When the Marchesa was caught in a mistake she always talked straight on as if nothing had happened.
"And it will be a heavy score," said she.
"But it must be settled first!" Franco insisted.
"Because," the formidable old woman continued, "a good Christian is in duty bound to obey his father and his mother, and I represent both your father and your mother."
If the one was obstinate, the other was no less so.
"But God comes first!" said he.
The Marchesa rang the bell and closed the conversation thus—
"Now we understand each other perfectly."
When Carlotta entered she rose from the sofa, and said, placidly—
"Good-night."