XXXIX
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rbeforehermarriagehewouldbewillingtoaccepttheworstthatwassaidofher.HowcouldIbesodisturbedattheslandersofawicked,jealouswoman?IwishedIhadneverknownClaudia,nevergivenherreasontotakethisrevengeonme.Oh,itwascruel!ButIwouldnotbelieveitIhadsuchtrustinGiulia,suchlove.Shecouldnotbetrayme,whensheknewwhatpassionatelovewaspoureddownuponher.Itwouldbetooungrateful.AndIhaddonesomuchforher,butIdidnotwishtothinkofthat....AllthatIhaddonehadbeenforpureloveandpleasure,andIrequirednothanks.Butsurelyifshehadnolove,shehadatleastsometenderfeelingformeshewouldnotgiveherhonourtoanother.Ahno,Iwouldnotbelieveit.Butwasittrue,ohGod!wasittrue?
Ifoundmyselfathome,andsuddenlyIrememberedtheoldsteward,whomIhadleftinchargeofmyhouse.HisnamewasFabioitwasfromhimthatIgotthenamewhenIpresentedmyselfasaserving-mantooldOrso.Ifanythinghadtakenplaceinthehousehemustknowitandshe,Claudia,saidthewholetownknewit.
'Fabio!'
'Mymaster!'
Hecameintomyroom,andIlookedathimsteadily.
'Fabio,haveyouwelllookedafterallIleftinyourhandswhenIwenttoRome?'
'Yourrentsarepaid,yourharveststakenin,theolivesallgathered.'
'Ileftinyourchargesomethingmorepreciousthancornfieldsandvineyards.'
'Mylord!'
'Imadeyouguardianofmyhonour.Whatofthat?'
Hehesitated,andhisvoiceasheansweredtrembled.
'Yourhonouris—intact.'
Itookhimbytheshoulders.
'Fabio,whatisit?Ibeseechyoubyyourmaster,myfather,totellme.'
Iknewhelovedmyfather'smemorywithmorethanhumanlove.Helookeduptoheavenandclaspedhishandshecouldhardlyspeak.
'Bymydearmaster,yourfather,nothing—nothing!'
'Fabio,youarelying.'IpressedhiswristswhichIwasholdingclenchedinmyhands.
Hesankdownonhisknees.
'Oh,master,havemercyonme!'Heburiedhisfaceinhishands.'Icannottellyou.'
'Speak,man,speak!'
Atlast,withlamentsandgroans,heutteredthewords,—
'Shehas—ohGod,shehasbetrayedyou!'
'Oh!'Istaggeredback.
'Forgiveme!'
'Whydidyounottellmebefore?'
'Ah,howcouldI?YoulovedherasIhaveneverseenmanlovewoman.'
'Didyounotthinkofmyhonour?'
'Ithoughtofyourhappiness.Itisbettertohavehappinesswithouthonour,thanhonourwithouthappiness.'
'Foryou,'Igroaned,'butnotforme.'
'Youareofthe
