"In what respect?"
"In respect of Caracciolo."
"Do you need my approbation?" he asked, in surprise. "For politeness' sake alone you should be civil to the young man."
"But it was you who told me to be so," she stammered meekly.
"I merely told you what a young lady's duty is—that's all."
She bent her head contritely. She had made a great effort to please Cesare Dias, and this was all the recognition she got. However, she could not feel towards him the least particle of anger; and the result was that her dislike of Luigi Caracciolo took a giant's stride.
Luigi Caracciolo's name was in everybody's mouth; everybody talked about him to her—Laura, Stella Martini, the Marchesa Scibilla. She shrugged her shoulders, without answering. Her silence seemed like a consent; but it is easy to guess that it was really only a means of concealing her unpleasant thoughts.
When, however, it was her guardian who mentioned Caracciolo, vaunting not only his charm, but also the seriousness of his character, she became excessively nervous. She looked at him in surprise, wondering that he could speak thus of such a disagreeable and vulgar person, and smiling ironically.
One day, overcome by impatience, she asked: "But do you really take him so seriously?"