rd. Strive, at least, against a
prejudice that you cannot defend. My Violante, my darling, this is no
trifle. Here I must cease to be the fond, foolish father, whom you can
do what you will with. Here I am Alphonso, Duke di Serrano; for here my
honour as noble and my word as man are involved. I, then, but a helpless
exile, no hope of fairer prospects before me, trembling like a coward
at the wiles of my unscrupulous kinsman, grasping at all chances to save
you from his snares,--self offered your hand to Randal Leslie,--offered,
promised, pledged it; and now that my fortunes seem assured, my rank in
all likelihood restored, my foe crushed, my fears at rest, now, does it
become me to retract what I myself have urged? It is not the noble, it
is the parvenu, who has only to grow rich, in order to forget those
whom in poverty he hailed as his friends. Is it for me to make the poor
excuse, never heard on the lips of an Italian prince, 'that I cannot
command the obedience of my child;' subject myself to the galling
answer, 'Duke of Serrano, you could once command that obedience, when,
in exile, penury, and terror you offered me a bride without a dower'?
Child, Violante, daughter of ancestors on whose honour never slander set
a stain, I call on you to redeem your father's plighted word."

"Father, must it be so? Is not even the convent open to me? Nay, look
not so coldly on me. If you could but read my heart! And oh! I feel so
assured of your own repentance hereafter,--so assured that this man
is not what you believe him. I so suspect that he has been playing
throughout some secret and perfidious part."

"Ha!" interrupted Riccabocca, "Harley has perhaps infected you with that
notion."

"No, no! But is not Harley, is not Lord L'Estrange one whose opinion you
have cause to esteem? And if he distrusts Mr. Leslie--"

"Let him make good his distrust by such proof as will absolve my word,
and I shall share your own joy. I have told him this. I have invited
him to make good his suspicions, he puts me off. He cannot do so," added
Riccabocca, in a dejected tone; "Randal has already so well explained
all that Harley deemed equivocal. Violante, my name and my honour rest
in your hands. Cast them away if you will; I cannot constrain you, and
I cannot stoop to implore. Noblesse oblige! With your birth you took
its duties. Let them decide between your vain caprice and your father's
solemn remonstrance."

Assuming a sternness that he was