“You come first and let him come a little later. Urania will be glad to have his advice on some artistic questions, concerning the ‘doing up’ of San Stefano. We have a lot of pictures there. And old things generally. Do let’s arrange that. I am going to San Stefano to-morrow. Urania will follow me in a week. I will suggest to her to ask you down soon.”
“Really, prince ... it can’t happen just yet.”
“Why not?”
She looked at him for some time before answering:
“Shall I be candid with you?”
“But of course!”
They had already passed the post-office twice. The street was quite silent and deserted. He looked at her enquiringly.
“Well, then,” she said, “we are in great financial difficulties. We have no money at present. I have lost my little capital; and the small sum which I earned by writing an article is spent. Duco is working hard, but he is engaged on a big work and making nothing in the meantime. He expects to receive a bit of money in a month or so. But at the moment we have nothing, nothing at all. That is why I went to a shop by the Tiber this morning to ask how much a dealer would give for a couple of old pictures which Duco wants to sell. He doesn’t like parting with them, but there’s no help for it. So you see that I can’t come. I should not care to leave him; besides, I should not have the money for the journey or a decent wardrobe.”
He looked at her. The first thing that he had noticed was her new and blooming loveliness; now he noticed that her skirt was a little worn and her blouse none too fresh, though she wore a couple of roses in the waist-band.
“Gesu mio!” he exclaimed. “And you tell me that so calmly, so quietly!”