106 LITERATURE AND DRAMA 



Tanc. He would smile, and often he would give no answer ; 

 but I thought I understood him better than his courtiers, and 

 that his harshness was a mask hiding a kind heart. I thought 

 he really loved you. 



Gris. He did so once. 



Tanc. Is there any pain like losing faith in one whom we 

 have loved ? 



Gris. I have never felt that pain. 



Tanc. Seven days since Lady Filomene arrived. The Mar- 

 quis changed. I thought he had put on a mask ; but I soon 

 learnt that his seeming goodness had been the mask. What I 

 now saw was his evil face. 



Gris. Eemember I was his wife. 



Tanc. And you believe ? 



Gris. Believe with me. The Marquis is a noble gentleman, 

 how strange soever his actions seem. 



Tanc. Madam, what should I say ? He is your husband in 

 the sight of God ; yet he will marry this Lady Filomene. 



Gris. Marry her ! Who is she ? 



Tanc. No name is given her but Filomene. No one could tell 

 her lineage, nor say whence she came ; nor dared any man in- 

 quire. The courtiers laughed and said the Marquis held curiosity 

 to be a trespass on his royal chase. 



Gris. Is she very beautiful and young ? 



Tanc. Young, beautiful, learned, and very proud. 



Gris. Is this marriage to her mind ? 



Tanc. Truly, no. The Marquis has wooed her in no loving 

 or even courteous fashion, and he is old. 



Gris. Ah ! yes old. You had more to tell me ? You said 

 my lord would summon me to court, and that there was danger 

 to men's lives. I could not understand. 



Tanc. In a few hours a messenger will come, sent by the 

 Marquis, to bring you to Saluce by force. There he will make 

 you servant to the Lady Filomene. 



Gris. No force is needed. I will go. 



Tanc. You need not go. 



Gris. I need not ? 



Tanc. I came here to secure your freedom. Thirty students, 

 friends of mine, have at my summons crossed the frontier 



