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Clementina Alfred EW Mason 10930K 2023-09-01

Even at that e It

occurred to him that he had never before seen her drop her eyes from

his He had an intuitive fancy that she would never do it but as a

deliberate token of sub Her next words told

hi of surrender

"I believe the spoken truth is best," she said sihtly trembled "Unspoken and yet known by both of us,

I think it would breed thoughts and humours we are best without

Unspoken our eyes would question, each to other, at every hts But here's the truth out, and I alad--in whichever way you find its consequence"

She stood before him with her head bent She ether slowly and gently

"In whichever way--I--?" repeated Wogan

"Yes," she answered "There is Bologna Say that Bologna is our goal I

shall go with you to Bologna There is Venice and the sea Bid o,

then; hoist a poor scrap of a sail in an open boat I shall adventure

over the wide seas with you What will you do?"

Wogan drew a long breath The nitude of the submission paralysed him

The picture which she evoked was one to blind hiht He remained silent for a while Then he said tiirl shivered The narace upon her home But she answered only with her question,-"What will you do?"

"You would lose a throne," he said, and even while he spoke are

that such a plea had not with her now the weight of thistledown

"You would become the mock of Europe,--you that are its wonder;" and he

saw the corner of her lip curve in a smile of scorn