The crowd was all around us, you
understand; and he drew up and talked to us, forcing himself to
smile, like a nobleman amusing himself with two peasants. For the
crown, we shall leave you to deal with him."
"And I shall hold you to that bargain, O Marc'antonio," said she.
"But what will you two be doing with yourselves meanwhile?"
"With permission, Princess, we return to the theatre. We shall watch
the play, and keep our eyes on him; and at half-past seven o'clock
the girl Bianca dances in the ballet. Mbe! I have not witnessed a
ballet since my days of travel."
"And I will run home, then, and fetch my mask. At nine o'clock, you
say?"
"At nine, or a little after--and by the Weavers' Gate."
"And you will leave him to me? You understand, you two, that there
is to be no violence."
"As we hope for Heaven, Princess."
"Farewell, then, until nine o'clock!" She dismissed them, and they
returned to the portico and passed into the theatre. "That is good,"
said she, turning to me with a sigh that seemed to lift a weight from
her heart. "For, to tell the truth, I was afraid of them.
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