“I take a great interest in your mistress’s welfare; and as I feel sure that she cannot long be happy in her present uncertain position, while I am sure that she would make my godson an excellent wife, I was determined that both of you should make his acquaintance, for Rosalie herself knows very little of him.  I confess that the means I employed were dishonourable, but you will pardon the means for the sake of the excellent end I had in view.  I hope you will have a pleasant journey, and that you may live for a long time in uninterrupted happiness with your charming mistress.  I hope you will write to me, and always reckon on my standing your friend, and doing everything in my power for you.  Before I go, I will tell you something which will give you an idea of the excellent disposition of young Petri, to whose happiness Rosalie seems essential.

“He only told me the following, after I had absolutely refused to take charge of a letter he had written to Rosalie, despairing of being able to send it any other way.  After assuring me that Rosalie had loved him, and that consequently she could not have any fixed aversion for him, he added that if the fear of being with child was the reason why she would not marry him he would agree to put off the marriage till after the child was born, provided that she would agree to stay in Genoa in hiding, her presence to be unknown to all save himself.  He offers to pay all the expenses of her stay.  He made a remarkably wise reflection when we were talking it over.

“‘If she gave birth to a child too soon after our marriage,’ said he, ’both her honour and mine would suffer hurt; she might also lose the liking of my relations, and if Rosalie is to be my wife I want her to be happy in everything."’

At this Rosalie, who had no doubt been listening at the door after the manner of her sex, burst into the room, and astonished me by the following speech: 

“If M. Petri chid not tell you that it was possible that I might be with child by him, he is a right honest man, but now I tell you so myself.  I do not think it likely, but still it is possible.  Tell him, sir, that I will remain at Genoa until the child is born, in the case of my being pregnant, of which I have no certain knowledge, or until I am quite sure that I am not with child.  If I do have a child the truth will be made known.  In the case of there being no doubt of M. Petri’s being the parent, I am ready to marry him; but if he sees for himself that the child is not his I hope he will be reasonable enough to let me alone for the future.  As to the expenses and my lodging at Genoa, tell him that he need not trouble himself about either.”

I was petrified.  I saw the consequence of my own imprudent words, and my heart seemed broken.  The marquis asked me if this decision was given with my authority, and I replied that as my sweetheart’s will was mine he might take her words for law.  He went away in high glee, for he foresaw that all would go well with his plans when once he was able to exert his influence on Rosalie.  The absent always fare ill.