I began to smell mischief--indeed I had smelt it already. I knew that
the count was no longer my friend; and as for Semifonte, no doubt he
would murder me if he durst. Here, then, were these two worthies in
league, and waiting for me in a lonely place. Lucky that I had my sword.

In the meantime Semifonte raised his hat and bowed; I returned the
salutation and said that I had had the advantage of meeting his lordship
already. To that he made no reply. We then walked on together--I on the
inside, next to me the count, the marchese on the outside.

The count began by congratulating me upon my escape from Florence, and
from what might have been a most awkward affair. "Luckily for me," he
added, "I was out of the city at the time, or, between my duty and my
inclination, I should have found myself in a dilemma."

To that I replied that it was sufficient for me to be sure that he had
been absent. "If I had known that Donna Aurelia was still in the Villa
San Giorgio," I went on, "at the time when I was hiding from your
excellency's servants, I believe I should have pushed my importunities
so far as her door."

"You would have asked Donna Aurelia to interest herself in the cause of
your charming--your too charming----" I could not see his face, but
could have sworn that he was showing his teeth.

"Not at all, count," I said, "not at all. But I should have asked the
Grand Duke's principal Minister to remember that he had betrayed an
innocent girl's whereabouts to those who sought her ruin, and to give
fair play to him who had risked his life to protect her."