“What good did she ever wish to do to me?” the Italian demanded, with glowing eyes.
Madame Grandoni shook her head very sadly. “You can do no good, of any kind, to each other. Each on your own side, you must be quiet.”
“How can I be quiet when I hear of such infamies?” Prince Casamassima got up, in his violence, and, in a tone which caused his companion to burst into a short, incongruous laugh as soon as she heard the words, exclaimed, “She shall not break up society!”
“No, she will bore herself before the trick is played. Make up your mind to that.”
“That is what I expected to find—that the caprice was over. She has passed through so many follies.”
“Give her time—give her time,” replied Madame Grandoni.
“Time to drag my name into an assize-court? Those people are robbers, incendiaries, murderers!”
“You can say nothing to me about them that I haven’t said to her.”
“And how does she defend herself?”
“Defend herself? Did you ever hear Christina do that?” Madame Grandoni asked. “The only thing she says to me is, ‘Don’t be afraid; I promise you by all that’s sacred that you shan’t suffer.’ She speaks as if she had it all in her hands. That is very well. No doubt I’m a selfish old woman, but, after all, one has a heart for others.”