Part 13 (2/2)
”I saw you were,” he answered, still very gravely, ”and I am very sorry.”
”Do you remember what I said to you at Castellamare, Mr. Batis...o...b..?”
”Yes; you said that life was not all roses, and you said it in earnest.”
”Yes,” said Leonora. ”You see I did. I am not always in earnest.”
”Is it rude to ask how one distinguishes between your excellency in earnest and your excellency in fun?” inquired Batis...o...b.., glad enough to turn the conversation to a jest, for he judged Leonora to be rather imprudent. Indeed, he wondered how she could have said what she had, unless it were from a wish to face out the situation.
”You ought to be able to see,” she answered, laughing lightly, ”but when you cannot, perhaps I will tell you.”
”Pray do,” said he. ”I am very stupid about such things,--but then, I am always in earnest, even when I want to be funny. Perhaps you might think me most diverting when I am most in earnest.”
”No,” said Leonora, ”I should not think that. I should think you might be very unpleasant when you are in earnest--at least, from the things you write.”
”That is a doubtful compliment,” remarked Julius, smiling.
”Is it? I cannot imagine anything more delightful than having the power to be as unpleasant as you want to be.”
”Is there anything I can do for you, Marchesa? I should be most happy, I am sure,--short of poisoning your enemies, as you suggested the other day.”
”You ought not to draw the line,” she said with a laugh.
”Oh, very well. I will do the poisoning too, if you wish it.”
”Of course. What is the use of having friends if you cannot rely on them to do anything you want?”
”If I could be one of your friends,” he said gravely, ”I am sure I would not 'draw any line,' as you call it.”
”With what seriousness you say that!” she exclaimed, very much amused.
She was nervous from the knowledge that he had found her out in the church, and she laughed at anything rather recklessly. But Batis...o...b.. had turned grave again.
”Would you rather that one should ask such a privilege in jest?” he asked.
”No indeed,” said she, a little frightened at the point to which she had brought him.
”Then I ask it very much in earnest,” he answered.
”To be my friend?” she asked, looking straight before her.
”Yes, to be your friend,” said he, watching her closely.
”Really? In earnest?”
”Really--in earnest,” he answered. She stopped suddenly in the road.
”I accept,” she said, frankly holding out her hand.
”I am very proud,” he said quietly. He took off his hat and touched her fingers with his lips. Then they walked on without a word for some minutes.
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