estingamoment,fromCheccotome,frommetoMatteo,andontohiswife,andthenonagain,withextraordinaryrapidity—itwasquiteterrifying.
'OnewouldthinkyouwereafraidofleavingCheccoinourhands,'saidtheCountess,smiling.
'No,'returnedMatteo'butIlookforwardtohavingsomeofyourattentionnowthatCheccoisotherwiseoccupied.Willyouletmelanguish?'
Shelaughed,andarapidglancepassedbetweenherandtheCount.
'Ishallbeonlytoopleased,'shesaid,'comeandsitbyme,oneoneachside.'
TheCountturnedtoErcole.
'Well,good-night,myfriend,'hesaid.'Good-night!'
Ercoleleftus,andGirolamo,takingChecco'sarm,walkedupanddowntheroom,speaking.TheCountessandMatteocommencedagayconversation.AlthoughIwasclosetothemIwasleftalone,andIwatchedtheCount.Hiseyesfascinatedme,movingceaselessly.Whatcouldbebehindthem?Whatcouldbetheman'sthoughtsthathiseyesshouldneverrest?Theyenvelopedthepersontheylookedat—hishead,everyfeatureofhisface,hisbody,hisclothesoneimaginedtherewasnodetailtheyhadnotcaughtitwasasiftheyateintotheverysouloftheman.
Thetwomentrampedupanddown,talkingearnestlyIwonderedwhattheyweresaying.AtlastGirolamostopped.
'Ah,well,ImusthavemercyonyouIshalltireyoutodeath.AndyouknowIdonotwishtodoanythingtoharmyou.'
Checcosmiled.
'Whateverdifficultytherehasbeenbetweenus,Checco,youknowthattherehasneveronmypartbeenanyill-feelingtowardsyou.Ihavealwayshadforyouaverysincereandaffectionatefriendship.'
Andashesaidthewordsanextraordinarychangecameoverhim.Theeyes,themobileeyes,stoppedstillatlastforthefirsttimeIsawthemperfectlysteady,motionless,likeglasstheylookedfixedlyintoChecco'seyes,withoutwinking,andtheirimmobilitywasasstrangeastheirperpetualmovement,andtomeitwasmoreterrifying.ItwasasifGirolamowastryingtoseehisownimageinChecco'ssoul.
Webadethemfarewell,andtogetherissuedoutintothesilenceofthenightandIfeltthatbehindusthemotionlesseyes,likeglass,werefollowingusintothedarkness.