“You have scarcely time to dress. Have you forgotten that we are going to the races? Lando Landi is to come for us before one o'clock.”
Yes, I had completely forgotten it. I felt an earnest desire to withdraw from the engagement. I wanted one day of peace and quiet repose. I felt the need of drinking in more deeply the breath of pure air I had just tasted. Could I not have a few hours to myself? Must I at once go where I should inhale a different atmosphere? And what an atmosphere!...
Seeing that I remained silent and had a pensive air, he said in an impatient tone:
“Well, Ginevra, what is it? What have you to tell me or ask me?...”
I replied without any circumlocution: “I have nothing to say, except that I am tired to death of those races, and beg you to excuse me from accompanying you to-day.”
His face immediately cleared up. “Is that all?” said he. “As to that, you are at perfect liberty to do as you please. You may be sure,” continued he, laughing, “that I shall only contradict you on great occasions.... But what will you do with yourself this afternoon, if you do not go to the races?”
“I shall do like everybody else in France—go to Vespers.”
He gave a derisive laugh that was horrible.
“Everybody else, do you say? It would be very difficult to tell how many in Paris even go to Mass!”
I looked at him, as he said this. He understood my meaning, and appeared displeased.