A profound silence succeeded the general compliments.
I addressed myself to the marquis: Your lordship, and you, madam, turning
to the marchioness, I hope will excuse me for having requested of you the
honour of being once more admitted to your presence, and to that of three
brothers, for whom I shall ever retain the most respectful affection. I
could not think of leaving a city, where one of the first families in it
has done me the highest honour, without taking such a leave as might shew
my gratitude.--Accept, my lords, bowing to each; accept, madam, more
profoundly bowing to the marchioness, my respectful thanks for all your
goodness to me. I shall, to the end of my life, number most of the days
that I have passed at Bologna among its happiest, even were the remainder
to be as happy as man ever knew.
The marquis said, We wish you, chevalier, very happy; happier than--He
sighed, and was silent.
His lady only bowed. Her face spoke distress. Her voice was lost in
sighs, though she struggled to suppress them.
Chevalier, said the bishop, with an air of solemnity, you have given us
many happy hours: for them we thank you. Jeronymo, for himself, will say
more: he is the most grateful of men. We thank you also for what you
have done for him.
I cannot, said Jeronymo, express suitably my gratitude: my prayers, my
vows, shall follow you whithersoever you go, best of friends, and best of
men!
The general, with an air and a smile that might have been dispensed with,
oddly said, High pleasure and high pain are very near neighbours: they
are often guilty of excesses, and then are apt to mistake each other's
house.
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