Dear general, said Lady Juliana, bear with an interruption: the intent of this meeting is amicable. The chevalier is a man of honour. Things may have fallen out unhappily; yet nobody to blame.
As to blame, or otherwise, said the Conte della Porretta, that is not now to be talked of; else, I know where it lies: in short, among ourselves. The chevalier acted greatly by Signor Jeronymo: we were all obliged to him: but to let such a man as this have free admission to our daughter— She ought to have had no eyes.
Pray, my lord, pray, brother, said the marquis, are we not enough sufferers?
The chevalier, said the general, cannot but be gratified by so high a compliment; and smiled indignantly.
My lord, replied I to the general, you know very little of the man before you, if you don't believe him to be the most afflicted man present.
Impossible! said the marquis, with a sigh.
The marchioness arose from her seat, motioning to go; and turning round to the two ladies, and the count, I have resigned my will to the will of you all, my dearest friends, and shall be permitted to withdraw. This testimony, however, before I go, I cannot but bear: Wherever the fault lay, it lay not with the chevalier. He has, from the first to the last, acted with the nicest honour. He is entitled to our respect. The unhappiness lies nowhere but in the difference of religion.
Well, and that now is absolutely out of the question, said the general: it is indeed, chevalier.
I hope, my lord, from a descendant of a family so illustrious, to find an equal exemption from wounding words, and wounding looks; and that, sir, as well from your generosity, as from your justice.
My looks give you offence, chevalier!—Do they?