"
"Was such indeed your intention?" I asked scarce above a whisper, overawed
as men are when they perceive precisely what their folly and wickedness
have cost them.
He halted before me, and set one hand of his upon my shoulder, looking up
into my face. "It has been my fondest dream, Agostino," he said.
I groaned. "It is a dream that never can be realized now," said I
miserably.
"Never, indeed, if Cosimo d'Anguissola continues to be Lord of Mondolfo,"
he answered, his keen, friendly eyes considering me.
I reddened and paled under his glance.
"Nor otherwise," said I. "For Monna Bianca holds me in the contempt which
I deserve. Better a thousand times that I should have remained out of this
world to which you caused me to return--unless, indeed, my present torment
is the expiation that is required of me unless, indeed, I was but brought
back that I might pay with suffering for all the evil that I have wrought."
He smiled a little. "Is it so with you? Why, then, you afflict yourself
too soon, boy. You are over-hasty to judge. I am her father, and my
little Bianca is a book in which I have studied deeply. I read her better
than do you, Agostino. But we will talk of this again."
He turned away to resume his pacing in the very moment in which he had
fired me with such exalted hopes.
Pages:
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380