But she had chosen her adversaries ill, and her heart misgave her.

She had no hold upon them, for they were very strong people, very powerful, and very much respected by their fellows.

It was not easy to bring them into trouble; it seemed impossible to humiliate them as she wished to do, and yet her hate was very strong.

She waited and pondered, and in the meanwhile, when she met Giovanni, she began to treat him with haughty coldness.

But Giovanni smiled, and seemed well satisfied that she should at last give over what was to him very like a persecution.