He was evidently relieved:
"That's delightful, capital! And ... will you come to San Stefano?"
"No, I can't really."
"Why not?"
"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."