Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/337

 that Adela should in so short a time be so entirely corrupted. A cunning woman will seldom transgress farther, when he knows; herself, closely watched by an attentive observer. Nothing but the most fiery passion would attempt to break this boundary, and that was probably not yet so deeply, rooted in the marchioness's heart. Perhaps too much fondness on my part could have rendered me indifferent to her, or too much artfulness and flattery on that of Bernardos have led her astray. I began to conceive some hope, that the hints I had given her would again put her in the right way, and restore the harmony which formerly subsisted between us.

But I was utterly deceived in my conjectures, and ere a quarter of an hour elapsed, found an opportunity, to discover my mistake. I was still on the stairs, when I heard the: marchioness noisily throw open the dining-room door, and call loudly to a servant, "If to-day, to-morrow, or after to-morrow. Don Bernardos should enquire for me, tell him I am not at home."