“‘She is in the library with the Count,’ said he, and I thought with just a little bitterness; ‘it is astonishing what service she seems to be to him. There is nothing like a woman’s hand, Signor Andrea, and hers is very ready. I have said from the first that she is no peasant’s child.’
“‘You have spoken well,’ I replied; ‘she is no peasant’s child. Her father could remember the day when he was first man in Zara; her mother had a gift of music above the common. The vagaries of trade and the coming of the Austrian—I speak freely, for I read your nationality in your face—brought ruin to their house. God be praised that she has found another home!’
“‘Amen to that,’ cried he. ‘You must forgive us if the singular nature of her story has made us desirous to learn all that can be learnt. I took this opportunity of speaking to you, since I would rather hear anything that is to be told than have it come suddenly to the ears of the Count. Christine’s influence over him is very remarkable. Heaven forbid that I should speak against him—but he is another man since this little guest crept into his life. You will understand that I should not like him to hear ill of her.’
“‘Hear ill of her!’ cried I; ‘per Baccho, Father, I would like to know the man that would speak it. Hear ill of her—Holy Mother, what talk!’
“‘Then you are able to say that she is a good girl?’
“‘A good girl—cospetto, she is as innocent as a child at her first Communion. What! you would condemn her for running away to the hills with a lout who had promised to save her from a convent? That is pretty charity, Father!’
“‘I condemn her for nothing, signor; I am only anxious to know.’
“‘Then you know now,’ said I, and I spoke with some heat; ‘you have the word of Andrea of Sebenico.’
“‘The glory be to God,’ said he; ‘and now I will take you to her, for she has been asking for you all day.’
“He led the way from the hall, excellency, and passed down a vaulted corridor of stone, from the further end of which I heard the loud tones of a man’s voice—a rich and resonant voice, which would have held cavalry at the charge. I thought it strange that Father Mark, who hitherto had shewn some conceit of bearing and of manner, should become timid and reserved so soon as he heard his master speaking; but thus it was; and when we came to the door at the end of the passage he was humble and as fearful as a schoolboy.