In
two days the newspapers of Europe would magnify the incident into an
international dispute, and, with Abyssinia always ready to fan the
flame--"
"Believe me, Excellency, the Signora herself would have written that
she had gone away of her own free will," broke in the other.
"I doubt it very much. Her friends could not fail to think that she was
writing under compulsion. I tell you, idiot that you are, you have
prejudiced your own case, made difficulties where they did not exist.
If your sworn statements are true--"
"They are true, true as death," vociferated Alfieri.
"_Ebbene_! Why, then, strengthen your enemies by giving them just cause
for complaint?"
"If only you knew what I have suffered through that woman, Excellency!"
came the angry cry.
"Oh, blame the woman, of course," said the Governor, with the fine
scorn of a man who has married a meek wife. "I lose patience with these
transports. If a woman preferred another to me I would dance at her
wedding."
"You would not dance if she had used all the arts of treachery to rob
you of your fortune.
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