But instead of the rapt and breathless attention with which my reading had been attended, the present company listened with a smile, whilst ever and anon a short laugh or a quiet chuckle would mark how well they understood to-night the subtle ironies which had originally escaped them.
I crept away, sick at heart, while they were still making sport over my work, cursing the Lord Giovanni, who had forced me to these things, and my own mad mood that had permitted me in an evil hour to be so forced.
Yet my grief and bitterness were little things that night compared with what Madonna was to make them on the morrow.
She sent for me betimes, and I went in fear and trembling of her wrath and scorn.

How shall I speak of that interview?
How shall I describe the immeasurable contempt with which she visited me, and which I felt was perhaps no more than I deserved.
"Messer Biancomonte," said she coldly, "I have ever accounted you my friend, and disinterested the motives that inspired a heart seemingly noble to do service to a forlorn and helpless lady.

It seems that I was wrong.

That the indulging of a warped and malignant spirit was the inspiration you had to appear to befriend me." "Madonna, you are over-cruel," I cried out, wounded to the very soul of me.
"Am I so ?" she asked, with a cold smile upon her ivory face.

"Is it not rather you who were cruel?
Was it a fine thing to do to trick a lady into giving her affection to a man for gifts which he did not possess?
You know in what manner of regard I held the Lord Giovanni Sforza so long as I saw him with the eyes of reason and in the light of truth.