Androvsky got up from his chair. His face was troubled. Standing before Domini, he said:
“Count Anteoni is happy then, now that he—now that he has joined this religion?”
“Very happy.”
“And you—a Catholic—what do you think?”
“I think that, since that is his honest belief, it is a blessed thing for him.”
He said no more, but went towards the sleeping-tent.
In the evening, when they were dining, he said to her:
“Domini, to-night I am going to leave you again for a short time.”
He saw a look of keen regret come into her face, and added quickly:
“At nine I have promised to go to see the priest. He—he is rather lonely here. He wants me to come. Do you mind?”