I bid you learn, sir, that you have a stronger enemy than a woman to contend with: I will protect Signora St.Aubert from your threatened resentment.

You have misled me, and would revenge your disappointed views upon the innocent.' 'Misled you!' retorted Montoni with quickness, 'is my conduct--my word'-- then pausing, while he seemed endeavouring to restrain the resentment, that flashed in his eyes, in the next moment he added, in a subdued voice, 'Count Morano, this is a language, a sort of conduct to which I am not accustomed: it is the conduct of a passionate boy--as such, I pass it over in contempt.' 'In contempt, Signor ?' 'The respect I owe myself,' rejoined Montoni, 'requires, that I should converse more largely with you upon some points of the subject in dispute.

Return with me to Venice, and I will condescend to convince you of your error.' 'Condescend, sir! but I will not condescend to be so conversed with.' Montoni smiled contemptuously; and Emily, now terrified for the consequences of what she saw and heard, could no longer be silent.

She explained the whole subject upon which she had mistaken Montoni in the morning, declaring, that she understood him to have consulted her solely concerning the disposal of La Vallee, and concluding with entreating, that he would write immediately to M.Quesnel, and rectify the mistake.
But Montoni either was, or affected to be, still incredulous; and Count Morano was still entangled in perplexity.

While she was speaking, however, the attention of her auditors had been diverted from the immediate occasion of their resentment, and their passion consequently became less.