The consequence was that his talk lacked interest, and that he often did not talk at all.

Nevertheless, he managed to show enough assiduity to keep himself continually in the foreground of Beatrice's thoughts.

Being almost constantly present she could not easily forget him, and he held his ground with a determination which kept other men away.

When a man can make a woman think of him half-a-dozen times a day and can prevent other men from taking his place when he is beside her, he is in a fair way to success.
On a certain evening San Miniato had a final interview with the Marchesa di Mola in which he expressed all that he felt for Beatrice, including a little more, and in which he described his not very prosperous financial condition with mitigated frankness.

The Marchesa listened dreamily in the darkness on the terrace while her daughter played soft dance music in the dimly lighted room behind her.