He turned his brown eyes full to hers.
‘Yes,’ he said, without hesitation. ‘I do know something, and more than a little.’
She was surprised, and looked at him with an expression of inquiry.
‘I have always known your husband very well,’ he said. ‘He wrote to me for advice when there was trouble between you. I was in the Maremma then.’
‘And it was you who advised him to leave me! Ah, I did not know!’
Maria drew back a little proudly, expecting him to admit the imputation.
‘No,’ answered Don Ippolito. ‘I did not, but he thought it wiser not to take the advice I gave him.’
Maria’s expression changed again.
‘Do you know who was—who—was the cause of his going away?’
‘Yes. I am afraid every one knows that. It was Baldassare del Castiglione, and he is in Rome again.’