“Good! To-morrow I must have a consultation with you,” answered His Excellency, tossing off the wine.
By the secret confidences thus exchanged, it was evident that Count Castellani and Doctor Malvano thoroughly understood each other; and, further, it was plain that upon some person in that assembly Filippo, head-waiter at the Bonciani, was keeping careful observation. Yet he apparently attended to his work as a well-trained servant should; and even when he discovered Armytage with her ladyship, he was in no way confused, but retreated quietly without attracting the young man’s attention.
“Why have you parted from Gemma?” her ladyship asked.
“Well,” answered Armytage, hesitating, “have you not said that she’s an impossible person?”
“Of course. But when a man’s in love—”
“He alters his mind sometimes,” he interrupted, determined not to tell this woman the truth.
“So you’ve altered your mind?” she said. “You ought really to congratulate yourself that you’ve been able to do so.”
“Why?”
Lady Marshfield regarded her visitor gravely, fanned herself slowly in silence for some moments, then answered—
“Because it is not wise for a man to take as wife a woman of such an evil reputation.”