"Of course my first care and object on arriving was to wait
on your Excellency. I arrived with barely a breath of life remaining
in my body. What a journey! What a journey! But if I had been frozen
quite I could not have forgotten that my first duty was to report
what I have accomplished to your Excellency."
"Thanks, good Signor Ercole, thanks; you know the interest I take in
all that concerns the honour of our theatre, and the pleasures of
our citizens; and I may truly add, in all that touches your
interest, my good Signor Ercole."
"Troppo buono! Eccellenza! Troppo buono davvero!" said the little
man, half rising from his chair, to execute a bow in return for the
Marchese's speech, while his cloak fell around his legs.
"I suppose that in such weather as this the diligence was behind its
time--E naturale--but I have already heard, in a general way, that
you have been successful. I congratulate you on it, Signor Ercole,
with all my heart!"
"I trusted that I should have been the first to tell your Excellency
the news. I am conscious that it was due to you, Signor Marchese, to
be the first to hear the result of my negotiation. But che vuole?
There was the Conte Leandro waiting for the coach, and standing at
the door as I got out of it, more dead than alive! And there was no
way of getting rid of him.
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