“I can no longer move in the circle in which you live, after my change of address,” she said, half laughing, half seriously.
He shrugged his shoulders:
“Listen,” he said. “You know our Roman society. So long as certain conventions are observed ... everything’s permitted.”
“Exactly; but it’s just those conventions which I don’t observe.”
“And that’s where you are wrong. Believe me, I am saying it as your friend.”
“I live according to my own laws and I don’t want to move in your world.”
He folded his hands in entreaty:
“Yes, yes, I know. You are a ‘new woman.’ You have your own laws. But I beseech you, take pity on me. Be an angel of mercy and come to San Stefano.”
She seemed to hear a note of seduction in his voice and therefore said:
“Prince, even if it agreed with the conventions of your world ... even then I shouldn’t wish to. For I will not leave Van der Staal.”