you see nothing of Milord. Nay, baffled and misled, you actually suppose
that the quarry has taken refuge in France. You go thither, you pretend
to search the capital, the provinces, Switzerland, /que sais je/? All in
vain,--though--/foi de gentilhomme/--your police cost me dearly. You
return to England; the same chase, and the same result. /Palsambleu, ma
soeur/, I do too much credit to your talents not to question your zeal.
In a word, have you been in earnest,--or have you not had some womanly
pleasure in amusing yourself and abusing my trust?"

"Giulio," answered Beatrice, sadly, "you know the influence you have
exercised over my character and my fate. Your reproaches are not just.
I made such inquiries as were in my power, and I have now cause to
believe that I know one who is possessed of this secret, and can guide us
to it."

"Ah, you do!" exclaimed the count. Beatrice did not heed the
exclamation, and hurried on.

"But grant that my heart shrunk from the task you imposed on me, would it
not have been natural? When I first came to England, you informed me
that your object in discovering the exiles was one which I could honestly
aid. You naturally wished first to know if the daughter lived; if not,
you were the heir. If she did, you assured me you desired to effect,
through my mediation, some liberal compromise with Alphonso, by which you
would have sought to obtain his restoration, provided he would leave you
for life in possession of the grant you hold from the crown. While these
were your objects, I did my best, ineffectual as it was, to obtain the
information required."

"And what made me lose so important, though so ineffectual an ally?"