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"God preserve you," said Agnes; and she proceeded homeward,

confused and disconcerted as a blind man who had lost his staff.

Having more information than Friar Galdino, we are enabled to

relate the truth of this affair. Attilio, immediately on his

arrival at Milan, performed his promise to Don Roderick, and

visited his uncle of the secret council; (this was a committee

composed of thirteen members, whose sanction was necessary to the

proceedings of government; in case of the absence or death of the

governor, the council assumed temporarily the control.) The

count, one of the oldest members of the council, enjoyed in it

some authority, which he did not fail to make known on all

occasions. His language was ambiguous; his silence significant;

he had the art of flattering, without absolutely promising; of

menacing, without perhaps the power to perform; but these

flatteries and menaces produced in the minds of others an

impression of his unlimited power, which was the end and purpose

of all his actions. Towards this point he lately made a great

stride on an extraordinary occasion.