CHAPTER XIII“Don Francisco,” Sir Oliver said, as one who asks that he already knows; “is not easy to guide?”
“No. He was never that.”
“But it may be done best, if at all, by a woman’s hand?”
“That is not by me.”
“Well, you must choose. For either you must do this, or I will send for him here, and I would prefer to leave it to you.”
“Is he to be expelled with his own consent, or to have time to flee in a secret way? He has said that he will not go.”
“It is not that. He can stay, or I should say that he must, for he would be shamed to desert, having no cause. All that is required is that he shall be secret as to his having kept Venetia as he did, and that he shall make no boast that the Council do not chastise him therefor.”
“There should be few words about that. Is it so condoned?”
