He looked occasionally at one or another of the party, and once or twice his eyes fixed themselves on Veronica's face.

She could not understand why his presence chilled her, but she was aware that she spoke more coldly than usual to Gianluca.
At the end of half an hour, the latter rose to go, glancing at Veronica as he did so.

Taquisara, on pretence of setting down his tea-cup, rose also and managed to place himself in front of Bianca, and said something to which Ghisleri gave an answer, just as Veronica and Gianluca were standing close together.
"May I go on writing to you ?" asked Gianluca, in a low tone and quickly.
Veronica looked up at him with a startled expression.
"Oh please--please!" she answered anxiously.

"As often as you can--I count on it! Of course!" Gianluca's thin, pale face brightened suddenly as he heard her vehement request and the anxiety in her tone.
"Thank you," he said.

"Good-bye." He shook hands with Bianca, nodded to the two men, and turned away towards the door.