“Well?”
“It is the third time in one week.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes, he always comes at the hours when he knows you are at the office.”
“Perhaps he is not free at any other hour.”
“Listen, Paolo, you take it too indifferently. I think, however, that in this case you ought to think more of it.”
“But what does the lieutenant say to you?”
“As you may believe, he has never failed in respect toward me—but when there are no other visitors he looks at me too persistently, and says the most innocently polite things, but in too warm a tone.”
“Lieutenant B. is my friend, and a perfect gentleman. He has but just come to Modena, and knows nobody. It is only natural that he should pay visits to the wife of his old friend and fellow-student.”