Repairing to his own room,
he sent word to the gentleman to come no more into his presence, but to
withdraw to his lodging for a time. The gentleman, being ignorant of the
cause of this, was grieved exceedingly, for he knew that he had deserved
the opposite of such unworthy treatment. Aware, then, of his own
innocence in heart and deed, he sent a comrade to speak to the Duke and
take him a letter, humbly entreating that if any evil report had caused
his banishment, his master would be pleased to suspend judgment until he
had heard from himself the truth of the matter, when it would be found
that he had been guilty of no offence.
When the Duke saw this letter, his anger was somewhat abated. He
secretly sent for the gentleman to his own room, and with wrathful
countenance said--
"I could never have thought that the care I took to rear you as my own
child would be changed into regret at having so highly advanced you;
but you have attempted what was more hurtful to me than loss of life
or substance, and have sought to assail the honour of one who is half
myself, and so bring infamy on my house and name. You may be assured
that this outrage is so wounding to my heart that, were it not for my
doubt whether it be true or not, you would have already been at the
bottom of the water, and so have received in secret due punishment for
the wrong that in secret you intended against me.
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