"You will not? Then you shall not see its contents, which, nevertheless, concern your Laura."
"Laura!—Then I swear that I will not open it before ten minutes."
"It is on the table. Be careful how you break your oath. You would not be safe were you to unfold that paper before ten minutes."
So saying, she kissed her hand, and tripped merrily away to her gondola.
At the expiration of the time required, Strozzi took up the paper, and broke its seal. It contained the following:
"MY DEAR BROTHER: You sold me to Count Canossa, and you have degraded me to the trade of a spy. You have forced me, more than once, to play the dragon by your poor, unhappy wife; but I have repaid her for my unkindness, and have avenged myself also. My little Filippo is Prince Eugene, and he is to remain alone with your wife, exactly as long as I converse with you in your cabinet. The three 'addios' which you will have heard ere this from the Canale, signify that the prince has reached his gondola, and is safe. Also that Mademoiselle Victorine, my accomplice, has fled. You gave her ten ducats for each betrayal of her mistress; we offered two thousand sequins, and of course she betrayed you. Addio!"
To describe the fury of the marquis would be impossible. But his paroxysm of rage over, he at once began to revolve in his mind the means of revenge.
"There must be an end to this martyrdom," said he. "It must end!" He looked at the clock. "'Tis time Antonio were here, and he shall do it."
He struck three times on his little bell, and the door in the wall glided back, giving entrance to Antonio.