In all the time since he left Perugia, Simon's vision of Sophia, his dreams of their life together, had sustained him. He thought constantly of her during those dreary weeks while Count Charles was parading around Rome, giving orders to sullen Italians, exercising his troops, arguing with his captains, and hanging those who made difficulties.
On a loggia much like this one, at Ugolini's Perugia mansion, Sophia had made the promise that had given him hope. All he needed, he was sure, was to know what stood between them, and he would be able to overcome it.
And now, as suddenly as if Sophia had been on a ship and a wave had swept her overboard, she was gone.
He felt himself getting angry at Friar Mathieu. He could not believe what the old priest was telling him.
"She promised me!" he blurted out.
"Promised you what?" said Friar Mathieu softly.
"That she would tell me why she could not marry me."
There was a long silence, while Simon stared at the rooftops of Viterbo, silhouetted against a golden sky.
"You wanted to marry her?" Friar Mathieu asked in a soft voice.
"I want to marry her," said Simon, his voice sullen.