And I am sure, madam, that the love you bear my Lord aforesaid is
attended with such chastity and nobleness that, apart from myself,
who am but a worm of the earth, not even the greatest Prince and most
perfect man to be found could break the union that exists between you.
For my own part, my Lord has brought me up from childhood, and made me
what I am, and to save my life I could not entertain towards any wife,
daughter, sister or mother of his any thought contrary to what is due
from a loyal and faithful servant."
The Duchess would not allow him to continue, but finding that she was
in danger of obtaining a dishonourable refusal, she suddenly interrupted
him, and said--
"Wicked and boastful fool, who seeks any such thing from you? Do you
think that your good looks win you the love of the very flies in the
air? Nay, if you were presumptuous enough to address yourself to me, I
would show you that I love, and seek to love, none but my husband. What
I have said to you was spoken only for my amusement, to try you and
laugh at you, as I do at all foolish lovers."
"Madam," said the gentleman, "I believed, and do still believe, that it
is as you say.
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