‘What glory?’ inquired Maria, watching the small boy’s flashing eyes.
‘They kill the enemies of Italy,’ he answered. ‘That’s glory!’
He turned to look through the blinds again, doubtless in the hope of seeing more soldiers.
‘Your son certainly has a warlike disposition, my dear,’ laughed Giuliana.
But Maria did not laugh; on the contrary, she looked rather grave.
‘All boys want to be soldiers,’ she answered. ‘I’m sure yours do, too!’
‘No,’ said Giuliana, rising. ‘My boys are almost too peaceable! I sometimes wish they had more of Leone’s spirit!’
Maria looked at her thoughtfully, thinking at first of what she had said, but suddenly realised that she had left her seat.
‘You are not going already?’ Maria cried in real anxiety.
‘Yes, dear, I must. It’s a quarter past two, and I have to allow five minutes for driving to the Quirinal.’