The bishop and father both regretted that she had been denied the
requested interview. They were now, they said, convinced, that if that
had been granted, and she had been left to Mrs. Beaumont's friendly care,
a happy issue might have been hoped for: But now, said the bishop--Then
sighed, and was silent.
I despatched Saunders, early the next morning, to Bologna, to procure
convenient lodgings for me, and Mr. Lowther.
In the afternoon we set out for that city. The Count of Belvedere found
an opportunity to let me know his unabated passion for Clementina, and
that he had lately made overtures to marry her, notwithstanding her
malady; having been advised, he said, by proper persons, that as it was
not an hereditary, but an accidental disorder, it might be, in time,
curable. He accompanied us about half way in our journey; and, at
parting, Remember, chevalier, whispered he, that Clementina is the soul
of my hope: I cannot forego that hope. No other woman will I ever call
mine.
I heard him in silence: I admired him for his attachment: I pitied him.
He said, he would tell me more of his mind at Bologna.
We reached Bologna on the 15th, N.S. Saunders had engaged for me the
lodgings I had before.
Our conversation on the road turned chiefly on the case of Signor
Jeronymo. The bishop and father were highly pleased with the skill,
founded on practice, which evidently appeared in all that Mr.
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