XIV
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中
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said,smiling.
'Isincerelyhopenot.Afterall,ifamanhasaconscienceheoughtnottodowrong.Butifhedoeshemustbeaverypoorsortofafooltorepent.'
'Youcannothavetherosewithoutthethorn.'
'Whynot?Itonlyneedscare.Therearedregsatthebottomofeverycup,butyouarenotobligedtodrinkthem.'
'Youhavemadeupyourmindthatifyoucommitsinsyouarereadytogotohellforthem?'Isaid.
'ItisbraverthangoingtoHeavenbythebackdoor,turningpiouswhenyouaretoooldtodoanythingyoushouldn't.'
'Iagreewithyouthatonehaslittlerespectforthemanwhoturnsmonkwhenthingsgowrongwithhim.'
IsawthatGiuliawasalone,andseizedtheopportunitytospeakwithher.
'Giulia,'Isaid,approaching.
Shelookedatmeforamomentwithanairofperplexity,asifshereallycouldnotrememberwhomIwas.
'Ah,MesserFilippo!'shesaid,asifsuddenlyrecollecting.
'Itisnotsolongsincewemetthatyoucanhaveforgottenme.'
'Yes.Irememberlasttimeyoudidmethehonourtovisitmeyouwereveryrudeandcross.'
Ilookedathersilently,wondering.
'Well?'shesaid,steadilyansweringmygazeandsmiling.
'Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat?'Iaskedinanundertone.
'Whatdoyouwantmetosaytoyou?'
'Areyouquiteheartless?'
Shegaveasighofboredom,andlookedtotheotherendoftheroom,asifforsomeonetoco
