sincewemetthatyoucanhaveforgottenme.'
'Yes.Irememberlasttimeyoudidmethehonourtovisitmeyouwereveryrudeandcross.'
Ilookedathersilently,wondering.
'Well?'shesaid,steadilyansweringmygazeandsmiling.
'Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat?'Iaskedinanundertone.
'Whatdoyouwantmetosaytoyou?'
'Areyouquiteheartless?'
Shegaveasighofboredom,andlookedtotheotherendoftheroom,asifforsomeonetocomeandbreakatediousconversation.
'Howcouldyou!'Iwhispered.
Notwithstandingherself-control,afaintblushcameoverherface.IstoodlookingatherforalittlewhileandthenIturnedaway.Shewasquiteheartless.IlefttheMoratiniandwalkedoutintothetown.Thislastinterviewhadhelpedmeinsofarthatitmadecertainthatmylovewashopeless.Istoodstillandstampedontheground,vowingIwouldnotloveher.Iwouldputherawayfrommythoughtsentirelyshewasacontemptible,viciouswoman,andIwastooproudtobesubjecttoher.IwonderedIdidnotkillher.ImadeupmymindtotakemycourageinbothhandsandleaveForli.Onceaway,Ishouldfindmyselfattractedtodifferentmatters,andprobablyIshouldnotlivelongbeforefindingsomeotherwomantotakeGiulia'splace.ShewasnottheonlywomaninItalyshewasnotthemostbeautifulnorthecleverest.GivemeamonthandIcouldlaughatmytorments....
ThesameeveningItoldMatteoImeanttoleaveForli.
'Why?'heaskedinastonishment.
'Ihavebeenhereseveralweeks,'Ianswered'Idon'twanttooutstaymywelcome.'
'Thatisrubbish.YouknowIshouldbeonlytoogladforyoutostayhereallyourlife.'
'Thatisverykindofyou,'Ireplied,withalaugh,'buttheestablishmentisnotyours.'
'Thatmakesnodifference.Besides,Checcohasbecomeveryfondofyou,andI'msurehewishesyoutostay.'
'Ofcourse,IknowyourhospitalityisquiteunlimitedbutIambeginningtowanttogetbacktoCittàdiCastello.'
'Why?'askedMatteo,doubtfully.
'Onelikestoreturntoone'snativeplace.'
'YouhavebeenawayfromCastellofortenyearsyoucannotbeinanyparticularhurrytogetback.'
IwasbeginningtoprotestwhenCheccocamein,andMatteointerruptedmewith,—
'Listen,Checco,Filipposayshewantstoleaveus.'
'Buthesha'n't,'saidChecco,lau