All was perhaps not lost--who could fathom the intricacy of his great schemes?
Surely he was not the man to fall a victim to his own machinations.
"Will you please explain your extraordinary satisfaction at this news ?" said Madame Mayer.

Between her late anger, her revived hopes, and her newly roused curiosity, she was in a terrible state of suspense.
"Explain ?" he cried.

"Explain what, most adorable of women?
Does it not explain itself?
Have we not found the Marchese di San Giacinto, the real Saracinesca?
Is not that enough ?" "I do not understand--" Del Ferice was now by her side.

He seemed hardly able to control himself for joy.

As a matter of fact he was acting, and acting a desperate part too, suggested on the spur of the moment by the risk he ran of losing this woman and her fortune on the very eve of marriage.