XXXVI
關燈
小
中
大
ichyouarestaying.'
'Yes.'
'Myfathersentmeamessagethatyouwerestillhere,andifIwantedhelpwouldgiveitme.'
'IwilldowhateverIcanforyou.'
WhatafoolIwastocome.Myheadwasinawhirl,myheartwasbursting.MyGod!shewasbeautiful!Ilookedather,andsuddenlyIknewthatallthedrearyindifferenceIhadbuiltuphadmeltedawayatthefirstlookintohereyes.AndIwasterrified....Mylovewasnotdeaditwasalive,alive!Oh,howIadoredthatwoman!Iburnedtotakeherinmyarmsandcoverhersoftmouthwithkisses.
Oh,whyhadIcome?Iwasmad.Icursedmyweakness....And,whenIsawherstandingthere,coldandindifferentasever,IfeltsofuriousaragewithinmethatIcouldhavekilledher.AndIfeltsickwithlove....
'MesserFilippo,'shesaid,'willyouhelpmenow?IhavebeenwarnedbyoneoftheCountess'swomenthattheguardhaveorderstoarrestmeto-morrowandIknowwhatthedaughterofBartolomeoMoratinimayexpect.Imustflyto-night—atonce.'
'Iwillhelpyou,'Ianswered.
'WhatshallIdo?'
'Icandisguiseyouasacommonwoman.ThemotherofmyfriendAndreawilllendyouclothesandAndreaandIwillaccompanyyou.Or,ifyouprefer,afterwehavesafelypassedthegates,heshallaccompanyyoualonewhereveryouwishtogo.'
'Whywillyounotcome?'
'Ifearedmypresencewouldmakethejourneymoretedioustoyou.'
'Andtoyou?'
'Tomeitwouldbeamatterofcompleteindifference.'
Shelookedatmeamoment,thenshecried,—
'No,Iwillnot
