Mary had already guessed, and the dawn which began to appear confirmed her supposition, this man was the Knight Lionardo Salviati; she, therefore, took courage to call to him, saying:
"Do me the favor of listening one moment, Sir?"
And the Knight stopped to listen.
"Sir Lionardo," she murmured in his ear, "when you see her, assure her that the child is safe: tell her also my husband is with me, and she need trouble herself no more about it. Save her, if you can, for her death without your aid is certain. The property I have left behind me, please tell your friend Don Silvano to sell, and use it all in masses for the dead and ... for the dead, according to my desire."
"It shall be done."
Sir Lionardo then closing the door, ordered the driver to proceed. Mary, in speaking of the dead, meant Isabella! But there still remaining to her a very faint ray of hope, she did not wish to destroy it with this sad commission: but she believed in her heart that having given it for her beloved dead, she included among them the soul of poor Isabella.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
THE CONFESSION.
Venuta la mattina della Pasqua, la donna si levò in su l'aurora et acconciossi, et andossene alla chiesa.—Il marito dall' altra parte levatosi se ne andò a quella medesima chiesa, e fuvvi prima di lei—e messasi prestamente una delle robe del prete con un cappuccio grande a gote, come noi veggiamo che i preti portano, avendosel tirato un poco innanzi, si mise a sedere in coro.—Ora venendo alla confessione, tra le altre cose che la donna gli disse, avendogli prima detto come maritata era, si fu che ella era innamorata.... Quando il geloso udi questo, gli parve che gli fosse dato di un coltello nel cuore.
Boccaccio. Giornata VII. Novella V.
When Easter morning came, the woman rose at dawn, dressed herself, and went to church.... The husband also arose, went to the same church, and reached it before her.... He then put on hastily one of the priest's robes with a large hood, such as monks generally wear, which he pulled somewhat down over his face, and sat in the confessional.... Now when the woman came to the confession, among other things she said—that, although she was a married woman, yet she was desperately in love.... When the jealous husband heard this, he felt as if struck by a dagger in the middle of his heart.