Why should he and she not write to each other?
Yet it was not long since the idea of meeting Gianluca at Bianca's house, by agreement, had seemed a dangerous adventure, about entering upon which she had really hesitated.
To-day, for any reasonable cause, she would have walked through Naples with him in the face of the world, at the hour when every one was in the streets.
He came to the villa in the afternoon, after receiving her note of thanks, and she was glad to see him, and spoke with pleasure of his letter, before Bianca, who seemed surprised, but said nothing at the time.

He was wise enough not to stay too long, and he went away exceedingly elated by his first success.
"What is the matter with him ?" asked Veronica, of her friend, just after he had left them.

"He seems so much better--but he is growing very lame.
Did you notice how he walked to-day?
He seems to drag his feet after him." "He must have hurt his foot," said Bianca, calmly.

"By the by, what is this, about letters?
Do you mean to say that he writes to you ?" "Yes--and I write to him," answered Veronica, with perfect calm.

"You see, as I have nobody to ask, I ask nobody.