He spoke with a sort of grave and almost child-like conviction.
"I shall remember everything you say to-day," he added, after a moment's pause.
"I hope not!" exclaimed Veronica. "I sometimes say very foolish things, not at all worth remembering, I assure you."
"But what you say is worth everything to me," he said, with another sudden blush, and a quick glance, while his hands twitched.
He was painfully shy and embarrassed, and was producing anything but a favourable impression upon Veronica. She was sorry for him, indeed, in a superior sort of fashion, but she thought of Taquisara's bold eyes and strong face, and of Bosio Macomer's quiet and refined assurance of manner, and Gianluca seemed to her slightly ridiculous. It was in her blood, and she could not help it. Some of her people had been bad, and some good, but most of them had been strong, and she liked strength, as a natural consequence. Moreover, she had not enough experience of the world to put Gianluca at his ease; and a sort of girlish feeling that she must not encourage him to say too much made her answer in such a way as to throw him off his track.
"It is very kind of you to say so," she answered lightly. "But I am sure I do not recollect ever saying anything important enough for you to remember. Take what we are saying now, for instance—"
"I shall know it all, when you are gone," interrupted Gianluca, harking back again. "Indeed—I hope you will not think me rude or presumptuous—but I thought that perhaps I might meet you here—if I came often, I mean; for Taquisara—"
"Oh yes," said Veronica, as he hesitated. "I met Baron Taquisara here yesterday. I daresay that he told you so."
As his embarrassment had increased, hers had completely disappeared—which was a bad sign for him and his hopes.
"Yes—yes. He told me—"