mask. The woman doesn't and says nothing, points to Marino, and walks out of the room. The count