"To Del Ferice?" Corona started and looked round at Giovanni as she sat. She had a sudden vision of new trouble.
"Yes. Why not? I will go to him and tell him that I would rather wind up my son's business with him, as our former relations were not of a nature to make transactions of mutual profit either fitting or even permissible between any of our family and Ugo Del Ferice."
"For Heaven's sake, Giovanni, do not do that."
"And why not?" He was surprised at her evident distress.
"For my sake, then—do not quarrel with Del Ferice—it was different then, in the old days. I could not bear it now—" she stopped, and her lower lip trembled a little.
"Do you love me better than you did then, Corona?"
"So much better—I cannot tell you."
She touched his hand with hers and her dark eyes were a little veiled as they met his. Both were silent for a moment.
"I have no intention of quarrelling with Del Ferice, dear," said Giovanni, gently.
His face had grown a shade paler as she spoke. The power of her hand and voice to move him, had not diminished in all the years of peaceful happiness that had passed so quickly.