I did not tell the duchess what I had done, but I implored her to let me take shelter here, and to promise not to give me up.

She ought at once to have given me up.

She yielded to the dictates of humanity and suffered me to hide in this room.

Duchess, I thank you for your noble, your self-sacrificing but unavailing desire to shield a guilty man." Michael went up to her, took her cold hand and kissed it.

Then he turned again to the duke.
"I offer you my apologies for this intrusion," he said, and the two men bowed to each other.
"And now, signor," he said in Italian to the amazed official, "I am at your service.".