eoverthemismuch.”Hesigheddolefully,asifhefoundthenobilityofhissexaburden.
“OneIhaveseenwhomaybeso.Shespokeverylittle,butshewasayounglady—differenttomost.She,too,wasEnglish,thecompanionofmywifehere.ButFraFilippo,thebrother-in-law,tookherbackwithhim.Isawthemstart.Hewasveryangry.”
Thenhespokeofhisexcitingandsecretmarriage,andtheymadefunoftheunfortunatePhilip,whohadtravelledoverEuropetostopit.
“Iregretthough,”saidGino,whentheyhadfinishedlaughing,“thatItoppledhimontothebed.Agreattallman!AndwhenIamreallyamusedIamoftenimpolite.”
“Youwillneverseehimagain,”saidSpiridione,whocarriedplentyofphilosophyabouthim.“Andbynowthescenewillhavepassedfromhismind.”
“Itsometimeshappensthatsuchthingsarerecollectedlongest.Ishallneverseehimagain,ofcoursebutitisnobenefittomethatheshouldwishmeill.Andevenifhehasforgotten,IamstillsorrythatItoppledhimontothebed.”
Sotheirtalkcontinued,atonemomentfullofchildishnessandtenderwisdom,thenextmomentscandalouslygross.Theshadowsoftheterra-cottapillarslengthened,andtourists,flyingthroughthePalazzoPubblicoopposite,couldobservehowtheItalianswastedtime.
ThesightoftouristsremindedGinoofsomethinghemightsay.“Iwanttoconsultyousinceyouaresokindastotakeaninterestinmyaffairs.Mywifewishestotakesolitarywalks.”
Spiridionewasshocked.
“ButIhaveforbiddenher.”
“Naturally.”
“Shedoesnotyetunderstand.Sheaskedmetoaccompanyhersometimes—towalkwithoutobject!Youknow,shewouldlikemetobewithherallday.”
“Isee.Isee.”Heknittedhisbrowsandtriedtothinkhowhecouldhelphisfriend.“Sheneedsemployment.IssheaCatholic?”
“No.”
“Thatisapity.Shemustbepersuaded.Itwillbeagreatsolacetoherwhensheisalone.”
“IamaCatholic,butofcourseInevergotochurch.”
“Ofcoursenot.Still,youmighttakeheratfirst.ThatiswhatmybrotherhasdonewithhiswifeatBolognaandhehasjoinedtheFreeThinkers.Hetookheronceortwicehimself,andnowshehasacquiredthehabitandcontinuestogowithouthim.”
“Mostexcellentadvice,andIthankyouforit.Butshewishestogivetea-parties—menandwom