Page:Matteo Bandello - twelve stories (IA cu31924102029083).pdf/367

 house, and locked himself up in his room, remaining all day without food. During that time his mother made no inquiry as to her son, but on the following day, seeing that he would not dine, she went to him in his chamber, when he begged her to leave him alone in peace. She asked to know the cause for his grief, but he only answered her with sighs and tears. Thereupon, being touched to pity, she spoke as follows: "Dear son of mine, I could never have believed that you would hide aught from me in this world, but thought that you would have shown me all your troubles. However, I find myself much mistaken. Yet, thanks to ny watchfulness, I have found out the cause of your sorrow. I know that you love Lucrezia, whom you carried off from her father's house in Padua. If that was a gallant deed, I leave you to consider, but the time has now come for help, not for punishment. Take heart of grace, and see to it that you recover your health and well-being. Lucrezia shall be yours again. I had her lodged in a monastery, thinking that if you found her not you would please me by taking a wife, as you ought to do."

Hearing this, Galeazzo seemed to be called back