"As for my blessing, you shall have it, and at once. But indeed, I am
most curious to know exactly what she said, and what you said--I, who am
never curious about anything!"
"Two words tell the story. I told her I loved her and she answered that
she loved me."
"Dearest friend, how long it took you to say those two words! You must
have hesitated a good deal."
"To tell the truth, there was more said than that. I will not deny the
grave imputation. I spoke of my past life--"
"Dio mio! To my daughter! How could you--" The Marchesa raised her hands
and let them fall again.
"But why not?" asked San Miniato, suppressing a smile. "Have I been such
an impossibly bad man that the very mention of my past must shock a
young girl--whom I love?" In the last words he found an opportunity to
practise the expression of a little passion, and took advantage of it,
well knowing that it would be useful in the immediate future.
"I never said that!" protested the Marchesa. "But we all know something
about you, dear Don Juan!"
"Calumnies, nothing but calumnies!"
"But such pretty calumnies--you might almost accept them.
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