"You will not deny that there is room for much improvement in our country, and that an infusion of some progressist ideas would be wholesome." "Perhaps so; but you understand one thing by progress, and I understand quite another," replied Giovanni, eyeing in the bright distance the figures of Donna Tullia and her friends, and regulating his pace so as not to lessen the distance which separated them from him.

He preferred talking political economy with a man he disliked, to being obliged to make conversation for Madame Mayer.
"I mean by progress, positive improvement without revolutionary change," explained Del Ferice, using the phrase he had long since constructed as his profession of faith to the world.

Giovanni eyed him keenly for a moment.

He cared nothing for Ugo or his ideas, but he suspected him of very different principles.
"You will pardon me," he said, civilly, "if I venture to doubt whether you have frankly expressed your views.

I am under the impression that you really connect the idea of improvement with a very positive revolutionary change." Del Ferice did not wince, but he involuntarily cast a glance behind him.
Those were times when people were cautious of being overheard.