"
"Both these statements are perfectly true at all events. Is that all you
know?"
"All? Yes--all of importance. But there is no time to be lost. No one
but you can prevent her from leaving Rome to-night. You must help me
quickly."
Spicca looked gravely at Orsino and shook his head. The light that had
shone in his eyes for a moment was gone, and he was again his habitual,
melancholy, indifferent self.
"I cannot stop her," he said, almost listlessly.
"But you can--you will, you must!" cried Orsino laying a hand on the old
man's thin arm. "She must not go--"
"Better that she should, after all. Of what use is it for her to stay?
She is quite right. You cannot marry her."
"Cannot marry her? Why not? It is not long since you told me very
plainly that you wished I would marry her. You have changed your mind
very suddenly, it seems to me, and I would like to know why. Do you
remember all you said to me?"
"Yes, and I was in earnest, as I am now. And I was wrong in telling you
what I thought at the time.
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