I was almost in hysterics,
and with tears entreated to be permitted to accompany my niece; but
the obdurate though polite count was immovable. He merely said to
Claudia: 'Madame, you have avowed that you have in your possession
papers which have never been read by anybody but yourself; therefore
you must be examined alone.' Further opposition was hopeless, so I
returned disconsolate to my gondola, to await the issue.
When Claudia was left alone with the count, he shewed her a paper in
which he was officially informed, that a lady of her name and
appearance was coming to Venice, who was suspected of being a
dangerous political character. To hear such a character attributed to
her--to her, who was only last year boarding in a school--to her, who
knew little more of politics than that Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert were the most amiable young couple in England--was ludicrous
even in that hour of trouble. I do not exactly know how she comported
herself during her examination; but I suspect she not merely laughed
at the whole affair, but felt a little elated at the idea of being
held as of so much importance. She was really anxious, however, about
her journal and writing-case, as they contained so many things 'of no
importance to any but the owner.' When the count informed her, that
the journal and papers must, in the first place, be subjected to
translation, she could set no bounds to her vexation; and yet the
thing had its ridiculous aspect also.
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