You would gain no advantage by knowing it.

Of course," he added, with a laugh, "if we entered into the alliance we were jesting about, it would be different." "You will not tell me unless I promise to marry you ?" "Frankly, no," he answered, still laughing.
It exasperated Donna Tullia beyond measure to feel that he was in possession of what she so coveted, and to feel that he was bargaining, half in earnest, for her life in exchange for his secret.

She was almost tempted for one moment to assent, to say she would marry him, so great was her curiosity; it would be easy to break her promise, and laugh at him afterwards.

But she was not a bad woman, as women of her class are considered.

She had suffered a great disappointment, and her resentment was in proportion to her vanity.