"Tell the servant," said Giovanni, sternly, "that I am much obliged for the kind inquiry, that I am perfectly well, and that you have just seen me eating my breakfast."
Pasquale bowed and left the room.
"I suppose you do not want her to know—" said the Prince, who had suddenly recovered his gravity.
Giovanni bowed his head silently.
"Quite right, my boy," said the old man, gravely. "I do not want to know anything about it either. How the devil could they have found out?"
The question was addressed more to himself than to his son, and the latter volunteered no answer. He was grateful to his father for his considerate silence.
CHAPTER XIII.
When Astrardente saw the elder Saracinesca's face during his short interview with the diplomatist, his curiosity was immediately aroused. He perceived that there was something the matter, and he proceeded to try and ascertain the circumstances from his acquaintance. The ambassador returned to his pâté and his champagne with an air of amused interest, but vouchsafed no information whatever.
"What a singularly amusing fellow old Saracinesca is!" remarked
Astrardente.
"When he likes to be," returned his Excellency, with his mouth full.