"You have suspected her before?"
"What was the other deception?"
"That is a more serious matter. The woman is your trusted servant. At least you must have trusted her when you took her—"
"That does not follow. What did she try to make you believe?"
"It is hard to tell you. For all I know, she may have been instructed—you may have instructed her yourself. One stumbles upon odd things in life, sometimes."
"You called yourself my friend once, Don Orsino."
"If you will let me, I will call myself so still."
"Then, in the name of friendship, tell me what the woman said!" Maria Consuelo spoke with sudden energy, touching his arm quickly with an unconscious gesture.
"Will you believe me?"
"Are you accustomed to being doubted, that you ask?"