The princess watched his face demurely with half-closed eyes at each sting the insects gave him; and when they had fled, had her doors closed against every one of them for their pains.
The next day Gerard found her alone: cold and silent. After standing to him so some time, she said, “You treated my company with less respect than became you.”
“Did I, Signora?”
“Did you? you fired up at the comments they did you the honour to make on your work.”
“Nay, I said nought,” observed Gerard.
“Oh, high looks speak as plain as high words. Your cheeks were red as blood.”
“I was nettled a moment at seeing so much ignorance and ill-nature together.”
“Now it is me, their hostess, you affront.”
“Forgive me, Signora, and acquit me of design. It would ill become me to affront the kindest patron and friend I have in Rome but one.”
“How humble we are all of a sudden. In sooth, Ser Gerardo, you are a capital feigner. You can insult or truckle at will.”