Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1803 edition. Excerpt: ...he had been much deceived, and interested for my prosperity, that he proposed to free me from all engagements of vassalage, and to portion Camilla for marriage. This unhoped-for generosity made me half mad; and so far my gratitude overstepped prudence, that I revealed to him the disobedience of his daughter. Alarmed for the honour of his house, yet distractedly fond of the degenerate girl, he besought me to note her actions, and faithfully report them to him. This was an employment I could not do otherwise than refuse; but I tendered my services in any other capacity. He accepted my apology, but ceased to speak on that subject, and as I afterwards found, appointed spies about the castle. For on a certain day which followed quickly, a day of all that I ever have known the most eventful, --and see, my friend, the mere remembrance blanches my cheeks, towards evening I was pacing about the marble hall which opened to the gardens; Larina, who at dinner scarcely ate, and appeared much disturbed, having early dismissed me. The place was friendly to meditation; and the rays of the declining sun darting through the painted windows, checquered the pavement with the waving shadows of the tall trees by which they were intercepted: them I was contemplating, when a whispering engaged my attention. I looked up to a gallery that ran along three sides of the hall, and beheld the Conte earnestly attentive to one of the men who acted as spies, and who repeatedly pointed towards some object in the gardens. In the next moment they parted. The Conte came down by a flight of stone steps into the hall; his gait was unequal, and without seeing me, he turned into a private armory at the upper end. I heard him cast down various pieces of armour, and saw him speedily..