XXXIX
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WHATshallIsayoftheeagernesswithwhichIlookedforwardtoseeingmydearwife,therapturewithwhich,atlast,Iclaspedherinmyarms?
AlittlelaterIwalkedouttofindMatteo.Hewasquiteastonishedtoseeme.
'Wedidnotexpectyousosoon.'
'No,'Ianswered'IthoughtIshouldnotarrivetillafterto-morrow,butIwassoimpatienttogethomethatIhurriedonwithoutstopping,andhereIam.'
Ishookhishandheartily,Iwassopleasedandhappy.
'Er—haveyoubeenhome?'
'Ofcourse,'Ianswered,smiling'itwasthefirstthingIthoughtof.'
IwasnotsureIthoughtalookofreliefcameoverMatteo'sface.Butwhy?Icouldnotunderstand,butIthoughtitofnoconsequence,anditpassedfrommymemory.ItoldMatteothenewsIhad,andlefthim.Iwishedtogetbacktomywife.
OnmywayIhappenedtoseeClaudiaPiacentinicomingoutofahouse.Iwasverysurprised,forIknewthatmyeffortshadsucceeded,andErcole'sbanishmentdecreed.Isupposedtheorderhadnotyetbeenissued.Iwasgoingtopasstheladywithoutacknowledgment,forsincemymarriageshehadneverspokentome,andIcouldwellunderstandwhyshedidnotwantto.Tomyastonishmentshestoppedme.
'Ah,MesserFilippo!'
Ibowedprofoundly.
'Howisitthatnowyouneverspeaktome?Areyousoangrywithme?'
'Noonecanbeangrywithsobeautifulawoman.'
Sheflushed,andIfeltIhadsaidastupidthing,forIhadmaderemarkstoosimilaronanotheroccasion.Iadded,'ButIhavebeenaway.'
'Iknow.Willyounotcomein?'Shepointedtothehousefromwhichshehadjustissued.
'ButIshallbedisturbingyou,foryouweregoingout.'
Shesmiledasshereplied.'IsawyoupassmyhousealittlewhileagoIguessedyouweregoingtoMatteod'Orsi,andIwaitedforyouonyourreturn.'
'Youaremostkind.'
Iwonderedwhyshewassoanxioustoseeme.Perhapssheknewofherhusband'sapproachingbanishment,andthecauseofit.
Wewentinandsatdown.
'Haveyoubeenhome?'sheasked.
ItwasthesamequestionasMatteohadasked.Igavethesameanswer.
'ItwasthefirstthingIthoughtof.'
'Yourwifemusthavebeen—surprisedtoseeyou.'
'Anddelighted.'
'Ah!'Shecrossedherhandsandsmiled.
Iwonderedwhatshemeant.
'Youwerenotexpectedfortwodays,Ithink.'
'Youknowmymovementsverywell.Iampleasedtofindyoutakesuchinterestinme.'
'Oh,itisnotIalone.Thewholetowntakesinterestinyou.Youhavebeenamostplea
