No one should ever be able to say that he or she had not been admitted when Bianca was in the villa.
At the door of the drawing-room, Veronica could see that Gianluca tried to make his friend enter before him, and that Taquisara pushed him forward, with a little friendly laugh of encouragement.

It happened that she was seated just opposite to the door.

Gianluca came on, and went directly towards Bianca.

He was thinner and more transparent than ever.
Veronica could almost fancy that she could see the light through his face.

She thought he was slightly lame; or, at least, that he walked with a little difficulty.
Bianca looked up kindly, as she gave him her hand, for she had always liked him.