Of course he would marry her; there was no doubt of that--he had been in love with her so long, and now she was both free and rich.

No one suspected that Giovanni, instead of being in Scandinavia, was quietly established at Saracinesca, a day's journey from Rome, busying himself with the management of the estate, and momentarily satisfied in feeling himself so near the woman he loved.
Donna Tullia could hardly wait until the day when Del Ferice was coming to dinner: she was several times on the point of writing a note to ask him to come at once.

But she wisely refrained, guessing that the more she pressed him the more difficulties he would make.

At last he came, looking pale and worn--interesting, as Donna Tullia would have expressed it.

The old Countess talked a great deal during dinner; but as she was too deaf to hear more than a quarter of what was said by the others, the conversation was not interesting.