Madame Grandoni acknowledged an extreme curiosity as to the secret springs of these strange doings: Casamassima's sudden dismissal, his still more sudden recall, the hurried private marriage.

"Listen," said Rowland, hereupon, "and I will tell you something." And he related, in detail, his last visit to Mrs.Light and his talk with this lady, with Christina, and with the Cavaliere.
"Good," she said; "it 's all very curious.

But it 's a riddle, and I only half guess it." "Well," said Rowland, "I desire to harm no one; but certain suppositions have taken shape in my mind which serve as a solvent to several ambiguities." "It is very true," Madame Grandoni answered, "that the Cavaliere, as he stands, has always needed to be explained." "He is explained by the hypothesis that, three-and-twenty years ago, at Ancona, Mrs.Light had a lover." "I see.

Ancona was dull, Mrs.Light was lively, and--three-and-twenty years ago--perhaps, the Cavaliere was fascinating.

Doubtless it would be fairer to say that he was fascinated.