"Here my fair sister-in-law may do with me what she will. She may make me the butt of her sparkling wit; she may overwhelm me with her playful sallies. In the Hall of the Diet, before the throne of the Prince, we stand, face to face, as foes; but here you may command me, here I am only your most devoted servant, who delights to do homage to your charms, and is beside himself for joy to have you as his guest."
With these words Banfi embraced the majestic lady with easy familiarity; then, turning to his wife, added, not without a touch of malice—
"I hope you will not be jealous of Anna?"
The Princess hastened to reply instead of Margaret.
"Methinks you fear me too much to make love to me."
"I might perhaps if you were my wife. Yet we were near being wedded once. There was a time when I wanted to make you my bride."
"But it went no further than wishing," returned the Princess, laughing.
"We soon learned to know each other," continued Banfi. "There would have been no room in one house for two such heads as ours, which find one realm too small to hold them both. We both of us love to rule. We should have been hard put to it if one had been obliged to obey the other. Things fell out for the best. We have found our corresponding halves—you Apafi; I Margaret—and we are both contented."
With these words Banfi tenderly kissed his wife's hand and departed, leaving the sisters alone.
Anna, with noble gravity, placed her hand on the shoulder of her sister, who looked up to her with a soft smile like an innocent child regarding its guardian angel.