XVIII

ryingtobeevenwithme.Iwasgladtoseethatmydartshadtakengoodeffect.Scipioneinterposed,forwhathissisterhadsaidwassufficientlybitter. 'Nonsense,Giulia!'hesaid.'YouknowFilippoisthelastmantoforgivehisenemiesuntilthebreathiswelloutoftheirbodiesbutcircumstances—' Giuliapursedupherlipsintoanexpressionofcontempt. 'Circumstances.Iwassurprised,becauseIrememberedthevigourwithwhichMesserFilippohadvowedtorevengehimself.' 'Oh,butMesserFilippoconsidersthathehasrevengedhimselfveryeffectively,'Isaid. 'How?' 'Therearemorewaysofsatisfyingone'shonourthanbycuttingaholeinaperson'schest.' 'Whatdoyoumean,Filippo?'saidScipione. 'Didyounotseeashepassed?' 'Ercole?What?' 'Didyounotseetheadornmentofhisnoblehead,theelegantpairofhorns?' Theylookedatme,notquiteunderstandingthenIcaughtsightofClaudia,whowasstandingclosetous. 'Ah,IseethediamondIhavefoundinplaceofthepebbleIhavelost.Iprayyouexcuseme.' ThenastheysawmewalktowardsClaudiatheyunderstood,andIheardaburstoflaughter.Itookmylady'shand,andbowingdeeply,kisseditwiththegreatestfervour.IglancedatGiuliafromthecornerofmyeyesandsawherlookingdownontheground,withadeepblushofangeronherface.MyheartleaptforjoytothinkthatIhadreturnedsomethingoftheagonyshehadcausedme. Theeveninggrewlateandtheguestsbegantogo.Checco,ashepassedme,asked,— 'Areyouready?' 'Yes!'Isaid,accompanyinghimtoGirolamoandtheCountesstotakeourleave. 'Youareveryunkind,Checco,'saidtheCountess.'Youhavenotcomenearmethewholeevening.' 'Youhavebeensooccupied,'heanswered. 'ButIamnotnow,'shereplied,smiling. 'ThemomentIsawyoufreeIcametoyou.' 'Tosaygood-bye.' 'Itisverylate.' 'No,surelysitdownandtalktome.' Checcodidashewasbid,andI,seeinghemeanttostaylonger,saunteredoffagaininsearchoffriends.TheconversationbetweenCheccoandtheCountesswasratherhinderedbythecontinualleave-takings,asthepeoplebegantogoawayrapidly,ingroups.IsatmyselfdowninawindowwithMatteo,andwebegancomparingnotesofoureveninghetoldmeofanewlovetowhomhehaddiscoveredhispassionforthefirsttime. 'Fairwind,foulwind?'Iasked,laughing. 'Shepretendedtobeveryangry,'hesaid,'butsheallowedmetoseethatiftheworstcametotheworstshewouldnotpermitmetobreakmyheart.' Ilookedoutintotheroomandfoundthateveryonehadgone,exceptErcolePiacentini,whowastalkingtotheCountinundertones. 'Iamgettingsosleepy,'saidMatteo.WewentforwardtotheCountess,whosaid,asshesawuscome,— 'Goaway,Matteo!IwillnothaveyoudragCheccoawayyetwehavebeentryingtotalktooneanotherforthelasthalf-hour,andnowthatwehavethechanceatlastIrefusetobedisturbed.' 'IwouldnotforworldsrobCheccoofsuchpleasure,'saidMatteoaddingtome,asweretiredto