"Yes, sir. You came on your bridal tour. Is not your wife at Como?"
"I hope so. I believe so; I certainly expected to see her here."
He was smiling very proudly just then, but beginning to suspect that he had tortured her cruelly by the tacit imposture to which he had assented, his eyes dimmed at the thought of her suffering.
She misinterpreted the smile, and quickly rallied.
"Mr. Palma, I hope you brought Llora also with you?"
"No. Why should I? She is much better off at home with her mother."
"But, sir, I thought—I understood——"
She caught her breath, and a perplexed expression came into her wistful deep eyes, as she met those, fixed laughingly upon her.
"You thought, you understood what? That after living single all these years, I am at last foolish enough to want a wife? One to kiss, to hold in my arms, to love even better than I love myself? Well, what then? I do not deny it."
"And I hope, Mr. Palma, that she will make you very happy."