Strasoldo here broke in by saying he was sure she had not slept with me.
“That’s where you are mistaken,” said she, “for there’s only one bed, and I did not sleep on the floor.”
They found prayers and reproaches alike useless and left us at noon. Leuzica was profuse in her expressions of gratitude to me.
There was no longer any mystery, so I boldly ordered dinner for two, and promised that she should remain with me till the count had left Trieste.
At three o’clock the Venetian consul came, saying that Count Strasoldo had begged him to use his good offices with me to persuade me to deliver up the fair Leuzica.
“You must speak to the girl herself,” I replied; “she came here and stays here of her own free will.”
When the worthy man had heard the girl’s story he went away, saying that we had the right on our side.
In the evening a porter brought her trunk, and at this she seemed touched but not repentant.
Leuzica supped with me and again shared my couch. The count left Trieste at day-break.
As soon as I was sure that he was gone, I took a carriage and escorted the fair Leuzica two stages on her way to Laibach. We dined together, and I left her in the care of a friend of hers.