He was in a thoroughly bad humour, and Del Ferice guessed that if Giovanni could ever be induced to speak out, it must be when his temper was not under control.

In Rome, in the club--there was only one club in those days--in society, Ugo never got a chance to talk to his enemy; but here upon the Appian Way, with the broad Campagna stretching away to right and left and rear, while the remainder of the party walked three hundred yards in front, and Giovanni showed an evident reluctance to join them, it would go hard indeed if he could not be led into conversation.
"I should think," Del Ferice began, "that if you had your choice, you would walk anywhere rather than here." "Why ?" asked Giovanni, carelessly.

"It is a very good road." "I should think that our Roman Campagna would be anything but a source of satisfaction to its possessors--like yourself," answered Del Ferice.
"It is a very good grazing ground." "It might be something better.

When one thinks that in ancient times it was a vast series of villas--" "The conditions were very different.

We do not live in ancient times," returned Giovanni, drily.
"Ah, the conditions!" ejaculated Del Ferice, with a suave sigh.