"He will be rich some day. Is he poor now?"
"No. Not at all."
"And she certainly likes him very much. It would be a very good match for her."
"Admirable. But I do not think we need trouble ourselves with such speculations, since she is going to leave us so soon."
"I shall always take a friendly interest in her," said the Baroness, "wherever she may be."
"Very well, my dear," Volterra answered, dropping the end of his cigar and preparing to rise. "That will be very charitable of you. But your friendly interest can never marry her to Malipieri."
"Perhaps not. But it might have been done, if she had not been so foolish."
"No," said the Baron, getting to his feet, "it never could have been done."
"Why not?" asked his wife, surprised by the decision of his tone.
"Because there is a very good reason why Malipieri cannot marry her, my dear."