"Ah! madame, such kindness—"
"Ascanio, do you care to repay my kindness, as you call it? Promise me that you will take me for your confidante, your friend, that you will hide nothing from me of your acts, your plans, your sorrows, for I see that you are unhappy. Promise to come to me when you stand in need of help or counsel."
"Why, madame, you bestow one favor more upon me, rather than ask a proof of my gratitude."
"However that may be, you promise?"
"Alas! I would have given you the promise yesterday, madame; for yesterday I might have thought that I might some day need your help or counsel; but to-day it is in no one's power to help me."
"Who knows?"
"I know, madame."
"Ah me! Ascanio, you are unhappy, you are unhappy, you cannot deceive me."
Ascanio sadly shook his head.
"You are disingenuous with a friend, Ascanio; 't is not well done of you," the duchess continued, taking the young man's hand, and softly pressing it.