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190 have communicated to the Count, if I had not been so well aware that he was an absolute infidel as to the possible intercourse subsisting between the spiritual and corporeal world—so that it was needless to dispute with him on that point. Under such circumstances, it proved very agreeable to me, that the whole affair, though certainly not forgotten, was very seldom made the topic of conversation.

“Ere long, however, I had other reasons for being extremely anxious and perplexed. The Duke constantly avoided speaking with me in private of the young lady to whom he had formerly been betrothed. From this circumstance, and the embarrasment betrayed by him whenever I spoke of her seeming amiable temper and extraordinary beauty, I could not help supposing that Marino had, in consequence of his meeting with the pretended Libussa, become unfaithful, and that he had basely deserted the Countess Apollonia without any fault on her part to warrant such conduct. With such impressions on my mind, it was impossible that I could expect happiness for Libussa in her approaching marriage, and I resolved to take the very first opportunity of tearing