“I do not ask you,” replied Manfred, “what she thinks about her father; but you are in her secrets. Come, be a good girl, and tell me; is there any young man--ha!--you understand me.” “Lord bless me! understand your highness, no, not I: I told her a few vulnerary herbs and repose----” “I am not talking,” replied the prince, impatiently, “about her father; I know he will do well.” “Bless me, I rejoice to hear your highness say so; for though I thought it not right to let my young lady despond, methought his greatness had a wan look, and a something--I remember when young Ferdinand was wounded by the Venetian----” “Thou answerest from the point,” interrupted Manfred; “but here, take this jewel, perhaps that may fix thy attention; nay, no reverences: my favour shall not stop here:--come, tell me truly, how stands Isabella’s heart.” “Well, your highness has such a way!” said Bianca, “to be sure; but can your highness keep a secret? if it should ever come out of your lips----” “It shall not, it shall not,” cried Manfred. “Nay, but swear, your highness. By my halidame, if it should ever be known that I said it--why, truth is truth, I do not think my Lady Isabella ever much affectioned my young lord, your son--yet he was a sweet youth, as one should see. I am sure, if I had been a princess--but bless me! I must attend my Lady Matilda; she will marvel what is become of me.” “Stay!” cried Manfred, “thou hast not satisfied my question. Hast thou ever carried any message, any letter?” “I! good gracious!” cried Bianca; “I carry a letter? I would not to be a queen. I hope your highness thinks, though I am poor, I am honest--did your highness never hear what Count Marsigli offered me when he came a-wooing to my Lady Matilda?” “I have not leisure,” said Manfred, “to listen to thy tales. I do not question thy honesty; but it is thy duty to conceal nothing from me. How long has Isabella been acquainted with Theodore?” “Nay, there is nothing can escape your highness,” said Bianca: “not that I know anything of the matter. Theodore, to be sure, is a proper young man, and, as my Lady Matilda says, the very image of good Alfonso: has not your highness remarked it?” “Yes, yes,--no,--thou torturest me,” said Manfred: “where did they meet? when?” “Who? my Lady Matilda?” said Bianca. “No, no, not Matilda; Isabella. When did Isabella first become acquainted with this Theodore?” “Virgin Mary!” said Bianca, “how should I know?” “Thou dost know,” said Manfred, “and I must know; I will.” “Lord! your highness is not jealous of young Theodore!” said Bianca. “Jealous! no, no: why should I be jealous? perhaps I mean to unite them, if I were sure Isabella would have no repugnance.”