He was not in the least sorry for having spoken, but his anger increased against the unknown man. She had evidently dreamt of him at one time or another, as she used to dream of himself.
"You have such an extraordinary talent for dreaming," he said, "that the question seemed quite natural. I daresay you have seen Guido in your visions, too, when you believed that you cared for him!"
"Never!" Cecilia could hardly speak just then.
"Poor Guido! that was a natural question too. Since you used to see a mere acquaintance, like myself, and fancy that you were—"
"Stop!"
"—that you were talking familiarly with him," continued Lamberti unmoved, "it would hardly be strange that you should often have seen Guido d'Este in the same way, while you thought you loved him, and it is stranger that you should not now dream about a man you really love—if you do!"
"I say that you have no right to talk in this way," said Cecilia.
"I have the right to say a great many things," Lamberti answered. "I have the right to reproach you—"
"You said that you believed me honest and true."
The words checked his angry mood suddenly. He passed his hand over his eyes and changed his position.