"He's betting with the Contessa d'Alemagna," suggested Laura, with one of those perverse smiles which contrasted so oddly with the purity of her face.
"Then he'll not come back so soon," said Luigi, sitting down.
"Have you never seen the races before?" he asked.
"No, I have never seen them," said Anna.
"It's rather a tiresome sight," said he, pulling his blonde moustaches.
"It's interesting to see the people," said Anna.
"It's the crowd that always gives its interest to a scene," said he, with an intonation of profound thought.
Laura was looking through her opera-glass. "There's Cesare," she cried suddenly.
Cesare was walking and talking with the beautiful Contessa d'Alemagna, and two other men, who walked in front of them, occasionally turned and took part in the conversation. As he passed his wife and sister, he looked up and bowed. Anna responded, smiling, but her smile was a forced and weary one.
Luigi Caracciolo, feigning not to have noticed this incident, said to her: "That's a charming dress you're wearing. It's an inspiration."