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handsomewomanlikesteeltoamagnet,Filippo,'answeredMatteo,laughing.
'Introduceme,'Isaid,'ifsheisnotferocious.'
'Bynomeansandshehasprobablyalreadyfixedhereyesuponyou.ButsheiswifetoErcolePiacentini.'
'Idon'tcare.ImeantokillthemanafterwardsbutthatisnoreasonwhyIshouldnotmakemyselfpleasanttohisspouse.'
'Youwilldoheraserviceinbothways,'herepliedand,goinguptoher,'Claudia,'hesaid,'yourfataleyeshavetransfixedanotherheart.'
Hersensuallipsbrokeintoasmile.
'Havetheythatpower?'Shefixedthemonme,andmaderoomonthecouchonwhichshewassitting.NeitherMatteonorIwereslowtotakethehint,forItookmyplaceandhehisleave.'IwonderyouhavenotalreadyfallenvictimtoMadonnaGiulia,'saidClaudia,lookinglanguorouslyatme,andglancingovertotheotherlady.
'Onedoesnotworshipthemoonwhenthesunisshining,'Irepliedpolitely.
'Giuliaismorelikethesun,forshegathersallmeninherembrace.Iammoremodest.'
Iunderstoodthattherivalbeautieswerenotgoodfriends.
'Youboastthatyouarecruel,'Ireplied.Shedidnotanswer,butsigheddeeply,smiling,andfixedonmehergreat,liquideyes.
'Oh,thereismyhusband.'IlookedupandsawthegreatErcoleglaringviciouslyatme.Ilaughedwithinmyself.
'Hemustbeveryjealousofsobeautifulawife?'Iasked.
'Hetormentsmetodeath.'
UnderthesecircumstancesIthoughtIwouldpursuemyadvantageIpressedclosertoher.
'Icanunderstandit:thefirstmomentIsawyou,Ifeltmyheadwhirl.'
Shegavemeaverylongglancefrombeneathhereyelashes.Iseizedherhand.
'Thoseeyes!'Isaid,lookingintothemfervently.
'Ah!'shesighedagain.
'Madam,'saidapageboy,cominguptoher,'MesserPiacentinibegsthatyouwillcometohim.'
Shegavealittlecryofannoyance.
'Myhusband!'Then,risingfromherseat,sheturnedtome,holdingoutherhandIimmediatelyofferedmyarm,andwesolemnlycrossedtheroomtoErcolePiacentini.Hereshebowedverygraciouslytome,andIsmiledonthehappyhusbandwiththeutmostsweetness,whilehelookedverygrimandtooknotthefaintestnoticeofmethenImarchedoff,feelingparticularlypleasedwithmyself.
TheCountandCountesswereonthepointoftakingtheirdeparture:theywerefollowedbyErcoleandhiswifetheremainingguestssoonwent,andinalittlewhiletherewereleftonlyMatteoandmyself,twoothermenandChecco.