Volume V Part 21 (2/2)
”Yes, she is his niece When ere at London he heard that she had left the paternal roof about the middle of Lent Marcoline's mother, who is his sister, wrote to him He was afraid to speak to her yesterday, because she looked so grand He even thought herand lady at my table She must have seen hi about it tobehind her all the time But let us come to the point Is Marcoline your wife, or have you any intention ofher?”
”I love her as tenderly as any man can love a woman, but I cannot make her a wife; the reasons are known only to herself and me”
”I respect your secret; but tellher to return to Venice with her uncle?”
”I think Marcoline is happy, but if she has succeeded in gaining the favour of your excellency, she is happier still; and I feel sure that if she were to go back to Venice under the exalted patronage of your excellency, she would efface all stains on her reputation As to per-block in the way, for I am not her master As her lover I would defend her to the last drop of my blood, but if she wants to leave h with sorrow”
”You speak with much sense, and I hope you will not be displeased atwithout your consent”
”I respect the decrees of fate when they are proated by such a man as you If your excellency can induce Marcoline to leave me, I will make no objection; but I warn you that she ent, she loves me, and she knows that she is independent; besides she reckons on me, and she has cause to do so Speak to her to-day by herself; my presence would only be in your way Wait till dinner is over; the interview ht last some time”
”My dear Casanova, you are an honest hted to have made your acquaintance”
”You doof all this”
When I got back to the inn, I gave Marcoline an exact account of the whole conversation, warning her that she would be supposed to know nothing about it
”You must execute a masterly stroke, dearest,” said I, ”to persuade M
Querini that I did not lie in saying that you had not seen your uncle
As soon as you see hiive a shout of surprise, exclaim, 'My dear uncle!' and rush to his arms This would be a splendid and dramatic situation, which would do you honour in the eyes of all the company”
”You h my heart be sad”
At the time appointed aited on the auests had asse as before, first accosted M Querini, and then did the polite to all the coht in his master's spectacles on a silver tray Marcoline, as sitting next to M
Querini, stopped short in so at thevoice,--
”My uncle?”
”Yes,herself into his ar scene, which excited the admiration of all
”I knew you had left Venice, dear uncle, but I did not know you were in his excellency's service I aain! You will tell my father and mother about me? You see I am happy Where were you yesterday?”
”Here”
”And you didn't see me?”
”Yes; but your uncle there ”