CHAPTER XVI.
"One might almost think that you wished to marry Aurora yourself," said Corbario, with a sneer.
He was standing with his back to the fire in the great library of the villa, for it was late autumn again; it was raining hard and the air was raw and chilly.
"You may think what you please," Marcello answered, leaning back in his deep leathern chair and taking up a book.

"I am not going to argue with you." "Insufferable puppy," growled Folco, almost under his teeth; but Marcello heard.
He rose instantly and faced the elder man without the slightest fear or hesitation.
"If this were not my house, and you my guest, I would have you put out of doors by the servants," he said, in a tone Corbario had never heard before.

"As it is, I only advise you to go before I lose my temper altogether." Corbario backed till his heels were against the fender, and tried to smile.
"My dear Marcello!" he protested.

"What nonsense is this?
You know I am not in earnest!" "I am," said Marcello quietly enough, but not moving.
The half-invalid boy was not a boy any longer, nor an invalid either, and he had found his hold on things, since the days when Folco had been used to lead him as easily as if he had no will of his own.

No one would have judged him to be a weak man now, physically or mentally.