human
This is no news to thee--that I--that I----? Tell me Eloisà, dost thou not see?
gpt
Thou hast shewn me nothing with all thy talk of the Bernardini; she spoke the name unwillingly, Ecciva seemed to force her to continue the theme, and it was with difficulty that she could withdraw her hand from the Grecian maiden's sinuous clasp.
human
Let us talk no more; for thou hast no news of real matter.
gpt
Not of the Bernardini, since thou wilt not hear it. But how if I knew of a bride for him?
human
I think he would not ask of whom thou speakest! Eloisà tried to laugh and shake off the spell.
gpt
I will listen no more, Ecciva.
human
How if I knew of a bride for him? she repeated;
gpt
It is not the Dama Margherita de Iblin,
human
The Lady Margherita! Ecciva echoed with a scornful toss of her head.
gpt
Doth one seek a bride no longer young when one is a man like that? Nor--nor beautiful?--She is not beautiful!
human
She is more rare than beautiful, Eloisà retorted, piqued.
gpt
For she is noble, like the Signor Bernardini: and her face is like her soul.
human
They should not trust their secrets to so young a maid!
gpt
But she also is a Dama di Maridaggio--_she also_. Thou mightest tell that for a bit of gossip to the Queen, who, perchance, hath influence with the Signor Bernardini.
human
Why dost thou say, _she also_?
gpt
That is for thy puzzle--to amuse thee, carinissima; for verily thy brain is dull. It is no wonder with the gravity of this court! But happily to-morrow--thou shalt see to-morrow how the people shout to him, for Cyprus doth owe him honor--and Her Majesty more than life. It is the Bernardini who hath done it all--more than the Soranzo, or the Mocenigo--more even than our great Admiral of Cyprus. Thou shalt see!
human
To go at night, with only a poor fishing-skiff and a handful of men, to steal back the little king from the galley of Naples--it was not easy! But how should one think of peril when the Prince was in danger?--They are both like that--he and she.
gpt
All knights are like that, or they would be craven: that was no honor to him. But what woman went with him from the palace? I watched them going; it was a night like some great poem!
human
That was our dear Lady of the Bernardini; lest the Prince should be strange without some loving face about him, and none can smile him into quiet, as she with her gracious ways; and they feared a sound, for the galley lay close under the fortress. So quietly they went, along the shore, lingering where the nets are thrown by the shallows, to take the galley by surprise--the Lady of the Bernardini shrouded in the mantle of a fisher-woman.
gpt
And after?--When they had found him? For it was not told where they hid the child--or I heard it not.
human
Yes--now it may be known; thanks be to our Mater Sanctissima! Eloisà answered devoutly.
gpt
They floated about in the fishing skiff until they reached the private galley of the Signor Bernardini--so far around the coast that it would be safe for the Prince. And of the peril, the Lady of the Bernardini had no thought. The galley of His Excellency was dark and with no sign of action, yet it had been manned for a cruise the night before the treason--the poor Signor Bembo was to have gone therein
human
The crew were hidden within it, she continued after a moment's pause,
gpt
How came this tale to thee? Dama Ecciva asked with a sudden twinge of jealousy--
human
Nay, nay, Ecciva, Eloisà pleaded;
gpt
Thou, then?
human
Listen, Ecciva! Since it is past, thou shalt see how they are noble, this Mother and her son! They left with me that night a message for the dear Queen whom they might not reach with speech, to spare her greater anguish, if they came not back. For, oh my God, how she hath suffered!
gpt
It is yet more a poem, Ecciva exclaimed, stirred by the hope of further romance, and already half ashamed that she had shown her momentary feeling of jealousy.
human
The message--tell it!