"There is yet one means of winning my friendship and gratitude--be noble
and generous, and give me back the liberty of which you have deprived
me. Let me return to my companions, who must be anxiously seeking for
me, and suffering keenly because of their fears for my safety. Let me
go and resume my lowly life as an actress, before this outrageous
affair--which may irreparably injure my reputation--has become generally
known, or my absence from the theatre been remarked by the public."
"How unfortunate it is," cried the duke, angrily, "that you should ask
of me the only thing I cannot do for you. If you had expressed your
desire for an empire, a throne, I would have given it to you--or if you
had wished for a star, I would have climbed up into the heavens to get
it for you. But here you calmly ask me to open the door of this cage,
little bird, to which you would never come back of your own accord, if I
were stupid enough to let you go. It is impossible! I know well that you
love me so little, or rather hate me so much, that you would never see
me again of your own free will--that my only chance of enjoying your
charming society is to lock you up--keep you my prisoner. However much
it may cost my pride, I must do it--for I can no more live without
you than a plant without the light.
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