The Contessa was alone, Aurora having gone out with her mother's maid.
Maddalena was glad to see him, not because she liked him, for she did not, but because it would be so much easier to talk of what was on her mind than to write about it.
"I suppose you are surprised to see me," said Folco, after the first conventional greeting.
"No, for one may meet any one in Paris, at any time of the year.

When I wrote, I thought Marcello must be alone here--I mean, without you," she added.
"I did not know he had been here, until I heard that he was gone.

He left three or four days ago.

I fancy that when you wrote your letter he was already gone." "Do you let him wander about Europe as he pleases ?" asked the Contessa.
"He is old enough to take care of himself," answered Corbario.

"There is nothing worse for young men than running after them and prying into their affairs.