Volume IV Part 18 (2/2)

I did not coht say what he had to say in perfect freedom The noble Genoese supped with us, and the conversation turned on indifferent subjects After he had gone, my sweetheart told me what had passed between them He had spoken to her in almost the same words that he had addressed to h she had requested the marquis to say no more about his Godson, to which request he had assented

We thought the matter settled, and busied ourselves with preparations for our departure; but three or four days after, the otten all about his Godson) came and asked us to dine with him at St Pierre d'Arena, where Rosalie had never been

”I want you to see o,” said M Grimaldi to her; ”it will be one more pleasant recollection of your stay for me”

We went to see him at noon the next day He ith an elderly man and woman, to whom he introduced us He introduced ed to arden, where the two old people got Rosalie between them, and overwhelmed her with politeness and coh spirits, answered in Italian, and delighted theave to her rammar

The servants came to tell us that dinner was ready, and asthe rooht now to see through the marquis's trick, but it was too late We sat down, and just then a young man came in

”You are a little late,” said the y, he introduced hiuests, and he ht I sat opposite to her, and seeing that she turned as pale as death the blood rushed to ed This sraceful to me; it was a scandalous insult to Rosalie and myself--an insult which should be washed away in blood

I was teitation I constrained myself What could I do? Take Rosalie's arht it over, but foreseeing the consequences I could not sue

I have never spent so terrible an hour as at that fatal dinner Neither Rosalie nor uests was discreet enough not to see that we left one course after another untouched Throughout dinner he only spoke to Petri and his uncle, giving thee a trade they did

At dessert the o and look after his affairs, and after kissing his hand he withdreith a bohich nobody replied

Petri was about twenty-four, of a ood-natured and honest features; respectful in his h not witty in what he said After all was said and done, I thought hiht that if she becaone, the marquis said he was sorry he had not known hiht be of use to him in his business

”However, ill see to that in the future,” said he, ly, ”I mean to make his fortune”

At this the uncle and aunt, who no doubt knehat to say, began to laud and extol their nephew, and ended by saying that as they had no children they were delighted that Petri, ould be their heir, was to have his excellency's patronage

”We are longing,” they added, ”to see the girl fro to hter”

Rosalie whispered to ed me to take her away We rose, and after we had saluted the conity we left the room The marquis was visibly disconcerted As he escorted us to the door he sta to say, telling Rosalie that he should not have the honour of seeing her that evening, but that he hoped to call on her the next day

When ere by ourselves we seeain, and spoke to one another to relieve ourselves of the oppression which weighed on our ht, as well as I, that the ht to write hiive hiain

”I will find soeance,” said I; ”but I don't think it would be a good plan to write to hi, and receive him to-nation Above all, ill not htest reference to his Godson”

”If Petri really loves ood fellow, and I don't feel angry with hi present at dinner, as he ive ht I should have died when our eyes hout dinner he could not see my eyes, as I kept them nearly shut, and indeed he could hardly see ?”

”No, he only looked at me I am as sorry for him as you are, for, as you say, he looks an honest fellow”

”Well, it's over now, and I hope I shall ood supper Did you notice what the aunt said? I aainshe was ready to treatwoht inclined us to forget the insult thewe laughed at it Theled confusion and vexation, he said that he knew he had done wrong in surprisingin his power by way of atoneive whatever satisfaction I liked

Rosalie did not give me time to answer ”If you really feel,” said she, ”that you have insulted us, that is enough; we are auard against you for the future, though that will be for a short while, as we are just leaving”

With this proud reply she made him a lo and left the room

When he was left alone with me M Grimaldi addressed me as follows: