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The Fool Errant by Maurice Hewlett
page 124 of 358 (34%)
immediately, but I did not think it wise to dash his hopes until I found
out how far he had lied. I wished to learn also what he wanted of my
company. I told him, therefore, that supposing his tale about me to be
true in general, in particular it was most false. So far from having
injured Virginia, I said, I had saved her from destruction, and if the
marchese did indeed claim her as his property, the very first thing I
had to do was to defeat his purpose, since that was the root of my
partnership with her. I explained my position and hers to him as well as
I could, and condescended, for her sake, to bargain with the old wretch.
"Since you, Palamone," I said, "desire my company, though Heaven alone
knows why you do desire it, I will agree to share my journey with you so
far as Florence, whither I shall go immediately, but not on any account
without Virginia. I have charged my conscience with her honour, and am
inflexible on that point. If you won't agree to this, you must follow
your own devices, and may attempt whatever atrocity occurs to you. That
is my firm decision which no suffering can relax."

Fra Palamone, all smiles, made no difficulties. He would fetch Virginia
that very night, and we would set off the next morning for Prato, where
there was a great church ceremony which he must by all means attend.
Then we would go to Florence, full of friends of his (he assured me),
who would make the weeks fly for my amusement. "Trust me, my dear
brother," he said, "you will never repent having made the acquaintance
of your old Palamone."

I expressed with the utmost plainness my astonishment at the pains he
was at to get my society. "My dear Francis," he said, raising his
eyebrows, as if in despair of making me understand his whim, "what
greater proofs of my affection can I give you? I have flayed your back
and allowed you to flay mine. I have filled your mouth with wool and
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