Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/94

 Late in the evening Don Pedro and His consort came to visit me. Advancing through the garden, he anxiously seemed to prepare her for a part she was to act. I went to receive them below; Pedro was all friendship; we began a conversation on indifferent subjects, during which I perceived Francisca frequently pausing, probably to recollect her part, and often surprised her in a kind of secret embarrassment, which she carefully strove to conceal,

Her physiognomy characterized by all the features of beauty in distress, made a deep impression on my senses.

Pedro seemed to be aware of it, and played off several jokes. He exhorted us to be more open-hearted to each other. "Have not I a beautiful wife?" said he to me, pressing her foundly in his arms.

"Nobody doubts you, Sennor."

"And is not she fond, too, of her husband's friends?"

"Francisca here cast her eyes upon me, blushed, and instantly looked down again,

This must be, thought I, part of the cha-