"These are two prisoners, O Prince,
of whom, as you see, we are burying one."
"Prisoners? But whence?"
"From England, as they tell us, O Prince."
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE TENDER MERCIES OF PRINCE CAMILLO.
"Tyranny is the wish to have in one way what can only be had in
another."--_Blaise Pascal_.
The young man eyed me insolently for a moment and turned again to his
sister.
"Camilla! will you have the goodness to explain?" he demanded.
But here, while she hesitated, searching her brother's face proudly
yet pitifully, as though unable quite to believe in the continued
brutality of his tone, I struck in.
"Pardon me, Signore," said I, "but an explanation from me may be
shorter."
"Eh? so you are English, and speak Corsican?"
"Or such Tuscan," answered I, modestly, "as may pass or a poor
attempt at it. Yes, I am English, and have come hither--as the
Princess, your sister, will tell you--on a political errand which you
may or may not consider important."
The Princess, who had turned and stood facing her brother again,
threw me a quick look.
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