_D._ Why, ’tis a forgery, And you are deceived. _R._ Nay, ’tis no forgery. _D._ You are certain? 1450 _R._ Certain. _D._ You may read it through, Though ’tis about yourself. Examine it well, If ’tis authentic. You will only find Prodigal praise to make you blush. _R._ (_aside_). No wonder If I do blush, faced with my own device. (_aloud, giving back._) I’ll strive to make this good. _D._ And ’tis his hand? _R._ It is. _D._ I am glad, because it came as answer To a letter I wrote but yesterday, and gave To Frederick, ordering him to ride to Milan And give it the Duke. This morning, as you saw, He hands me this. His servant who was with him Tells me that he has not been to Milan at all, 1461 But slept in the court. _R._ (_aside_). Pest on that sneaking dolt! _D._ What say you now? _R._ May he not have used some other messenger? I had my doubts when he brought in his tale, That history of the banquet.—Did I not say The Duke was wronged? _D._ True, true; and tho’I am glad He is quit of forgery, he is not of lying. What can I think? _R._ I thought your ladyship 1469 Trusted in Frederick wholly. When this morning You praised him to me.... _D._ Praised him! stay, I beg: I praised him not, save to draw words from you. And you described him well; did not you say He was contriving? _R._ Then you trust him not? _D._ See how he acts. Ah, if I told you all! And yet to tell argues much confidence.... (_Ricardo is silent and Diana continues._) I have strange sympathies, affinities, Magnetic or electric it may be, Which rule my trust and liking: if all feel them I cannot say: in me they are intimations 1480 Of supernatural efficacy: I find My first impressions never prompt me wrong. Some men I see only to avoid,—You know A strong example of that;—on the other hand There are some faces,—eyes, I think,—that draw me At first encounter; so that I often fancy There must be a subtle emanation thrown By the spirit, as light from fire. Now yesterday When I saw you, I felt the secret shock Which told me I was in presence of a soul 1490 In harmony with mine, one I could trust, If I should need a friend: and when I wrote To the Duke, it was not that my judgment wanted The assurance which his letter gives. I knew How it would be.—I hardly think, Ricardo, That, had I asked for his own character, Your master could have writ more praise. _R._ I wish To please my lady, as I have pleased the Duke. I have kept his secrets.