Page:German Stories (Volumes 2–3).djvu/405

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Chapter III.
215

wine mixed with blood, I know from whose real life that story was first derived.’—‘It was taken from the life of Felippo’, said I; ‘of this you may be assured. But that a similar circumstance may have happened elsewhere, I shall not dispute with you;—this is very possible, and credible, and most love adventures resemble one another more or less.’—‘Be that as it may,’ said Marino, ‘I now demand of you, that, from this day forward, you shall make no farther allusions to my past life. Under this condition alone shall I forgive you for your former ingenious devices.’ ‘Forgiveness!’ cried I, ‘conditions, forsooth, and both from you!—this is rather too much. On the contrary, I take the liberty of informing you, that the Count shall, to-morrow morning, be made fully acquainted with your former engagements, and of your expressions to me this night.’—‘My lord Marquis,’ replied he, ‘if you ventured this.’—‘Ha—ha!—I shall venture it however,’ answered I; ‘it is a duty that I owe to an old friend. The liar who has thought proper to accuse me of a falsehood shall no longer be permitted to wear his mask in this house.’ Contrary to my own wishes, anger had carried me so