Now indeed a dreadful scene opened before my eyes, and my heart became a prey to sorrow and vexation. My faithful squire endeavoured to comfort me, but all his reasonings and consolation could not banish from my mind the dismal thought that fear inspired me with. I went to bed without my supper, and the next morning got up, having taken no rest during the night. I was just going to send a note to my widow, to desire the favour of her to let me know when I should come and see her, when my host brought me word that two gentlemen of my acquaintance wanted to speak with me upon business of some importance. I ordered that they should be introduced. These gentlemen entered with a sedate and serious countenance, and one of them addressing me said: “We are come out of pure friendship to inform you that there runs a very odd report of you at court and in the city. It is said that far from being a man of quality, you have acted mean and different figures at Rome. In a word you have been the Ambassador’s domestic, and not his kinsman, as you pretend to be. We know not if the Grand Duke has heard of it yet: however, we would advise you as friends not to go to court, but to procure the Ambassador’s attestations in your favour as fast as you can, and prove the falsity of reports so much to your dishonour.”
When this gentleman had concluded his speech, so mortifying to me, I was thunderstruck, and ready to swoon away; my speech failed me when I began to make an apology. I answered, however, that I could not have believed my enemies could have carried their slander so far; but before the end of the day, I would take post and go to Rome myself, to obtain authentic attestations more than enough to confound the malicious plan of jealous rivals. The two gentlemen approved of my resolution, and withdrew to make their report to the Grand Duke; for it was by his order that they had come to me, though they had pretended it was purely of themselves, and out of kindness to me. They were no sooner gone than my trusty friend entered the chamber, and guessing by my looks the afflicting news I had to relate, felt the greatest grief when I told him what was the matter. However, far from being cast down as I was by this misfortune, he bore up against it, and with a firmness that astonished me. “Now master,” said he, “you must shew yourself a man of courage and stedfastness. Can you be surprised after having acted so delicate a part as you have done in the eyes of all the world, that some mischance should happen that gives a sad and gloomy turn to the plot of the play? for my part I always expected it; but after all our fall is not so great but we may rise again; thanks to your lucky stars, the free country is left open before you; let us make use of our time, and immediately leave Florence and the Duke’s territories, and betake ourselves elsewhere, to comment at leisure on this change of fortune.”
This prudent reasoning restored me by degrees to my senses, and upon reflection I could not help thinking that I had deserved to be treated with more rigour than I had been. I told Sayavedra that his advice was too good not to be followed, and if we could set out post within an hour, it would be most desirable. “Nothing is so easy,” answered he; “your horse is sold, we are not without cash, and have only therefore to hire post horses, and begin our journey. Depend on me for providing every thing for our departure.” “Well,” replied I, “my friend, do what you think proper. Alas!” I continued, with a deep sigh, “could I but once more see my beloved widow I should part contented!” I expected Sayavedra would have opposed my desire, but on the contrary he assured me that he would procure me that satisfaction before we were ready to mount our horses.
While I was engaged in expressing to my confidant my satisfaction in having met with a man so entirely devoted to my interest, my landlord came and told me a young woman desired to speak with me. At first I trembled for fear, for the least thing alarmed me, in the situation I was in. However I recovered myself when I found this young woman was one of my mistress’s waiting maids, who brought me a note from my widow, containing these few words, “I expect you at my Cousin’s to inform you of circumstances of the utmost importance: farewell!” I desired the maid to tell her mistress I would call upon her immediately, and as soon as she was gone, turning to Sayavedra: “See,” cried I, “what I wished for is come to pass. I fear it will be painful to me to endure the conversation of a lady I am so much in love with, and whom I shall never see again. Be that as it may, however, I must see her, though I die for it.” I charged Sayavedra accordingly, to settle every thing for me. “Make not yourself uneasy,” said he, “about any thing, and you may expect that in an hour and a half at the most, I shall be with the post horses near about the house you are going to.”
Every thing being settled with Sayavedra, I hastened to my mistress. I found her in a dishabille, which betrayed more of disorder than of negligence; she looked dejected and pale; her eyes were still moist with weeping; in a word she was so altered, that she was not like the same person. On my part I was no less confused than herself. As soon as her cousin perceived me enter the room, she withdrew.
Now that my mistress found herself alone with me, she raised her eyes full of tears towards me and said, “Have you heard all the frightful scandal that is reported of you in Florence?” “Yes,” said I, “I have been informed what horrid slander my enemies have circulated against me, and in an hour’s time I take horse to return to Rome, and in five or six days I shall bring back such authentic proofs of the falsehood of their calumnies as to confound them.” These words somewhat relieved her. She then told me the substance of her relations’ conference held at her house; all that the beggar had said; the terrible stories he had told of me to all that asked him any thing about me; and concluded by reprobating the curiosity of the Grand Duke who could condescend to listen to so wretched a fellow himself.
I suffered the lady to talk as long as she chose, without interrupting her; for I was so confused, that I could not immediately make any answer to the purpose. I shrugged up my shoulders, raised my hands and eyes to heaven, groaned, and made a thousand gestures, which persuaded her much more of the falsity of these reports, than all the powers of human eloquence. “Do not suffer yourself to be afflicted immoderately,” said she with tenderness; “I have loved your person though your rank was unknown to me, and were you not what I think you are, I feel that I should still love you. Perhaps I should not have taken notice of the charms that I have observed in you, had I looked upon you at first as a person of low condition: my pride and my birth would not have suffered me to cast my eyes on such a one; but having once seen those charms I can never forget them.” Her generosity and tenderness had so powerful an effect on me, that I fell down in a swoon. She thought I was dying, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she had strength enough to call her cousin, who had much ado to manage us both, and was obliged to call in the assistance of one of the waiting women. A minute after these two persons had succeeded in restoring me to my senses, I was told that my valet was in the ante-chamber and my horses ready. It was then that I found what it was to love, and felt the pangs of parting with the beloved object. Never was there a more tender and moving farewell.
I was so little myself, and so full of sorrow when I left the house of her cousin, that I did not see Sayavedra who stood directly before my eyes, but passed by without speaking to him; he followed me, and observing I was almost distracted, spoke not a word, but led me where the horses waited for us. I mounted immediately, and galloped the whole of the first stage without speaking a word: but at the second my squire asked me if I had any object in travelling the road to Rome. I answered that I wished it to appear that I was going to that city, but at the next stage we would stop, and consult what was best to be done.