<h2 class="main">CHAPTER XXX</h2>
<p class="first">The prince was to leave for San Stefano next day; and
early in the morning Cornélie sent him the following letter:</p>
<div class="blockquote">
<p class="first salute">“<span class="sc">My dear
Prince</span>,</p>
<p>“I have a favour to ask of you. Yesterday you were so good as
to offer me help. I thought then that I was in a position to decline
your kind offer. But I hope that you will not think me very changeable
if I come to you to-day with this request: lend me what you offered
yesterday to give me.</p>
<p>“Lend me two hundred lire. I hope to be able to repay you as
soon as possible. Of course it need not be a secret from Urania; but
don’t let Duco know. I tried to sell my bracelets yesterday, but
sold only one and received very little for it. The goldsmith offered me
far too little, but I had to let him have one at forty lire, for I had
not a soldo left! And so I am writing to appeal to your friendship and
to ask you to put the two hundred lire in an envelope and let me come
and fetch it myself from the porter. Pray receive my sincere thanks in
advance.</p>
<p>“What a pleasant evening you gave us yesterday! A couple of
hours’ cheerful talk like that, at a well-chosen dinner, does me
good. However happy I may be, our present position of financial anxiety
sometimes depresses me, though I keep up my spirits for
Duco’s sake. Money worries interfere with his work and impair his
energy. So I discuss them with him as little as I can; and I
particularly beg you not to let him into our little secret.</p>
<p>“Once more, my best and most sincere thanks.</p>
<p class="signed">“<span class="sc">Cornélie de
Retz.</span>”</p>
</div>
<p>When she left the house that morning, she went straight to the
Palazzo Ruspoli:</p>
<p>“Has his excellency gone?”</p>
<p>The porter bowed respectively and confidentially:</p>
<p>“An hour ago, signora. His excellency left a letter and a
parcel for me to give you if you should call. Permit me to fetch
them.”</p>
<p>He went away and soon returned; he handed Cornélie the parcel
and the letter.</p>
<p>She walked down a side-street turning out of the Corso, opened the
envelope and found a few bank-*notes and this letter:</p>
<div class="blockquote">
<p class="first salute">“<span class="sc">Most honoured
Lady</span>,</p>
<p>“I am so glad that you have applied to me at last; and Urania
also will approve. I feel I am acting in accordance with her wishes
when I send you not two hundred but a thousand lire, with the most
humble request that you will accept it and keep it as long as you
please. For of course I dare not ask you to take it as a present.
Nevertheless I am making so bold as to send you a keepsake. When I read
that you were compelled to sell a bracelet, I hated the idea so that,
without stopping to think, I ran round to Marchesini’s and, as
best I could, picked you out a bracelet which, at your feet, I entreat
you to accept. You must not refuse your friend this. Let my bracelet be
a secret from Urania as well as from Van der Staal.</p>
<p>“Once more receive my sincere thanks for deigning to
apply to me for aid and be assured that I attach the highest value to
this mark of favour.</p>
<p class="signed">“Your most humble servant,<br/>
“<span class="sc">Virgilio di F. B.</span>”</p>
</div>
<p>Cornélie opened the parcel and found a velvet case containing
a bracelet in the Etruscan style: a narrow gold band set with pearls
and sapphires. </p>
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