"Bianca," he said, as soon as her dresser had left her, and shut the
door, "you have made me so miserable to-day. I must tell you openly
at once what is in my heart. I saw, to-day, at the Corso--by no
means intending to look at all at your carriage after it had passed
mine--I saw my poor flowers thrown away by you, while you were
throwing a bouquet to my nephew and receiving from him something
thrown in return. Bianca, is that the conduct of a woman who has the
very same morning accepted the hand of another man? Bianca, I warn
you to beware; you do not know what such a love as mine, if it
should discover itself to be betrayed, might be capable of."
"Marchese, do not look at me in that way; you frighten me, and what
have I done? It is all a mistake, entirely a mistake!" said the poor
Diva, really frightened at the manner of the Marchese.
"Did I not see you throw the flowers I had given you from your
carriage; evidently for the purpose of gratifying another person?"
"Oh, Marchese! how is it possible that such a thought should enter
into your head? Ah, how little you know. If you knew how I had
grieved over the loss of the beautiful bouquet that had come from
your hand! It fell from the carriage by accident; and it was
snatched up, and a boy ran off with it, all in a moment; I would
have given anything to get it back again.
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