It will prove whether you have some friendship for me." I could not express the pity I felt for the poor girl, as I read that note.

In spite of that feeling, this is what I answered: "I can well understand that, notwithstanding the inviolability of confession, your mother's proposal should cause you great anxiety; but I cannot see why, in order to prevent its execution, you should depend upon me rather than upon Cordiani who has expressed his acceptance of it.

All I can promise you is that I will not be one of those who may go to Father Mancia; but I have no influence over your lover; you alone can speak to him." She replied: "I have never addressed a word to Cordiani since the fatal night which has sealed my misery, and I never will speak to him again, even if I could by so doing recover my lost happiness.

To you alone I wish to be indebted for my life and for my honour." This girl appeared to me more wonderful than all the heroines of whom I had read in novels.

It seemed to me that she was making sport of me with the most barefaced effrontery.