THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library
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Aurelia. I judged her attractive by your report; I found that your discernment was even better than I had expected. She came to<br />
the convent in some distress, I saw her, she was charming, she charmed me. She was in a chastened mood, subdued, softly<br />
melancholy. I believe—indeed, I know— that she had a tenderness for you. Well, I was prepared to be loyal, no one is to say<br />
in my presence that I am a false friend. I WAS loyal until—Pest!" cried he, "what did I find? I found that, while you professed<br />
the most extravagant regard for the lady, you asked nothing better for yourself than that she should return to the arms of her<br />
horrible old spouse! I found also that you had recovered possession of your straight young Contadina by means which were<br />
more ingenious than lawful—that she was in your lodgings—your friend—your——"<br />
Semifonte here gave a harsh guttural cry. Giraldi spoke to him in an undertone, then resumed:<br />
"You may remember my interest in that young woman's appearance and manner, when I chanced to find her in your lodgings in<br />
the dress of a fine lady. You remember that you then told me her history? Believe me when I say that I did not tell my illustrious<br />
friend here of the adventure. He was told, it is true, but not by me. If it will satisfy you, I will take my oath to that. I had no<br />
intention of depriving you of your mistress; far from it, that would have destroyed my particular object, which, I will now<br />
confess, was to take your place in Donna Aurelia's regard, for which you would not ask. I own also that I did not care to have<br />
you in her neighbourhood, and that I very much desired to get rid of you. Why? Because I could see that Donna Aurelia was in<br />
love with you."<br />
He paused while I admired his affectation of candour. Presently he went on: "When my friend here proposed to secure your<br />
mistress by means of the Capuchin I gave him a free hand; that is to say, I gave you no warning, I admit that. Why again?<br />
Because I knew you, Don Francis, and was certain that you would never allow a hand to be laid upon her. I was right, you did<br />
not. You did precisely what I desired. You as good as killed the Capuchin and you went into hiding. I wished to keep you<br />
there, and so I did. If I had not sent Carabineers into the Piazza—if I had been accessible to your messengers—you would<br />
have been fatally in my way. You were never in danger of arrest or imprisonment—but you believed that you were, and that<br />
served my purpose.<br />
"You left our State. All was well until you entered it again. I admit that when I saw you in Siena I was in Donna Aurelia's<br />
company, and feared the effect of your apparition upon her. She did not recognise you, but I did. I confess that I had you<br />
arrested, and assure you that you would never have gone to Volterra, but to Leghorn. You would have been placed upon an<br />
English ship and sent to your own country, where your peculiar qualities would have had freer play. Lastly, I admit that I was<br />
vexed at your reappearance here in circumstances of prosperity which forbade my touching you. I admit that I have resented<br />
this late visit of yours to Donna Aurelia and am still smarting at the length of it. Ridiculous, but so it is! I know that she has a<br />
feeling for you—I am not secure—I wish you to go. You are really unconscionable, you must let me say. You have deprived<br />
the marchese of a possible mistress, and now you seem inclined to deprive me of an actual mistress. You are exorbitant, my<br />
young sir——"<br />
"Stop there, Count Giraldi," I said in a voice which I myself hardly knew for my own. "Stop there. Repeat your last words. You<br />
say that I am for robbing you—of what?"<br />
"Donna Aurelia," said he deliberately, "has done me great honour. I am her accepted cavalier. She has accorded me the highest<br />
favour. She occupies my villa—the doctor is my humble servant. You will not wish me to enlarge upon this?"<br />
"You are a liar," I said, "you are a liar," and struck him full in the face with my open hand. His white face was nearly all I could<br />
see of him.<br />
He recoiled—he had not expected it, I am sure. At that moment, before he could recover his self-possession, Semifonte gave<br />
another hoarse cry and leapt at me with a dagger. I caught him under the arm-pit, closed with him and threw him easily. His<br />
back gave at the first jerk—there was no strength in him—and when he was on the ground I disarmed him with ease and bade<br />
him lie still. I put my foot upon his neck, and drew my sword. "If you stir, assassin, I shall run you through," I said. "Now, Count<br />
Giraldi, I am at your service."<br />
"You are bolder than I thought, and readier," the count said; "but you have gone too far, and I shall meet you as soon as you<br />
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