"
"I grant that, sir," said I. "It is your business, now that the
crown--with what small profit may go with it--lies under your hand,
to grasp it for Genoa. But as a soldier and a brave man, you
understand that now you must grasp it by force. God knows in what
hope, if in any, the Princess here tracked out your plot; but at
least she can compel you--I can compel you--we two, weak as we are,
can compel you--to use force. The honour of a race--and that a royal
one--shall at least not pass to you on the mere signature of that
coward sitting there." I swung round upon the Prince. "You may give
up trying to hide those papers, sir, since every one in this room
knows what compact you were in the act of signing."
The Princess stepped forward. "All this," she said to me in a low,
hard voice, "I could have done without help of you." Her tone
promised that she would never forgive, but she looked only at her
brother. "Camillo," she said, standing before him, "this Englishman
has said only what I came to say. It is not my fault that he is here
and has guessed. When I was sure, I hid my knowledge even from
Marc'antonio and Stephanu; and he--he shall die for having
overheard.
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