"What would I not risk in order to be free from this racking torture of my heart."
"You could not undertake this risk, only I, and the consequences if it fail, would fall heavily upon my head."
"I would implore you even to undertake the most daring act, if it can bring me rescue. And yet how could I plunge you too into destruction, require a sacrifice of you for which I can grant you no compensation?"
"That be my affair, inseparable friendship in life and death is compensation for all."
"Carissima, good Beate," said Giulia, as she cordially embraced her friend.
"And then--I like setting out upon adventures, even if I must traverse break-neck paths. Danger attracts me, and all secrecy, even if it be not exactly sweet, has a great charm for me. It makes my blood surge, then I feel that I live! And if such a bold plan have succeeded, ah, what a triumph! Then people will say, 'what does not lie in such a pretty little head,' then one imagines oneself like the mouse that, in the fable, gnawed the lion's bonds. But to play a trick upon such an overbearing villain and robber, secretly, in the dead of night, without him perceiving or knowing it; to remove the weapon out of his hand--that alone is worth risking this neck for; I hope the saints will not leave so pretty a little creature as Beate Romani quite in the lurch."
"And what do you think of doing?"
"Give me money, I will travel to Italy."
"To Italy?"
"To the lake of Orta, to the island of San Giulio!"