h your honourable words there be
some hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely
perplexed what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer,
I should do contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always
trusted you more than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience
nor my honour oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of
the Infante of Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do
not aspire. I know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you
according to your desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small
need you have for talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is
already yours, why speak of it so ardently?"

Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her--

"Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with
such good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam,
that he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful
to have a sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to
continue for ever in your service, must not only take care to have the
means of remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing
of the great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough
to be everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers'
hearts often judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as
mischievous as though they were true. I have been prompted to say this,
and led to declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart
that I cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch
my face wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so
familiarly in her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some
sign on which she may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that
which I am anxious to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you
not to come and speak to me so suddenly before her or before others whom
you know to be equally malicious, for I would rather die than have any
living creature know the truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour,
I should not have sought this converse with you, for I hold myself
sufficiently happy in the love and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing
more save that they may continue."

Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible
of an unwonted feeling