'That astrologer,' she said, 'do you remember him? Why has he never come again?'
Omobono promised to send for him the very next day. After that there was silence for a while, and the skiff slipped along upstream, till the secretary spoke again, to correct what he had last said.
'He had better not come to-morrow. I will tell him to come the next morning.'
'Why?' Zoë asked, in some surprise.
'To-morrow,' said Omobono, 'Messer Sebastian Polo comes to dine with the master. There will be confusion in the house.'
'Confusion, because one guest comes to dinner?' Zoë spoke incredulously.
'I believe,' said Omobono rather timidly, 'that he will not be the only guest.'
'He brings his daughter with him, then?' Zoë felt that she changed colour under her veil.
'I do not know,' the secretary said smoothly; 'but there will be several guests.'
Zoë turned towards him impatiently.