“I formerly knew Count George de Walden, but for some time had lost sight of him. Nevertheless, his sentence fills me with horror, and I would do anything in the world to deliver him from it—him and the rest.”
“Him and the rest? One as soon as the other?”
“One as soon as the other; they all excite my pity. I wish the emperor would pardon them all.” Her voice by no means accorded with her words; but Adelardi continued as if he did not perceive it:
“Pardon them all! That would be chimerical. But there are some who are deserving of clemency.”
“The emperor is more lenient towards inferior criminals than to those who, after being loaded with favors, forget his kindness.”
“And yet there may be extenuating circumstances even in some cases of that number.”
“Do you know of any that would be of any avail to Count George?” said she eagerly.
“Not quite so loud; we may be overheard.”
“Yes; you are right,” she said, resuming her former tone. “Let us change our seats; we look as if we were plotting something here, and should avoid attracting attention. Let us examine the albums on yonder table. There we can continue our conversation with less restraint.”
“Well,” continued she, as soon as they had effected the change proposed, and were seated before the albums, which they pretended to be examining carefully.