He said, "No, my
honour will not allow it. I must needs remember what I might have made
you, and what you have become. Count upon Aquamorta, who has never yet
failed his friends. Count upon his memory and passionate aspirations."
"I told him," said Virginia, "that I should do nothing of the kind. I
said that I was wife to a gentleman born, who also happened to be an
honest man. 'If,' I said finally, 'you wish to do Virginia a real
service, you will be pleased to forget that you ever saw her.' He
laughed, and said that that was impossible to a man of his tumultuous
passions, and went away with a profound salutation. This," said my poor
Virginia, "has troubled me more than I care to own. I think we should be
wise to leave Lucca until--evil wind that he is--he blows over."
Though I comforted her pretty well and bade her think no more about the
man, I very soon had reason to be of her opinion. Two or three days
later, as I was sawing planks in the yard, to make a trellis, that
saturnine person came in, resplendently dressed, and filled the
wholesome place with the reek of his essences. He saluted me with
extravagant politeness, telling me that he had words for my private ear
which he was sure would interest me. When I took little or no notice of
him he came to closer quarters. "Hearken, Signor Manifold," says he, "my
news concerns Donna Aurelia."
How he knew that sacred name I cannot conceive. It had never passed from
my lips into his wicked ears.
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