Noemi told her these things.

The accusations concerning the presumed love affairs of Piero at Jenne were not credited, but on the other hand there were many who believed he had secret relations with a married woman in Rome, with whose name, however, no one was acquainted.
It was not believed that these relations were of the guilty nature implied by the slanderers.

The most faithful--and they were few in number, did not even credit the existence of an ideal bond.

Once when Noemi was relating to Jeanne certain defections, certain acts of coldness, she suddenly burst into tears.

Jeanne shuddered and frowned; but presently she saw in her friend's eyes a look so full of despair, of supplication, that, passing from angry jealousy to an impulse of unheard of affection, she opened her arms to her, and clasped her to her heart.
This had happened on the Friday evening the last of the three days by the end of which Maironi was to leave Rome.