The lofty superciliousness of the British nobleman seemed to Girasole to be the natural result of his position, and it seemed the attitude of the successful lover toward the rejected suitor.
The other discovery was that Minnie herself was more pleased with the attentions of the English lord than with his own.

This was now evident, and he could not help perceiving that his difficulties were far more formidable from the presence of such a rival.
But Girasole was not easily daunted.

In the first place, he had unbounded confidence in his own fascinations; in the second place, he believed that he had a claim on Minnie that no other could equal, in the fact that he had saved her life; in the third place, apart from the question of love, he believed her to be a prize of no common value, whose English gold would be welcome indeed to his Italian need and greed; while, finally, the bitter hate with which Lord Hawbury had inspired him gave an additional zest to the pursuit, and made him follow after Minnie with fresh ardor.
Once or twice after this he called upon them.

On the first occasion only Lady Dalrymple was visible.

On the second, none of the ladies were at home.