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Court, have graced with your Conversation. and Protection, have affociated with at your Table?"

"And would gladly continue to do so, Leonora, but for the Dread of his repaying all thefe Benefits by tarnishing the Dignity of my House."

Through me, never!"

"Well faid. Do you promise it?" "Certainly."

"I accept this Promise, my Sifter, and in Confideration of it, overlook all the Past." "What has there been to overlook?"

"Your marked Preference for one Perfon, your defcending from your Pofition to a focial Equality with him, your secret Correspond

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"Hufh, I will be heard! Your Permiffion and Encouragement of Approaches that only a recognised Lover would dare to make-" "Brother! Brother!"

"Yes, Leonora! cover your Face with your Hands if you will! will! I am glad to fee

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fuch a Signal of penetrative Shame. No Answer, no Defence, I infift on't!—-Madam ! I choose to be heard, to be obeyed! Taffo has fled, but will be recalled. To you he muft henceforth be as a Stranger. On that, his Fate, his Liberty depends. Before the

Year's End, I trust to see you a happy Wife. That is a Circumftance with which a Man moving in a different Sphere can have Nothing to do.

"Let her have Air and Water, Ser Pantaleone."

CHAPTER XIII.

Of Ser Pantaleone's Conference with the Duke of

Ferrara.

W

ITH Taffo's Flight to Naples and Stay with his Sifter, I have no Concern. He remained with her about a Year; happy if he had never left her! But he was not allowed to reft; nor, peradventure, had he Reft in himself. If we make not ourselves happy in what ought to make us happy, Nobody else can make us fo.

During this Time, Madama Leonora's Health declined vifibly. I had my own Theory about it, which had no Reference to Taffo, and I proved to be right.

Meanwhile, two or three advantageous Offers of Marriage were preffed on her by the Duke, who was himself thinking of

Matrimony for the third Time in his Life: but by her were they uniformly rejected.

One Day, I was fummoned to the Duke's Bed-chamber. He was in Bed, not from Illness but Laziness, fitting half up, with his Breakfast and Letters all about him in Confufion. Luigi, who was in Attendance, was difmiffed; and the Duke then figned to me to fit down befide him.

"The Marquis ftill preffes his Suit," faid he abruptly, "does Madama Leonora fhow any Sign of Change of Purpofe?" "None, your Highness."

"This Obftinacy can proceed but from one Caufe. Ser Pantaleone, you have formerly carried Letters from her to Taffo."

"Never but twice, your Highness.'

"

"Tut! twice or twenty Times is all the fame."

"There was no Secrefy enjoined, your Highness."

"Well,--we'll drop that.

refpond with him now?"

"No, my Lord."

Does the cor

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“I mean, as far as I know, she does not." "Do you think you fhould certainly know if fhe did?"

My Lord, I can't say-However, I think,
I think I fhould.”

-yes,

"If you find she does, let me know."

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Very well, my Lord."

"And bring her Letters to me."

My Lord Duke—”

"Proceed, Ser Pantaleone."

"You think her Excellency refuses Marriage on account of Tasso. . .

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"What Matter is it of yours, Sir, what I think?"

"True, your Highness."

"However, I do think so, Ser Pantaleone." "Good. And that her Excellency's Illhealth is caused by her fretting for him?” "Hum-I do."

"I have quite another Theory for it, your Highness."

"Let us hear it."

"I believe she has a mortal Complaint."

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