Donna Tullia hesitated.

She had never attempted to bribe anybody in her life, and hardly knew how to go about it.

She thought that the sight of the money might produce an impression, and she withdrew a bank-note from the hollow of her hand, spreading it out between her fingers.

Temistocle eyed it greedily.
"There are twenty-five scudi," she said.

"If you will help me to find a piece of paper in your master's room, you shall have them." Temistocle drew himself up with an air of mock pride.