In almost any situation, such a proceeding would have been tactless; but Bianca had seen the result of the meeting between Gianluca and Veronica on the former occasion, and she guessed rightly that if they were forced into the necessity of exchanging commonplaces, there would be an even more complete failure now than there had been before.

Taquisara had thrust him upon Veronica in an excess of friendly zeal for his interests.

He kept his place for a few moments, and then, seeing Bianca's intention, rose and went to Veronica's other side.

Gianluca immediately drew his chair nearer to Bianca.
Veronica did not remember afterwards how the Sicilian opened the conversation, nor what she herself at first said.

In spite of the strong impression he had produced upon her when they had met in the garden three or four weeks earlier, she now looked away from him, watching the other two as they talked.
She saw at a glance that Gianluca's manner with Bianca was not at all what it was with herself.