My son, Duchessa, loves you very truly.
Pardon me, it is no disrespect to you, now, that he should have told me so.

I am his father, and I have no one else to care for.

He is too honest a gentleman to have spoken of his affection for you at an eailier period, but he has told me of it now." Corona stood still in the midst of the great hall, and faced the old Prince.

She had grown pale while he was speaking.

Still she was silent.
"I have nothing more to say--that is all," said Saracinesca, gazing earnestly into the depths of her eyes.