To do that, I would, if the need arose, immolate
more than the pride that caused me to be silent on the matter of this
communication."
He spoke with such heat of sincerity that he convinced both Francesco and
Valentina, and the lady's eyes took on a softer expression as she
surveyed Gonzaga--this poor Gonzaga whom, her heart told her, she had
sorely wronged in thought. Francesco, ever generous, took his passionate
utterances in excellent part.
"Messer Gonzaga, I understand your scruples. You do me wrong to think
that I should fail in that."
He checked the suggestion he was on the point of renewing that,
nevertheless, Gonzaga would have been better advised to have laid that
letter at once before Monna Valentina. Instead, he dismissed the subject
with a laugh, and proposed that they should break their fast so soon as
he had put off his harness.
He went to do so, whilst Valentina bent her steps towards the dining-
room, attended by Gonzaga, to whom she now sought to make amends for her
suspicions by an almost excessive friendliness of bearing.
But there was one whom Gonzaga's high-sounding words in connection with
that letter had left cold. This was Peppe, that most wise of fools. He
hastened after Francesco, and while the knight was disarming he came to
voice his suspicions. But Francesco drove him out with impatience, and
Peppe went sorrowing and swearing that the wisdom of the fool was truly
better than the folly of the wise.
Throughout that day Gonzaga hardly stirred from Valentina's side.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260