Page 685 of 788

The guests arose; the Notary was in frightful distress; the

Chamberlain was making hurried efforts to reconcile the rivals,

but Telimena, taking the Count aside, whispered to him:-

"The Notary has not yet taken me as his wife: if you have

anything against his doing so, answer me this, and answer me

right off, short and to the point: do you love me, have you not

yet changed your affections, are you ready to marry me right off;

right off, to-day? If you agree, I will give up the Notary."