bring before you all my people,’ said the Count, ‘all my servants and vassals, to prove, as witnesses, that Libussa has never been out of her native land?’—‘In despite of all this,’ replied the Duke, ‘I should still believe rather the evidence of my own senses, which bear testimony that, in my estimation at least, is not less important.’—‘What you say is very mysterious,’ said the Count, in a more moderate tone; ‘your grave manner convinces me at all events that you have yourself been under some delusion—and that you have unquestionably taken some other person for my daughter. Forgive me, therefore, for the irritation of temper into which I was unfortunately betrayed.’—‘Some other person!’ cried the Duke: ‘it would then follow that I have not only mistaken another for your daughter, but that her servant was also different from what I supposed him to be; yet he described to me all that I find in this castle and its environs, precisely as they now exist around me!’—‘My dear Marino,’ answered the Count, ‘it follows only that this servant must have been an impostor, who was well acquainted with our neighbourhood, and who persuaded you that some other lady
