tulatemygoodMatteoonanyintellectualachievements,butthefameofhisamoursgaveherasubjectonwhichshecouldplayfullyreproachhim.Shedemandeddetails,andIleftherlisteningintentlytosomehistorywhichMatteowaswhisperinginherearandIknewhewasnotparticularinwhathesaid.
Ifeltinpeculiarlyhighspirits,andIlookedaboutforsomeoneonwhomtoventmygoodhumour.IcaughtsightofGiulia.IhadseenheronceortwicesincemyreturntoForli,buthadneverspokentoher.NowIfeltsureofmyselfIknewIdidnotcaretwostrawsforher,butIthoughtitwouldpleasemetohavealittlerevenge.Ilookedatheramoment.ImadeupmymindIwenttoherandbowedmostceremoniously.
'DonnaGiulia,beholdthemoth!'Ihadusedthesimilebefore,butnottoher,soitdidnotmatter.
Shelookedatmeundecidedly,notquiteknowinghowtotakeme.
'MayIofferyoumyarm,'IsaidasblandlyasIcould.
Shesmiledalittleawkwardlyandtookit.
'HowbeautifultheCountessisto-night!'Isaid.'Everyonewillfallinlovewithher.'IknewshehatedCaterina,asentimentwhichthegreatladyreturnedwithvigour.'IwouldnotdaresayittoanotherbutIknowyouareneverjealous:sheisindeedlikethemoonamongthestars.'
'Theideadoesnotseemtoonew,'shesaidcoldly.
'Itisallthemorecomprehensible.Iamthinkingofwritingasonnetonthetheme.'
'IimaginedithadbeendonebeforebuttheladiesofForliwilldoubtlessbegratefultoyou.'
ShewasgettingcrossandIknewbyexperiencethatwhenshewascrossshealwayswantedtocry.
'Iamafraidyouareangrywithme,'Isaid.
'No,itisyouwhoareangrywithme,'sheansweredrathertearfully.
'I?Whyshouldyouthinkthat?'
'Youhavenotforgivenmefor—'
IwonderedwhethertheconscientiousGiorgiohadhadanotherattackofmoralityandriddenoffintothecountry.
'Mydearlady,'Isaid,withalittlelaugh,'IassureyouthatIhaveforgivenyouentirely.Afterall,itwasnotsuchaveryseriousmatter.'
'No?'Shelookedatmewithalittlesurprise.
Ishruggedmyshoulders.
'Youwerequiterightinwhatyoudid.Thosethingshavetofinishsometimeorother,anditreal