It is so easy!" Regina laughed, but Marcello looked displeased.
"It is not honest to do such things," he said.
"Not honest ?" Regina stared at him in amazement.

"How does honesty enter into the question?
Is Settimia honest?
Then honest people should all be in the galleys! And if you knew how he writes to her! Oh, yes! You are the 'dear patient,' and I am the 'admirable companion.' They have known each other long, those two.

They have a language between them, but I have learned it.

They have no more secrets that I do not know.
Everything the admirable companion does that makes the dear patient better is wrong, and everything that used to make him worse was right.
They were killing you in Paris, they wanted you to stay there until you were dead.

Do you know who saved your life?
It was the Contessa, when I heard her say that you were looking ill! If you ever see her again, thank her, for I was blind and she opened my eyes.