"You wrong me, sir," he said warmly; "you accuse me of treachery. Of
that I am incapable. As for my distinguished friend here----"

"Let your distinguished friend deny that he purchased Virginia Strozzi
from her parents," I retorted; "that he has sought her ever since--that
he sent Palamone to murder me--that he still intends some mischief. Let
him deny these things, and I speak no more of them."

The marchese said not a word. The count took up the tale.

"Let me, in my turn, trouble you with a few denials. I do not deny that
Donna Aurelia was in Florence earlier than you supposed, nor that I kept
you in ignorance of it. It was judged better on all accounts. Father
Carnesecchi was of that opinion. I believe that the lady had no desire
to see you. Perhaps you will pardon my franchise when I say that it
would have been singular if she had. She desired to be accommodated with
her husband--and that was done. My part in that affair, which I am very
ready to defend, need not concern you, though (if I remember rightly)
you professed yourself anxious on that account. Now for my denials. I
deny flatly that I did any service to my distinguished friend at your
expense. I deny it point-blank. And I deny that, when--not for the first
time--you took the law into your own hands, I purposely removed myself
from the city. That suspicion of yours is not worth so many words. What
should my purpose be? What object could I have? Why should I become your
enemy?"

"That, sir," I said, "is what I intend to find out. Be so good as to add
these to your denials if you can. Will you deny that you witnessed the
performance of the Donne Furlane in Siena on the occasion of the Grand