"How can I help watching you, as the earth watches the sun in its daily course?" said Ugo, with a sentimental intonation of his soft persuasive voice. Donna Tullia looked at his smooth face, and laughed again, half kindly.
"The Astrardente had been confessing her sins," she remarked.
"Again? She is always confessing."
"What do you suppose she finds to say?" asked Donna Tullia.
"That her husband is hideous, and that you are beautiful," answered Del
Ferice, readily enough.
"Why?"
"Because she hates her husband and hates you."
"Why, again?"
"Because you took Giovanni Saracinesca to your picnic yesterday; because you are always taking him away from her. For the matter of that, I hate him as much as the Astrardente hates you," added Del Ferice, with an agreeable smile. Donna Tullia did not despise flattery, but Ugo made her thoughtful.
"Do you think she really cares—?" she asked.