"Oh, my angel," said she, in that soft Italian tongue, so well
suited to clothe love's trembling sighs in words--"oh, my angel, are
you here at last? I saw your noble, handsome face, from my window;
it seemed to me that my room was illuminated with glorious sunshine,
and my heart and soul were warmed."
Ranuzi made no answer to these glowing words, silently he suffered
himself to be led forward by the lady, then replied to her ardent
assurances by a few cool, friendly words.
"You are alone to-day, Marietta," said he, "and your husband will
not interrupt our conversation."
"My husband!" said she, reproachfully, "Taliazuchi is not my
husband. I despise him; I know nothing of him; I am even willing
that he should know I adore you."
"Oh woman, woman!" said Ranuzi, laughing; "how treacherous, how
dangerous you are! When you love happily, you are like the anaconda,
whose poisonous bite one need not fear, when it is well fed and
tended, but when you have ceased to love, you are like the tigress
who, rashly awaked from sleep, would strangle the unfortunate who
disturbed her repose. Come, my anaconda, come; if you are satisfied
with my love, let us talk and dream.
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