And yet I sometimes think it does.

Are you not the best friend I have in the world ?" "I do not know,--I am a good friend to you," she answered.
"Indeed you are; but do you not think it would be possible to cement our friendship even more closely yet ?" Donna Tullia looked up sharply; she had no idea of allowing him to propose to marry her.

His face, however, was grave--unlike his usual expression when he meant to be tender, and which she knew very well.
"I do not know," she said, with a light laugh.

"How do you mean ?" "If I could do you some great service--if I could by any means satisfy what is now your chief desire in life--would not that help to cement our friendship, as I said ?" "Perhaps," she answered, thoughtfully.

"But then you do not know--you cannot guess even--what I most wish at this moment." "I think I could," said Del Ferice, fixing his eyes upon her.