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uldnotpickupthehandkerchiefwhichhehadcondescendedtothrow.'
'Hementionedit.'
'Sincethen,Iamafraidhehasnothadverymuchgoodtosayofme.'
IhadthoughtatthetimethatMatteowasalittlebitterinhisaccountofDonnaGiulia,andIfeltmoreinclinedtobelieveherversionofthestorythanhis.
'Hehasbeenbeseechingmenottofallinlovewithyou,'Isaid.
Shelaughed.
'ClaudiaPiacentinihasbeentellingeveryonethatitistoolate,andsheishorriblyjealous.'
'Hasshe?MatteoalsoseemedcertainIwasinlovewithyou.'
'Andareyou?'sheaskedsuddenly.
'No!'Irepliedwithgreatpromptness.
'Bruttabestia!'shesaid,throwingherselftotheendofthecouch,andbeginningtopout.
'Iamverysorry,'Isaid,laughing,'butIcannothelpit.'
'Ithinkitishorridofyou,'sheremarked.
'Youhavesomanyadorers,'Isaidinexpostulation.
'Yes,butIwantmore,'shesmiled.
'Butwhatgoodcanitdoyoutohaveallthesepeopleinlovewithyou?'
'Idon'tknow,'shesaid,'itisapleasantsensation.'
'Whatachildyouare!'Ianswered,laughing.
Shebentforwardseriously.
'Butareyounotatallinlovewithme?'
Ishookmyhead.Shecamecloseuptome,sothatherhairbrushedlightlyagainstmycheekitsentashiverthroughme.Ilookedathertinyearitwasbeautifullyshaped,transparentasapinkshell.Unconsciously,quitewithoutintention,Ikissedit.Shepretendedtotakenonotice,andIwasfullofconfusion.Ifeltmyselfblushingfuriously.
'Areyouquitesure?'shesaidgravely.
Igotuptogo,foolishly,ratherangrywithmyself.
'WhenshallIseeyouagain?'Iasked.
'Iamgoingtoconfessionto-morrow.BeatSanStefanoatten,andwecanhavealittletalkinthechurchwhenIhavefinished.'