With him she felt humble.
"I have been requested to ask you," she began, "whether you know anything about a person with whom you must have been intimately acquainted, whom, I believe, you also loved very dearly?
I am not sure I pronounce the name correctly, I am not an Italian.

It is Don Giuseppe Flores." Benedetto started.

He had not expected this.
"No!" he exclaimed anxiously, "I know nothing." Nomei gazed at him a moment in silence.

Before continuing she would have liked to ask his forgiveness for the pain she was about to cause him.
She said sadly and in a low tone: "Some one has written to me to tell you that he is no longer of this world." Benedetto bowed his head, and hid his face in his hands.

Don Giuseppe, dear Don Giuseppe; dear, great, pure soul; dear luminous brow, dear eyes, full of God, dear, kind voice! Softly came two tears, which Noemi did not see; then he heard Don Giuseppe's voice saying within him, "Do you not feel that I am here, that I am with you, that I am in your heart ?" After a long silence Noemi said softly: "Forgive me! I am sorry I was obliged to cause you so much pain." Benedetto raised his head.
"Pain, and still not pain," said he.