I can assure you, Signora, nothing would be more contrary to my own feelings than to do any such violence to yours.

Indeed I may say--" "Yes, yes! I think I understand all about it, Signor Ludovico.

Might it not be possible to find means of pleasing all parties in this matter, if only all parties understood each other, Signor Ludovico ?" She dropped her voice almost to a whisper as she said these last words, with a rapid furtive glance at his face.
"And now," she added, speaking in a louder tone, "we had better give our minds to the present scene of the farce, and perform the opening quadrille, as is expected of us!" "I am truly sorry, Signora, that you should be called upon to do this sort of thing, when you are so unwell, as to make it even more disagreeable than it might be to you otherwise.

But believe me," continued he, speaking in a low voice, and with an emphasis that indicated that his words had reference rather to what she had spoken to him in a similar tone than to the words of his own which had immediately preceded them,--"believe me that it is my wish to meet your wishes in all respects." There was a jesuitism in this speech, which did not recommend it or its speaker to the Contessa Violante.

She would have been far better pleased by a more open reply to the confidence which she had half offered.