"Break up that rubbish!" he added roughly, speaking to Zorzi.
Without a word Zorzi smashed the calix off the iron into an old earthen jar already half full of broken glass.

Then he put the pontil in its place and went to tend the fire.

Marietta left the window and entered the room.
"Am I disturbing you ?" she asked gently, as she stood by her father.
"No.

I have finished writing." He laid down his pen.
"Another failure ?" "Yes." "Perhaps I do not bring you good luck with your experiments," suggested the girl, leaning down and looking over his shoulder at the crabbed writing, so that her cheek almost touched his.

"Is that why you wish to send me away ?" Beroviero turned in his chair, raised his heavy brows and looked up into her face, but said nothing.
"Nella has just told me that you have ordered my wedding gown," continued Marietta.
"We are not alone," said her father in a low voice.
"Zorzi probably knows what is the gossip of the house, and what I have been the last to hear," answered the young girl.