'Perhaps not——'
'Or that the master would wilfully deceive Polo and the girl?'
'What are you saying?'
'Simply that Thominus Carolus is going to marry Thomna Justina.'
'But I tell you——'
'Either you are very simple, or you think I am,' interrupted Zoë, with crushing logic. 'Which shall it be, Master Secretary?'
Omobono thought her a terrible young person just then. He spread out his hands and looked up to the ceiling in despair, but still protesting.
'And meanwhile,' she continued, 'what is the master going to do with me? Am I to be locked up here for ever?'
If anything could further disturb Omobono's equanimity it was this question. His gentle temper was beginning to be ruffled.
'How can I tell?' he asked. 'He will do what he thinks best! Ask him yourself!'