The father and mother being a little recovered, began to doubt as well as their son, whether Clorinia were not to blame in this lamentable affair. This was a mystery which Scintila could easily have elucidated, if she had not thought it more advisable to defer this explanation until a more convenient opportunity; so that they now thought only of saving Clorinia’s life if possible. Valerio instantly withdrew to his chamber, where he dressed himself with all expedition, in order that he might go himself, and bring a very skilful surgeon, who was a friend of his; while the father, after he had enjoined the strictest secrecy to all his servants on the subject of this disastrous affair, endeavoured with their assistance to staunch the blood of his daughter, by wrapping up in linen the arm which had been so cruelly mangled.
Valerio was soon ready; he went out and first of all hastened into the lane, to see if he could by the light of a lantern which he ordered a servant to carry before him, discover the lost hand: but Horatio had carried it away with him, and nothing was to be seen beneath the little window but a track of blood running down the wall. The wretched brother of Clorinia felt all his grief renewed at this sight; but as he proceeded, he met and recognised Dorido, who was hastening towards the lane with all the feelings of a happy lover. “Ah, my friend!” cried Valerio to him in a mournful voice, “whither are you going? I see that you are unacquainted with the tragic catastrophe that has just occurred. Oh wretched Clorinia!” “Gracious Heaven,” cried her unfortunate lover, “what misfortune do you deplore,--what has happened?” “A misfortune,” answered Valerio, “which our family ought to conceal from all mankind; but I will not hide any thing from you; I ought even to inform you of it as a friend who will not refuse to assist me in discovering the assassin of my unhappy sister.” These last words pierced Dorido’s heart; in a faint and trembling voice he enquired what was the matter. Valerio told him in a few words, and requested him to accompany him to the surgeon, but Dorido refused, saying to him, with an air which shewed the fury that began to animate him; “No no, Valerio, I shall employ my time better; there is no occasion to engage ourselves both on the same errand, when there is so much more to be done. Do you alone undertake to conduct the surgeon to your house, while I seek for the barbarian who could commit a crime which no one can hear of without trembling. If I can discover this perfidious wretch, let him expect a chastisement worthy of his treason. In a word,” added he, “leave me to revenge you; I feel as acutely as you the misfortune of Clorinia.” Upon this the two friends separated. Dorido returned homewards, vowing to listen only to his anger in the revenge which he purposed to take upon Horatio; for he could suspect no one but him of having committed this action. As soon as he arrived at home, he shut himself up in his chamber that he might freely lament the loss of his mistress. “My dear Clorinia,” cried he, “my rival, envious of your love for me, has deceived you in the darkness of this fatal night: you have mistaken him for your Dorido; I am then the unhappy cause of the misfortune which has happened to you. Were it not for me, you still would have been living in perfect peace with your father. It is I who have assassinated you; but your death shall but little precede my own. No sooner shall I have sacrificed Horatio to your ashes, than I also will join you in eternal darkness. Oh that it were permitted to thee to see and rejoice in the just vengeance which I will inflict on the wretch who has dared to deprive thee of thy innocent hand!”