She quickly turned her startled eyes to him, and her lips parted, but she said nothing.

He raised his face and met her look as he went on.
"Last night, his father was at your house, and he was told that there was no hope, because you were betrothed to Count Bosio Macomer." "They told him that ?" asked Veronica, quickly, and the colour mounted a third time in her cheeks.

"But it is not true!" she added; and her eyes set themselves sharply, for she was angry.
"No," said Taquisara, "I know that it is not quite true, for I have been to see Count Bosio.

I was there half an hour ago." "You have quarrelled ?" asked Veronica, in sudden anxiety.
"Quarrelled?
no.

Why should we quarrel?
He gave me to understand that nothing was settled.