"This room is very pretty, and those grounds look lovely from the window; yet you must have felt dull here."
"I confess I did—in spite of the entertainment provided for me by a sharp sinister little foreigner named Martelli, whom I hired to keep me company—a little man—humorous, passionate, and I daresay vengeful."
"I dislike foreigners," she said, with a shudder. "Why did you not employ an Englishman?"
"The fact was, I wished to learn Italian."
"Was he an Italian?" she asked quickly.
"Yes. Don't you like Italians?"
"I hate them!" she exclaimed, her face flushing with sudden passion while her eyes flashed irefully.
"Then it was fortunate he resolved to leave me. You and he would hardly have got on. Perhaps," I said, laughing, "his subtle sagacity pierced the marble of your face when he saw you, and discerned your aversion to his compatriots."
"I thought you were alone?"
"On the first night I was. On the second night I hadn't positively spirit enough to risk a second encounter. But, dearest, I have come to show you over the house."