hbefellme,buttheveryrejoicingseemedtorenderthehurtofnoavail,andwiththeinevitablenessoffate,Nemesishadcomeandthrownmebackintotheoldunhappiness.ButoflateIhadforgotten.WhatwasNemesistomenowwhenIthoughtmyhappinesssogreatthatitcouldnothelpbutlast?ItwassorobustandstrongthatIneverthoughtofitscessation.IdidnoteventhinktheGodsweregoodtomeatlast.IhadforgottentheGodsIthoughtofnothingbutloveandGiulia.
MatteocameaskingmetogotothePalacewithhimandChecco,attheparticulardesireofGirolamo,whowishedtoshowthemtheprogressofthedecorations.Iwouldnotgo.Iwantedtobealoneandthink.
Butmythoughtsmaddenedme.OverandoveragainIrepeatedeverywordoftheterriblequarrel,andmorethaneverIwasfilledwithhorrorforhercoldcruelty.Whatrighthavethesepeopletomakeusunhappy?Istherenotenoughmiseryintheworldalready?Oh,itisbrutal!
IcouldnotbearmyselfIregrettedthatIhadnotgonetothePalace.Idetestedthissolitude.
Thehourspassedlikeyears,andasmybraingrewtiredIsankintoastateofsodden,passivemisery.
Atlasttheycameback,andMatteotoldmewhathadhappened.Itriedtolisten,toforgetmyself....ItappearedthattheCounthadbeenextremelycordial.Aftertalkingtothemofhishouse,andshowingthebeautifulthingshehadcollectedtofurnishitwith,hetookthemtoCaterina'sapartments,wheretheyfoundtheCountesssurroundedbyherchildren.Shehadbeenverycharmingandgracious,evendeigningtocomplimentMatteoonhisgallantry.Howitinterestedmetoknowallthis!ThechildrenhadruntoCheccoassoonastheysawhim,dragginghimintotheirgame.TheotherslookedonwhiletheOrsiplayedgood-humouredlywiththelittleboys,andGirolamo,layinghishandonChecco'sshoulder,hadremarked,—
'Yousee,dearfriend,thechildrenaredeterminedthatthereshouldnotbeenmitybetweenus.Andwhenthelittleonesloveyousodear