"But, Carlton, the priest married us," said Florinda, shuddering at the thought. "I am his wife!"
"Compose thyself, dearest; and believe me, thou art no one's wife, but still my dear Florinda. All is well."
By degrees as Florinda became more composed, the whole matter was told to her; and though she deeply sorrowed at the fatal necessity, yet she could not blame Carlton for taking the life of him who was at the moment seeking his. They sought her home in Florence, from whence Carlton was no longer excluded, but came and went at will. Signor Latrezzi and he never met; but it was plain that the servants had been ordered to admit him in future, as any other respected guest of Signora Florinda's.
The uncle's darling project was utterly defeated, and the hopes thereby of securing himself from his just reward for the dishonest act he had committed in appropriating a large sum of his niece's property, was rendered abortive. What course did the old man pursue in this dilemma? He did that which he should have done years before, as soon as he awoke to the realization of the crime he had committed; he went to Florinda, confessed his dishonesty, and begged her to spare his gray hairs from dishonor. She was but too happy to relieve him from his misery and suffering on this account.
"Uncle," said she, "give thyself no further uneasiness on this point, but sit thee down, and draw a paper absolving thyself from the matter in proper form, and I will sign it."
The paper was drawn and signed, and Signor Latrezzi from that hour became a different man; he had thoroughly repented.
"You are now content?"
"I am, my dear Florinda, and thankful to you for thus relieving my mind."
"Say nothing about it, my dear uncle."
"I will not, save in action towards you, Florinda, who have placed me under lasting obligations."