‘Has he taken money?’ she asked after a moment.
‘That is the question. So far we cannot find anything wrong with his books nor at the bank. But then he is so very “intelligent,” you know!’
He laughed a little as he reminded his wife of their conversation at Montalto. It was evident that he did not anticipate any heavy loss.
‘He was always a modest young man,’ he continued. ‘I hope he has not taken more than a modest sum!’
He laughed again, at his own little joke, as slow people do, and Maria laughed too, though rather nervously.
‘I should be very sorry if the mistake I made about him caused you any annoyance,’ she said.
‘Chiefly the trouble of finding a good man to take his place,’ Montalto said. ‘The lawyer is waiting, my dear.’
He laid his hands on her shoulders before going away and looked into her eyes. She knew he was going to kiss her, and on any other day she might have smiled and turned away to hide the intense repugnance she felt for him. But that was impossible now; she must not even let her lids droop, as if she did not wish to meet his gaze frankly. Many months ago, Ippolito Saracinesca had told her that in this world it is not enough to do right, but one must also be seen to be doing right. If her eyes had wavered just then, if she had shrunk from her husband’s kiss, there was just one possibility that a doubt of her truth might sooner or later creep out of some hiding-place in his memory to accuse her.
But Maria was a woman, and women have quick ways which we do not anticipate. Instead of waiting, with her eyes in his, for him to bend down and kiss her, she put up her hands suddenly to draw his face to hers, and kissed him heartily on both cheeks; to his infinite delight, and not, we may hope, to the detriment of her truthfulness, her recent resolution, or her good faith in any way. For no one can be held responsible for a physical aversion. Many persons really suffer if a cat is in the room, and almost faint if the creature accidentally brushes against them. If any of them read these lines, they will understand, for that is what Maria felt for the man who was her husband, and who loved her almost to folly.