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 without accusing a man of honour of uttering a falsehood?’

We will talk on this subject presently,’ replied he in a tone of raillery. ‘But tell me truly from whence you learnt the anecdote relative to mixing the blood with wine?—I know the person from whose life you borrowed this idea.’

I do assure you that I have taken it from no one’s life but Filippo’s; and yet there may be similar stories—as of the shriek, for instance. But even this singular manner of irrevocably affiancing themselves may have presented itself to any two lovers.’

Perhaps so! Yet one could trace in your narration many traits resembling another history.’

That is very possible: all love-stories are founded on the same stock, and cannot deny their parentage.’

No matter,’ replied Marino; ‘but I desire that from henceforth you do not permit yourself to make any allusion to my past life; and still less that you relate certain anecdotes to the count. On these conditions, and only on these conditions, do I pardon your former very ingenious fiction.’

Conditions!forgiveness!And do you dare thus to talk to me?This is rather too much. Now take my answer: To-morrow morning the count shall know that you have been already affianced, and what you now exact.’ Rh