So did Lamberti, and it flashed upon him that this meeting was the first step in an attempt to marry his friend to Cecilia Palladio. The girl was probably an heiress, and Guido's aunt saw a possibility of recovering through her the money she had lost in speculations.
This explanation did not occur to Guido, simply because he was bored and was already thinking of an excuse for getting away after staying as short a time as possible.
"I hope you will come," said Cecilia, rather unexpectedly.
"Of course he will," the Princess answered for him, in an encouraging tone.
"The villa is really very pretty," continued the young girl.
"Let me see," said Guido, who liked her voice as soon as she spoke, "the Villa Palladio—I do not quite remember where it is."
"It used to be the Villa Madama," explained Monsieur Leroy. "I have always wondered who the 'Madama' was, after whom it was called. It seems such a foolish name."
The Princess looked displeased, and bit her lip a little.
"I think," said Guido, as if suggesting a possibility, rather than stating a fact, "that she was a daughter of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, who was Duchess of Parma."
"Of course, of course!" cried Monsieur Leroy, eagerly assenting, "I had forgotten!"