While he was listening to a client, he had a habit of folding his arms tightly across his chest and crossing one leg over the other.

When the Signora Corbario had finished speaking he sat quite still for a moment, and then noiselessly reversed the crossing of his legs and the folding of his arms, and looked into her face.

It was very gentle, fair, and thoughtful.
"I presume," answered the lawyer, "that the clause providing for a reversion is only intended as an expression of your confidence in your husband ?" "Affection," answered the Signora, "includes confidence." The lawyer raised one eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and changed his position a little.
"Heaven forbid," he said, "that any accident should befall your son!" "Heaven forbid it!" replied the Signora.

"He is very strong," she continued, in the tone people use who are anxious to convince themselves of something doubtful.

"Yet I wish my husband to know that, after my son, he should have the first right." "Shall you inform him of the nature of your will, Signora ?" inquired the lawyer.
"I have already informed him of what I mean to do," replied Signora Corbario.
Again the lawyer's eyebrow moved a little nervously, but he said nothing.