Now that my mistress found herself alone with me, she raised her eyes full of tears towards me and said, “Have you heard all the frightful scandal that is reported of you in Florence?” “Yes,” said I, “I have been informed what horrid slander my enemies have circulated against me, and in an hour’s time I take horse to return to Rome, and in five or six days I shall bring back such authentic proofs of the falsehood of their calumnies as to confound them.” These words somewhat relieved her. She then told me the substance of her relations’ conference held at her house; all that the beggar had said; the terrible stories he had told of me to all that asked him any thing about me; and concluded by reprobating the curiosity of the Grand Duke who could condescend to listen to so wretched a fellow himself. I suffered the lady to talk as long as she chose, without interrupting her; for I was so confused, that I could not immediately make any answer to the purpose. I shrugged up my shoulders, raised my hands and eyes to heaven, groaned, and made a thousand gestures, which persuaded her much more of the falsity of these reports, than all the powers of human eloquence. “Do not suffer yourself to be afflicted immoderately,” said she with tenderness; “I have loved your person though your rank was unknown to me, and were you not what I think you are, I feel that I should still love you. Perhaps I should not have taken notice of the charms that I have observed in you, had I looked upon you at first as a person of low condition: my pride and my birth would not have suffered me to cast my eyes on such a one; but having once seen those charms I can never forget them.” Her generosity and tenderness had so powerful an effect on me, that I fell down in a swoon. She thought I was dying, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she had strength enough to call her cousin, who had much ado to manage us both, and was obliged to call in the assistance of one of the waiting women. A minute after these two persons had succeeded in restoring me to my senses, I was told that my valet was in the ante-chamber and my horses ready. It was then that I found what it was to love, and felt the pangs of parting with the beloved object. Never was there a more tender and moving farewell. I was so little myself, and so full of sorrow when I left the house of her cousin, that I did not see Sayavedra who stood directly before my eyes, but passed by without speaking to him; he followed me, and observing I was almost distracted, spoke not a word, but led me where the horses waited for us. I mounted immediately, and galloped the whole of the first stage without speaking a word: but at the second my squire asked me if I had any object in travelling the road to Rome. I answered that I wished it to appear that I was going to that city, but at the next stage we would stop, and consult what was best to be done. CHAP. XXXVII.