At last Marinier said: "We will discuss this again to-night." "Yes," answered Selva quietly; "we will discuss it again to-night." He felt he had found an adversary in this abbe, and he thought Dane had committed an error both of judgment and of tact in inviting him to the meeting.

At the same time he comforted himself with the tacit reflection that it would be an advantage to hear all possible objections set forth; and that a friend of Professor Dane was, at least, sure to be trustworthy, and would not divulge names and speeches it were better to keep secret for the present.

Young di Leyni, on the other hand, was very apprehensive of this danger knowing how many and how various were the Abbe Marinier's acquaintances in Rome, where he had lived for five years, pursuing certain historical studies; and he was also annoyed at not having known of his coming in time to write to Selva, suggesting the advisability of seeking to propitiate him, beginning through his palate.
The table at the Selvas', always exquisitely neat, and decorated with flowers, was most frugal, and very simple as regards food.

The Selvas never drank wine, and the pale, acid wine of Subiaco could only have a souring effect on a man accustomed to French vintages.

The girl from Affile had already served the coffee, when, at the same moment, Don Clemente arrived on foot from Santa Scolastica, and Dane, Professor Salvati, and Professor Minucci, in a two-horse carriage, from Subiaco.
But Don Clemente, who was followed by his gardener, seeing the carriage approaching the gate of the villa, and understanding that it brought guests for the Selvas, hastened his steps, that Giovanni might see the gardener and speak with him a few moments before the meeting.
The Selvas and their three companions had risen from the table, and Maria, coming out to the terrace on the arm of the gallant Abbe Marinier, saw, in spite of the growing darkness, the Benedictine on the steep path leading up from the gate which opened upon the public road.
She greeted him from above, and begged him to wait for a light at the foot of the stairs.