"But what fool's talk is this? The Prince packed you off, meaning
mischief of some kind--what mischief you, being on the spot, should
have been able to guess."
"It is God's truth, then, that I could not," Stephanu admitted
sullenly; "and what is more, neither could you in my place have made
a guess--no, not with all your wisdom."
"But you travelled back with all speed? You have seen her?"
"I travelled back with all speed." Stephanu repeated the words as a
child repeats a lesson, but whether ironically or not his face did
not tell. "Also I have seen her. And that is the devil of it."
"Will you explain?"
"She will have nothing to do with me; nor with you. I told her that
you would be upon the road and following close after me. Naturally I
said nothing of the cavalier here, for I knew nothing--"
"Did she ask?" I inquired.
Stephanu appeared to search his memory. "Now I come to think of it
she _did_ let fall a word. . . . But I for my part supposed you to be
dead; and, by the way, signore, you will accept my compliments on
your recovery."
Marc'antonio's frown had deepened.
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