Sophy thought this over. She felt that she could not refuse, and yet she hesitated. But she knew that Barti had returned. She was sure that it was about the divorce that Amaldi wished to talk with her. What had Barti said? Was the divorce in Switzerland impossible, after all? And as this doubt came to her she knew for the first time how much she really loved Amaldi. The dreadful sinking of her heart when she faced the thought that he might not be able to get free made her decide at once to go with him the next day. And she would not take Bobby with her this time. He was all agog over a lesson in rowing that Lorenzo, the first gondoliere, was to give him to-morrow. She would keep him with her until she and Amaldi started at twelve o'clock; then he and Rosa could spend the afternoon with Lorenzo.
She sent word to Amaldi by the messenger who brought his note that she would be ready to go with him next day at noon.
He did not tell her of what Barti had said, and she did not ask him until they were alone in the garden of Villa Rosalia.
When he told her about the possible alternative of Hungary, she gave a cry of pain.
"I can't bear it.... I can't bear it that you should make such sacrifices!..." she stammered.
"When a man loves as I love you, there aren't any sacrifices," said Amaldi.
"Ah, don't talk that way!" she urged. "As if I didn't know what it all means to you...."
"I doubt if you know what you mean to me ... quite," he answered.
The smothered passion and sorrow in his voice shook her to the heart. She tried to speak, and began to cry.
"Forgive me ... forgive me!" she sobbed. "I used to be so proud of not crying. It's the tragedy of it all.... Our love is such a tragedy!..."