He wondered whether Vittoria, growing intimate with the American girl, had spoken of him.
'Your position cannot be half so hard as mine.'
Mrs. Slayback spoke with a conviction which reassured him, and he merely bent his head a little, as though assenting to what she said.
'It is clear,' she continued, 'that since you know that Don Tebaldo has sworn to this evidence, while you yourself, on your brother's word, are willing to swear to the contrary, you believe that Don Tebaldo is deliberately perjuring himself. That is perfectly clear, is it not?'
Orsino said nothing, but he could hardly keep from smiling a little at her directness.
'Very well,' she went on; 'should you allow your niece, or your sister, or anyone belonging to you, to marry a man who has deliberately perjured himself?'
'You are perfectly logical,' said Orsino.
'Oh, perfectly! I always was thought so, in my family. And now that you have helped me so far, for which I am really very grateful, can you tell me whether Don Tebaldo is coming back to Rome at once?'
'I am sorry, but I know nothing of his movements. I believe you know his sister, Donna Vittoria, very well, do you not? I should think she might be able to tell you. His mother is very ill, poor lady.'