"Be generous--trust me," he cried. "Believe that your happiness is everything to me; believe that I will take no unfair advantage of a hasty promise. Tell me that, of your own free will, you will be my wife, and command me anything, that I may prove my devotion. It is so true, so honest,--Tullia, I adore you, I live only for you! Speak the word, and make me the happiest of men!" He really looked handsome as he knelt before her, and she felt the light, nervous pressure of his hand at every word he spoke. After all, what did it matter? She might accept him, and then--well, if she did not like the idea, she could throw him over. It would only cost her a violent scene, and a few moments of discomfort. Meanwhile she would get the papers. "But you would give me the papers, would you not, and leave me to decide whether--Really, Del Ferice," she said, interrupting herself with a nervous laugh, "this is very absurd." "I implore you not to speak of the papers--it is not absurd. It may seem so to you, but it is life or death to me: death if you refuse me--life if you will speak the word and be mine!" Donna Tullia made up her mind. He would evidently not give her what she wanted, except in return for a promise of marriage. She had grown used to him, almost fond of him, in the last year. "Well, I do not know whether I am right," she said, "but I am really very fond of you; and if you will do all I say--" "Everything, my dear lady; everything in the world I will do, if you will make me so supremely happy," cried Del Ferice, ardently. "Then--yes; I will marry you. Only get up and sit upon your chair like a reasonable being. No; you really must be reasonable, or you must go away." Ugo was madly kissing her hands. He was really a good actor, if it was all acting. She could not but be moved by his pale delicate face and passionate words. With a quick movement he sprang to his feet and stood before her, clasping his hands together and gazing into her face. "Oh, I am the happiest man alive to-day!" he exclaimed, and the sense of triumph that he felt lent energy to his voice. "Do sit down," said Donna Tullia, gaily, "and let us talk it all over. In the first place, what am I to do first?" Del Ferice found it convenient to let his excitement subside, and as a preliminary he walked twice the length of the room. "It is so hard to be calm!" he exclaimed; but nevertheless he presently sat down in his former seat, and seemed to collect his faculties with wonderful ease. "What is to be done first?" asked Donna Tullia again. "In the first place," answered Del Ferice, "here are those precious papers. As they are notary's copies themselves, and not the originals, it is of no importance whether Don Giovanni tears them up or not. It is easy to get others if he does. I have noted down all the names and dates. I wish we had some information about Felice Baldi. It is very unfortunate that we have not, but it would perhaps take a month to find her."