Therewasaknockatthedoor.Westoppedandlistenedtheknockwasrepeated,andasnoanswerwasgiven,thelatchwasraisedandthedooropened.Aservant-maidwalkedinandcarefullycloseditbehindher.IrecognisedheratonceitwasGiulia'smaid.Ishrankback,andAndreastoodinfrontofme.Hismotherwentforward.
'Andpray,madam,whatcanIdoforyou?'
Themaiddidnotanswer,butsteppedpasther.
'Thereisaserving-manhereforwhomIhaveamessage.'
Shecamestraighttowardsme,andhandedmeapieceofpaperthen,withoutanotherword,slidbacktothedoorandslippedout.
Thenotecontainedfourwords,'Cometometo-night,'andthehandwritingwasGiulia's.AstrangefeelingcameovermeasIlookedatit,andmyhandtrembledalittle....ThenIbeganpondering.Whydidshewantme?Icouldnotthink,anditoccurredtomethatperhapsshewishedtogivemeuptotheCountess.Iknewshehatedme,butIcouldnotthinkherasvileasthatafterall,shewasherfather'sdaughter,andBartolomeowasagentleman.Andrealookedatmequestioningly.
'Itisaninvitationfrommygreatestenemytoputmyselfinherhands.'
'Butyouwillnot?'
'Yes,'Isaid,'Iwill.'
'Why?'
'Becauseitisawoman.'
'Butdoyouthinkshewouldbetrayyou?'
'Shemight.'
'Andyouaregoingtotaketherisk?'
'IthinkIshouldbegladtoprovehersoutterlyworthless.'
Andrealookedatmeopen-mouthedhecouldnotunderstand.Anideastruckhim.
'Areyouinlovewithher?'
'NoIwas.'
'Andnow?'
'Now,Idonotevenhateher.'