At length Olivo turned to him with a soothing air; the Ricardis, too, drew near; and the Abbate appeared to be working himself up for a speech. But a sort of shiver passed over Lorenzi’s frame. Automatically but insistently he silently indicated his rejection of any offers at intervention. Then, with a polite inclination of the head, he quietly left the room.
Casanova, who had meanwhile wrapped up the money in a silken kerchief, instantly followed. Without looking at the others’ faces, he could feel that they were convinced it was his instant intention to do what they had all the while been expecting, namely, to place his winnings at Lorenzi’s disposal.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Casanova overtook Lorenzi in the chestnut avenue. Speaking lightly, he said: “May I have the pleasure of accompanying you on your walk, Lieutenant Lorenzi?”
Lorenzi, without looking at him, answered in an arrogant tone which seemed hardly in keeping with his situation: “As you please, Chevalier; but I am afraid you will not find me an amusing companion.”
“Perhaps, Lieutenant, you will on the other hand find me an entertaining companion. If you have no objection, let us take the path through the vineyard, where our conversation will be undisturbed.”
They turned aside from the high-road into the narrow footway running beside the garden wall, along which Casanova had walked with Olivo on the previous day.
“You are right in supposing,” began Casanova, “that I have it in mind to offer you the sum of money which you owe to the Marchese. Not as a loan. That, if you will excuse my saying so, seems to me rather too risky a venture. I could let you have it as a slight return for a service which I think you may be able to do me.”
“Go on,” said Lorenzi coldly.