"Ah!" the lawyer exclaimed, "Demosthenes himself could not have praised Cavour with greater efficacy."
Franco's eyes were filling with tears. "I am a fool!" he said. "I don't know what to say!"
Pedraglio asked Luisa where the deuce she had hidden the bottle. Luisa smiled and went out, returning again immediately with the wine and glasses.
"Count Cavour!" said Pedraglio in a low tone. All raised their glasses repeating: "Count Cavour!" Then they drank, even Luisa, who never took wine.
Pedraglio refilled the glasses and again rose to his feet.
The three others sprang up, clutching their glasses in silence, too deeply moved to speak.
"We must all go!" said Pedraglio.
"All!" Franco repeated. Luisa kissed him impetuously on the shoulder. Her husband seized her head in both hands, and imprinted a kiss upon her hair.
One of the windows towards the lake was open. In the silence that followed the kiss, they heard the measured dip of oars.