ed,'heanswered.
'ButIamnotnow,'shereplied,smiling.
'ThemomentIsawyoufreeIcametoyou.'
'Tosaygood-bye.'
'Itisverylate.'
'No,surelysitdownandtalktome.'
Checcodidashewasbid,andI,seeinghemeanttostaylonger,saunteredoffagaininsearchoffriends.TheconversationbetweenCheccoandtheCountesswasratherhinderedbythecontinualleave-takings,asthepeoplebegantogoawayrapidly,ingroups.IsatmyselfdowninawindowwithMatteo,andwebegancomparingnotesofoureveninghetoldmeofanewlovetowhomhehaddiscoveredhispassionforthefirsttime.
'Fairwind,foulwind?'Iasked,laughing.
'Shepretendedtobeveryangry,'hesaid,'butsheallowedmetoseethatiftheworstcametotheworstshewouldnotpermitmetobreakmyheart.'
Ilookedoutintotheroomandfoundthateveryonehadgone,exceptErcolePiacentini,whowastalkingtotheCountinundertones.
'Iamgettingsosleepy,'saidMatteo.WewentforwardtotheCountess,whosaid,asshesawuscome,—
'Goaway,Matteo!IwillnothaveyoudragCheccoawayyetwehavebeentryingtotalktooneanotherforthelasthalf-hour,andnowthatwehavethechanceatlastIrefusetobedisturbed.'
'IwouldnotforworldsrobCheccoofsuchpleasure,'saidMatteoaddingtome,asweretiredtoourwindow,'Whatanuisancehavingtowaitforone'scousinwhileaprettywomanisflirtingwithhim!'
'Youhavemetotalkto—whatmorecanyouwant!'
'Idon'twanttotalktoyouatall,'heanswered,laughing.
GirolamowasstillwithErcole.Hismobileeyesweremovingovertheroom,hardlyeverrestingonErcole'sface,butsometimesonus,moreoftenonChecco.Iwonderedwhetherhewasjealous.
AtlastCheccogotupandsaidGood-night.ThenGirolamocameforward.
'Youarenotgoingyet,'hesaid.'Iwanttospeakwithyouonthesubjectofthosetaxes.'
Itwasthefirsttimehehadmentionedthem.
'Itisgettingsolate,'saidChecco,'andthesegoodgentlemenaretired.'
'Theycangohome.Really,itisveryurgent.'
Checcohesitated,andlookedatus.
'Wewillwaitforyou,'saidMatteo.
Girolamo'seyesmovedabouthereandthere,neverr