Ninuccio dear, listen: you mustwrite and tell me
everything, always.
It must be good for one, aride in the country at
this time of night.
All the people who came to Robertoshouse? What has
destroyed it is the servility that I discover ineveryone. You see, my dear fellow,
what are our unpardonable faults? Theremight have been something in it; who could
say?
I had it in bed with me all last night, in my
arms.
Was there not already an agreement, asecret pact
between them? Flaminio Salvo shook his head and laughed:You too, you
too.
Aurelio at once protested, starting back. Herewe
have another spectacle, more sickening still.
It must be good for one, aride in the country at
this time of night.
But he clasped her again, more ardent; quivering
more than ever; hewanted her lips again.
Oh Girgenti,disgrace to Sicily and to
humanity!
END OF PART IVOLUME IIPART IICHAPTER IMIDNIGHT,
YOUR EXCELLENCY. He would reply with a shrug of the shoulders. Had they not somesuch
understanding already?
I expected it, he said, caressing his
side-whiskers. I expected it, he said, caressing his side-whiskers.
What afine colour youve brought back with,
you!
Oh Girgenti,disgrace to Sicily and to humanity! But
he preferred, so long as he was there, to keep his secret. I had it in bed with me
all last night, in my arms.
And she had refused even to discuss
thesuggestion.
Aurelio at once protested, starting
back.
Or was itperhaps she that had rebelled against
him?
Thatunkempt, angular youth was not formed,
certainly, to attract anybodysconfidence. Had he not given him hisstepdaughters hand
in marriage?
You will see Ninuccio again, her mother said to her
gently. And she had refused even to discuss thesuggestion.
You live in Romeand neither hear nor see. Had he
wished to banish her too from his house?
She was a teacher of singing, the wife of a tenor
who had lost hisvoice, Robertos mistress. There is a reason, a reason that ispainful
to others besides yourself!
And to have the whole family under one
roof.
When I die, and Nino is grown up, you can go
withhim.
The peoplewho have, to-day, are worse ruined than
those who have not!