"By to-morrow at midday something will be decided." They shook hands and parted, Bosio turning eastward in the direction of his home.

The priest absently tried to insert the key in the lock of the door, while his eyes followed his friend to the corner of the street.
Then, as Bosio's still graceful figure disappeared, he turned from the keyhole with a sigh, and let himself in.
Bosio walked rapidly at first, and then more slowly as he came nearer to the old quarter in which the Palazzo Macomer was situated.

As with all men of such character, his irresolution increased just when he fancied that he was about to do something decisive.

He would not have hesitated in the same way, if he had been called upon to face a physical danger; for though he was certainly no hero, he was by no means a physical coward, and in a quarrel he would have stood up bravely enough to face his antagonist.

But this was very different.