"
"And for you also, Marc'antonio."
He was silent.
"And for you also, Marc'antonio?" I repeated it as a question.
"Your escape would have been put down to me, Englishman. I had
provided for that," he answered simply.
"Forgive me," I muttered, thrown back upon sudden contrition.
"I was thinking only that you must feel it a punishment to be left
alone with me. I had forgot--"
"It is hard," he interrupted, "to bear everything in mind when one is
young." His tone was quiet, decisive, as of one stating a fact of
common knowledge; but the reproof cut me like a knife.
"The Princess has gone too?" I asked.
"She has gone. They are all gone. That is why it would have been
better for her too that you had escaped."
I pondered this for a minute. "You mean," said I, "that--always
supposing the Prince had not killed you in his rage--you would now be
at her side?"
He nodded. "Still, she has Stephanu. Stephanu will do his best," I
suggested.
"Against what, eh?" He put his poser to me, turning with angry eyes,
but ended on a short laugh of contempt. "Do not try make-believe
with me, O Englishman.
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