Marchetti was vaguely conscious of a too complete agreement in the lady's tone. But he seized the apparent advantage.
"Then that is settled," he said cheerfully. "I have already apologized to Signor Fenshawe. To-morrow a more ample explanation and expression of regret should remove any cause of friction."
"I have reason to think there will be no difficulty in arriving at an amicable settlement, provided you fall in with the suggestion I am here to make."
"And that is?"
"That you release the Baron von Kerber to-night."
"Ha!" snarled Alfieri, but the Governor angrily motioned him to be silent.
"No one is better aware than yourself, signora, how utterly impossible is your request," he said.
"The proposal is not even worthy of debate, then?"
"But no."
"That is a pity. My small experience of life has taught me that when two reasonable people, or even three, hold different views on any given subject, there is always something to be said in favor of each contention. Indeed, wisdom leans towards a compromise in such a case."