Besides, he never saw the picture. Angela gave him her measurements,
and when the frame was finished he brought it to her here. But he
had nothing whatever to do with setting the canvas in it,--that I
know, for Angela herself told me. No, no!--let us not blame the
innocent; rather let us try to find the guilty."
At that moment a servant entered with a large and exquisitely
arranged basket of lilies-of-the-valley, and a letter.
"For Donna Sovrani," he said, as he handed both to his master.
The Prince took the basket of lilies, and moved by a sudden fancy,
set it gently in front of Angela's great work. Glancing at the
superscription of the letter, he said,--
"From Varillo. I had better open it and see what he says."
He broke the seal and read the following:
"SWEETEST ANGELA,--I am summoned to Naples on business, and
therefore, to my infinite regret, shall not be able to see the great
picture to-morrow. You know,--you can feel how sorry I am to
disappoint both you and myself in a pleasure which we have so long
lovingly anticipated, but as the Queen has promised to make her
visit of inspection, I dare not ask you to put off the exhibition of
your work till my return. But I know I shall come back to find my
Angela crowned with glory, and it will be reserved for me to add the
last laurel leaf to the immortal wreath! I am grieved that I have no
time to come and press my 'addio' on your sweet lips,--but in two or
three days at most, I shall be again at your feet.
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