I told him that I had intended to visit him, and asked if Lucrezia were still with him.
“She lives at Salerno,” said he, “with her daughter the Marchioness C——.”
I was delighted to hear the news; if it had not been for the abbé’s visit, I should never have heard what had become of these ladies.
I asked him if he knew the Marchioness C——.
“I only know the marquis,” he replied, “he is old and very rich.”
That was enough for me.
A couple of days afterwards Morosini invited Sara, Goudar, two young gamesters, and Medini, to dinner. The latter had not yet given up hopes of cheating the chevalier in one way or another.
Towards the end of dinner it happened that Medini differed in opinion from me, and expressed his views in such a peremptory manner that I remarked that a gentleman would be rather more choice in his expressions.
“Maybe,” he replied, “but I am not going to learn manners from you.”
I constrained myself, and said nothing, but I was getting tired of his insolence; and as he might imagine that my resentment was caused by fear, I determined on disabusing him.