Philip was always on his side, for the two were the best of friends.

Bruno was much more reserved and taciturn than Salo, who was naturally very gay and could sing and laugh so that the halls would re-echo loudly with his merriment.

The Baroness herself often laughed in that way, too.

That is why Bruno imagined that she loved her younger son better than him, and because he himself loved his mother passionately, he could not endure this thought.

It was not true, however.