ittlesilverylaugh.Ithoughtitforced.
'Youhaveaforgivingspirit,dearfriend,'shesaid,accentingthelastwordinrecollectionofwhatIhadsaidtoher.'AtrulyChristiandisposition!'
'Why?'Iasked,smiling.
'IadmirethewayinwhichyouhaveforgivenErcolefortheinsultshehasofferedyouonedoesnotoftenfindagentlemanwhosocharitablyturnshisothercheektothesmiter!'
Ilaughedwithinmyselfshewastryingtobeevenwithme.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.'
'Youhavebeensooccupi