If you go now to see Hedwig's father, Benoni will be present at the interview." Nino was silent, and sat stretching his legs before him, his head on his breast.

"Benoni," I continued, "has made up his mind to succeed.

He has probably taken this fancy into his head out of pure wickedness.

Perhaps he is bored, and really wants a wife.

But I believe he is a man who delights in cruelty, and would as lief break the contessina's heart by getting rid of you as by marrying her." I saw that he was not listening.
"I have an idea," he said at last.