"For your sake, I will do all that a man can do to avoid a quarrel," he said earnestly.
"I know you will," she answered.
During a few moments there was silence between them, and Maddalena recovered control of herself.
"That is the true reason why I ask you," she said. "There are plenty of others which you may care for more than I. You would not care to have it said that you were fighting her battles. Will you promise not to be angry if I tell you something you will not like—something I know positively?"
"Yes. I promise. What is it?"
"People are beginning to say already that you are making love to her, and that you are always at the house."
"The brutes!" exclaimed Ghisleri, fiercely. "Who says that?"
"The women, of course. The men are much too sensible, and none of them care to quarrel with you."
"Oh!" Pietro contented himself with the exclamation, and controlled his anger as best he could.
"Was I wrong to tell you?" asked Maddalena.