“‘Ah, the poor prince! He is so honorable, so conscientious. He sacrifices—he immolates himself! It is for duty—it is for patriotism! We must cure him of all that.’”
CHAPTER XXVIII
A MAD ACT
“So thanks to the blind vanity of the French governess, the young Italian and her pupil escaped her suspicion.
“We were Romeo and Juliet. We were Francesca and Paolo, Tasso and Leonora.
“Ah! I have often thought since that it was well, in the interest of poetry and romance, that the story of these lovers never carried them into matrimony; for such delirious passion is not the love that lasts through a long life!
“A disastrous day was fast approaching us.
“Luigi had been for some time suffering under the deepest depression of spirits. Madame looked at him and sighed as if she understood his secret sorrow and could console him, if he were not so morbidly honorable and conscientious, if he were not so determined to sacrifice, to immolate himself on the altar of duty and patriotism.
“One morning she left the room on some errand that her restlessness suggested.
“In another moment Luigi was again at my feet, pleading with me now to give myself to him, or rather to take him for myself, for my lover, adorer and husband at once and forever.
“He explained in rapid, vehement words that he was recalled to Italy; that he must go; that he could not and would not leave me behind; he would rather die than leave me.