I confess to you honestly that I am not
worth this consideration on your part, for I am not to be relied
upon. I repose no confidence in myself, therefore I will leave it to
you to measure my audacity in making the suggestion that you should
place a lifetime's confidence in me. But with all my heart, (as much
as I know of it at the present), I desire to show you what respect
so poor a life as mine can give to one who deserves all tenderness,
as well as trust. If I may hope that you will pardon my past follies
and libertinage with regard to you,--if you can love me well enough
to wear my not too exalted name, and preserve my remaining stock of
honour, summon me to your presence, and I will endeavour, by such
devotion and fidelity as in me lies, to atone for whatsoever offence
I may have given you previously by my too passionate pursuit of your
beauty. Yours, unless you decide my fate otherwise,
"GUY BEAUSIRE DE FONTENELLE."
Thrusting this note into an envelope he hastily sealed it, but
decided not to post it till late at night, in order that Sylvie
might only receive it with the early morning, when her mind was
fresh, and unswayed by any opinions or events of a long day. And to
pass the time he strolled out to one of the many "osterie," or wine-
houses which abound in Rome,--a somewhat famous example of its kind
in the Via Quattro Fontane.
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