"I am an artist as you are a princess."
"What does that mean?"
"I was born to be an artist, but am not one, as you were born to be a princess and yet are not one."
"What a mad notion!"
She did not say it angrily, but rather in a tone as if she agreed with him, which did not escape the sharp ear of the Italian.
"You know it yourself," he said.
She made no answer, but went on working, though without much spirit.
"She has called me to say something to me," said Antonio to himself.
"Where were you last night, Antonio?" she asked after a pause.
"At my club, signora."