They received my civility with politeness.
I addressed myself next to Lady Laurana--May you, madam, the friend, the
intimate, the chosen companion of Lady Clementina, never know the
hundredth part of the woe that fills the breast of the man before you,
for the calamity that has befallen your admirable cousin, and, because of
that, a whole excellent family. Let me recommend to you, that tender and
soothing treatment to her, which her tender heart would shew to you, in
any calamity that should befall you. I am not a bad man, madam, though
of a different communion from yours. Think but half so charitably of me,
as I do of every one of your religion who lives up to his professions,
and I shall be happy in your favourable thoughts when you hear me spoken
of.
It is easy to imagine, Dr. Bartlett, that I addressed myself in this
manner to this lady whom I had never before seen, that she might not
think the harder of her cousin's prepossessions in favour of a
Protestant.
I recommended myself to the favour of Father Marescotti. He assured me
of his esteem, in very warm terms.
And just as I was again applying to my Jeronymo, the general came to me:
You cannot think, sir, said he, nor did you design it, I suppose, that I
should be pleased with your address to me. I have only this question to
ask, When do you quit Bologna?
Let me ask your lordship, said I, when do you return to Naples?
Why that question, sir? haughtily.
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