But I am sincerely devoted to Gianluca, and if you were a total stranger to me, I should come to you as I have come now." "And if I refuse to answer your question, Baron Taquisara--what then ?" "As the answer--yes or no--cannot possibly involve anything in the slightest degree indelicate, I shall of course infer that you have no answer to give, and that the matter is not yet really settled." Bosio's eyebrows contracted spasmodically, and his white hand stroked his silky beard, while his eyes turned quickly from his guest and looked down at the carpet.

In two passes, as though they had been fencing together, this singularly direct man had thrust him to the wall, and was forcing him to make a decision.

Of course it was still in his power to answer in one way or the other, though he was yet undecided.

But he honestly could not bring himself to say that he would marry Veronica, and yet, if he denied that he was betrothed to her, he must put his brother and Matilde in the position of having told a deliberate lie to Gianluca's father.

He felt that he was growing confused, and that his hesitation and confusion were every moment making it clearer to Taquisara that the betrothal was by no means as yet a fact.