“She certainly deserves pity,” replied Marco coldly; “but she repulses it.”
“Still she deserved happiness.”
“Certainly; but she repulsed happiness, because she is not capable of being happy.”
“Why did you fly from her?”
“So as not to hate her, Maria; so as not to curse my marriage day as that of my slavery.”
“Are you sure that you have done all your duty as a man, as a friend, as a companion to Vittoria?”
“I am sure of it. I have done beyond my duty as a man, a companion, and a friend. But she didn’t want that, she demanded that I should become her lover.”
“And couldn’t you?”
“No, Maria,” he said seriously, “you know very well, you ought to know very well, that I couldn’t.”
“When shall you return to Rome?”